7 Questions Every PACE Organization Should Ask Before Choosing an EHR

Selecting an electronic health record (EHR) system is one of the most consequential decisions a PACE organization can make. It’s not just a technology investment — it’s a decision that directly impacts care delivery, compliance, operational efficiency, and long-term growth. 

Unlike traditional healthcare models, PACE operates at the intersection of clinical care, social services, and financial accountability. That complexity requires more than a standard EHR. It requires a workflow platform built for the realities of interdisciplinary, community-based care. 

Before making a decision, here are seven critical questions every PACE organization should be asking. 

 1. Does the EHR support the interdisciplinary care model?

At the core of PACE is the interdisciplinary team (IDT) — physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists, and more, all collaborating to deliver holistic care. 
Many traditional EHRs are designed around siloed workflows, where each discipline documents independently. But in PACE, that model breaks down quickly. 

A PACE-ready EHR should enable: 

• Shared care plans across all disciplines 

• Real-time updates accessible to the full team 

• Collaborative workflows that reflect how care is actually delivered 

• If your system doesn’t actively support interdisciplinary coordination, it’s working against your model — not for it. 

 
2. Can it handle PACE-specific regulatory reporting?

PACE programs operate under strict federal and state requirements, with reporting expectations that go far beyond standard healthcare settings. 
If your team is relying on manual workarounds, spreadsheets, or custom-built reports to meet CMS or state requirements, that’s a red flag. 

Your EHR should: 

• Natively support PACE-specific reporting requirements 

• Enable fast, accurate report generation for audits and compliance 

• Reduce the administrative burden on your team 

• Compliance shouldn’t feel like a separate workflow — it should be embedded into your system. 

 
3. How well does it integrate with claims and financial systems?

In PACE, clinical care and financial performance are deeply interconnected. Decisions about care directly impact cost, utilization, and reimbursement. 
When clinical and financial systems are disconnected: 

• Teams lack visibility into the full participant picture 

• Reporting becomes fragmented and inconsistent 

• Leadership struggles to make informed decisions 

A modern platform should unify clinical, claims, and financial data — or at minimum integrate seamlessly — so you can operate with a single source of truth. 

 4. Does it support real-time care coordination?

PACE is inherently dynamic. Participant needs change quickly, and care plans must adapt just as fast. 
If your system relies on delayed data entry, batch updates, or disconnected communication tools, you’re introducing risk into care delivery. 

Look for capabilities like: 

• Real-time documentation and updates 

• Alerts and notifications across the care team 

• Immediate visibility into participant status and services 

 
5. Can it scale as your program grows?

Growth is a goal for many PACE organizations — but it also introduces complexity. 
More participants. More providers. More services. More reporting. 

The wrong system can quickly become a bottleneck, forcing you to: 

• Add workarounds 

• Invest in additional tools 

• Reconfigure workflows 

A scalable EHR should support expansion without requiring a complete overhaul — enabling you to grow confidently and sustainably. 

 
6. What does implementation really look like?

Implementation is often underestimated — and it’s where many technology projects succeed or fail. 
It’s not just about turning on a system. It’s about: 

• Training staff across disciplines 

• Aligning workflows 

• Driving adoption and long-term usage 

• A vendor with deep PACE experience will understand the nuances of your model and guide you through a structured, realistic implementation process. 

Ask: 

• What resources are provided? 

• What is the expected timeline? 

• How is success measured post-go-live? 

• The right partner doesn’t just deliver software — they ensure it works in your environment. 

 
7. Does the vendor truly understand PACE? 

Perhaps the most important question of all. 
PACE is fundamentally different from traditional healthcare delivery. Vendors without direct experience often underestimate: 

• The complexity of interdisciplinary care 

• The depth of regulatory requirements 

• The importance of integrating clinical and financial operations 

• The result? Systems that require constant customization, create operational friction, and fail to deliver long-term value. 

Choosing a partner who understands PACE means choosing a solution designed for your reality — not adapted to it. 

Final Thought: Technology Should Enable Your Model 

The right EHR should do more than digitize documentation. It should strengthen your ability to deliver coordinated, compliant, and scalable care. 
As the PACE model continues to evolve — and as expectations around data, outcomes, and efficiency grow — technology will play an increasingly central role. 
Organizations that choose the right foundation today will be better positioned to lead in the future.