Switching EMRs is one of those projects that makes even the calmest operators take a deep breath. It’s a “big heavy lift,” as we said on the call — not because teams don’t want improvement, but because change management in clinical operations is real (especially when your staff is already stretched thin).

In our recent Lunch & Learn, I sat down with Tracy Page at Curantis Solutions to talk candidly about what’s changing in the EMR landscape — and why bereavement is finally moving from an afterthought to a core workflow.

🎥 Watch a clip here

Here are the highlights.

1) The EMR conversation is shifting from “documentation” to “experience + workflow”

Historically, EMRs have been measured by how well they capture clinical documentation and keep you compliant.

That’s still table-stakes. But what we’re seeing now is a bigger shift: operators want technology that makes care delivery easier, more centralized, and more human — not just more digital.

That means:

• fewer swivel-chair workflows
• fewer disconnected tools
• more seamless handoffs between teams
• better experiences for patients and families

And as we discussed, this is especially important in the moments that matter most — like transitions, crises, and loss.

2) The best EMR partners treat customers like “design partners,” not tickets in a backlog

One point that stood out in the conversation was how rare it is for platforms to involve customers early — before deadlines hit and compliance changes force a scramble.

When EMR teams treat providers as real design partners, a few things happen:

• features are built with real-world workflow in mind
• adoption is smoother because frontline teams recognize the “why”
• implementations feel less like disruption and more like progress

That’s the difference between a roadmap that looks good on paper and one that actually makes clinicians’ lives easier.

3) AI is helpful… only if it preserves the clinician’s voice

We also talked about AI — and not in the hype-y way.

Tracy shared a practical example: using AI voice-to-text with guardrails so documentation becomes faster without losing the human connection. The goal isn’t to replace the clinician’s voice — it’s to reduce the burden while keeping the care narrative authentic.

In other words: use AI to get clinicians back to the bedside… without turning care into a script.

4) Bereavement is one of the most important experiences — and today it’s treated like an afterthought

This was the heart of the discussion.

Bereavement often becomes a “check-the-box” requirement: a few mailers, a list, a form, maybe a call if staffing allows. And then… silence.

But families don’t experience grief in a neat workflow. And hospice teams shouldn’t have to choose between doing it “right” and doing it “at all.”

What we kept coming back to was simple:

• Bereavement is not the end of care — it’s the continuation of it.
• It’s also one of the clearest moments to demonstrate dignity, follow-through, and trust.

As we said on the call, it’s time to move bereavement “from the background” and treat it as a strategic part of the hospice experience — not an administrative obligation.

5) The opportunity: streamline bereavement for teams and stay present for families for 13 months

One of the most practical insights from Tracy: bereavement needs to be streamlined and automated for clinicians — not because it should feel automated to families, but because your team deserves workflows that don’t collapse under staffing realities.

When bereavement is supported through the right technology and partnership model, you can:

• maintain continuity with families over time
• reduce manual admin work (lists, mailers, tracking, “did we follow up?”)
• route needs with context so teams aren’t starting from scratch
• support the full 13-month journey more consistently

And importantly: families feel like you didn’t disappear the moment clinical care ended.

The takeaway

If you’re evaluating an EMR change — or even just thinking about your tech stack for 2026 — don’t just ask:

“Will this make us compliant?”

Also ask:

“Will this make care easier to deliver?”
“Will this help us stay human at scale?”
“Will this help us show up for families after the hardest day?”

Because the future isn’t just better documentation.

It’s better experiences — for patients, families, and the clinicians who care for them.