“As our business plan enters its implementation stage, our workforce has to grow accordingly. We expect to hire about 100+ employees really by the end of this year,” said Yvonne Catino, who has a doctorate in management and is iPractice’s vice president of human capital and organizational development. She said about 60 percent of the group’s workforce will be IT development professionals, while the rest will specialize in sales, customer service and operational technology. iPractice is still attracting investors from across the country, based on the company’s focus on small providers and federal financial incentives targeting independent physicians who implement IT solutions.

Catino said iPractice’s products are designed to improve practice operations, not necessarily to impact the number of employees. “I think no one has done a real conclusive study, at least I haven’t found one, on whether EHRs adversely or positively impact staffing in doctors’ offices,” Catino said. “In my opinion, I don’t see the number of staff members changing. I see operations picking up, because you’re automating many processes. You’ll have communication channels and workflows that in the past may have overlapped or been overlooked. Things might flow a little smoother, and that might free up time for nurse practitioners and doctors to see more patients or spend more time with patients. So it can possibly enhance quality of care.” iPractice clients receive one-on-one, phased-in training from iPractice employees, who build long-term relationships with their customers.

To ensure there are enough trained professionals in the pipeline to fill tomorrow’s healthcare IT jobs, iPractice has forged a unique partnership with Belmont University: iPractice is the first company to be a Belmont Employer in Residence. “We’re really excited about building this relationship with Belmont because they’re very innovative and forward-thinking, and they’re local,” Catino said. “They also have a very strong entrepreneurial vision, and they are committed to excellence. Those are the same values that we have.”

She described the partnership between the two entities as a bridge. “We cross the bridge in one direction to share and transfer information, and they cross in the other direction to get jobs and do internships. With our staffing and recruitment model, it’s going to work well long term,” she said.

Already, iPractice professionals are exposing Belmont students and faculty to the “nearly endless” opportunities in healthcare IT, Catino said. On Feb. 1, iPractice sponsored the Jack C. Massey Graduate School of Business “Industry Spotlight Seminar,” which featured Ting Chang, iPractice’s CEO. On Feb. 9, iPractice COO Jason Morgan spoke as part of a “Hot Careers in Healthcare” convocation. “As the health IT industry surges, the most valuable professionals will be those with the most experience,” Morgan told the overflow audience of aspiring healthcare pros. “As the number of positions increases, so too will positions in management for these same professionals, and entry-level opportunities will begin flourishing for new graduates. While the health IT job market remains strong today, existing specialists will find it’s ‘up or out’ as emerging professionals replace them.”

iPractice already has four interns on board. “Let me tell you, our internships aren’t for the weak of heart,” Catino said. “We have our interns doing hardcore work. For the most part, they’re working on serious projects.”

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