Empowering Epic Access for FQHCs: Recapping Stoltenberg and CTC's Collaborative Success

By MacKenzie Gonnelly

The move to Epic is often out of reach for smaller, resource-constrained healthcare facilities approaching the EHR move on their own, especially for federally qualified health centers (FQHCs). However, now with a joint support model between Stoltenberg Consulting and the Community Technology Cooperative (CTC), technology and resource barriers are tackled, making Epic more accessible and sustainable for FQHCs.

Healthcare IT Today recently interviewed Kaitlyn Nelson, Director of Account Solutions and Development at Stoltenberg Consulting, and Karen Serrago, CIO at CTC, for a deeper look into this unique partnership. Check out the full interview, or see the overview below:

Collective resources for a seamless Epic transition

CTC provides a shared Epic instance to 13+ FQHCs, allowing members to utilize the EHR at an easier entry point. By participating in a CTC Epic implementation, member health centers pay only one-third of the average cost, gaining the advantages of economies of scale. Member organizations also obtain access to CTC’s suite of enterprise vendor tools, including go-live and long-term Epic help desk support from Stoltenberg Consulting.

Having exclusively served the healthcare industry for over 25 years, Stoltenberg joins CTC for the new client implementation process three months prior to the go live. Stoltenberg assists in customized support planning before initiating go-live support services, including training, at-the-elbow (ATE) support, command center support, and long-term Tier 1 service desk solutions.

Tailored support for each FQHC

While all FQHCs are committed to serving vulnerable populations through accessible care, not all require the same type of IT support. The CTC–Stoltenberg partnership focuses on customizing go-live strategies that vary based on an organization’s provider count, medical specialty offerings, number of locations, and end-user workflows. Implementing Epic over the course of a year allows for in-depth planning, ensuring each FQHC receives the right support resources based on size and skill mix. By deploying resources on-site during go live, Stoltenberg helps foster strong relationships and knowledge transfer for a highly coordinated and proactive implementation process.

Comprehensive support through go-live and post-implementation phases

A major goal of the CTC–Stoltenberg partnership is to provide enterprise-grade support in community health settings. During daily leadership huddles, IT teams uncover end-user pain points early to activate real-time adjustments. Through meaningful exchanges, Stoltenberg support evolves from EHR system navigation guidance, to workflow optimization, to true strategic stabilization, creating confident and agile Epic users. Plus, since Stoltenberg’s Epic-certified help desk handles all Tier 1 issues, only true break/fix tasks are escalated — creating a more efficient, cohesive support experience. Support is truly seamless, to the point where end users can’t tell the difference between speaking with a CTC analyst or Stoltenberg agent.

CTC and Stoltenberg are redefining what's possible for FQHCs through shared infrastructure, customized support, and an unwavering focus on the end user. This model offers a blueprint for other health networks looking to implement Epic in a scalable, cost-effective way.

To learn more about the CTC–Stoltenberg Epic support model, or to initiate your own Epic help desk support program, contact a Stoltenberg executive today.