CIO Says Infusion of Oracle Tech Gave Cerner Needed Shot in the Arm: Now Well Positioned for AI-Powered Innovation

In September 2023 when Billings Clinic and Logan Health merged to form one of the area’s largest healthcare systems, one of the first orders of business for Justin Ott – a long-time IT executive at Billings who became CIO of the newly combined health system – was determining the organization’s go-forward EHR. Prior to the merger, Billings Clinic used Cerner (now Oracle Health) since 1999, while Logan Health relied on Meditech starting in 2014. Would it be one of those incumbents, Epic, or a dark horse?

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Evaluating the EHR Landscape

“Having both organizations on a truly shared integrated medical record was probably the most important thing,” he stated. “We knew this would be key to becoming a unified health system.”

To determine the best solution, the organization evaluated three major EHR vendors: Oracle Health, Epic, and Meditech. The decision was based on three main criteria: operational impact, implementation timeline, and cost.

“We had to weigh the disruption that each system would bring, the cost of implementation, and how quickly we could make the transition,” Ott explained. “Time was of the essence. Our providers were asking, ‘Can we get this done tomorrow?’”

Why Oracle Health?

After thorough evaluation, the health system selected Oracle Health as its long-term partner. Several factors tipped the scales in Oracle’s favor, including their database integration capabilities, interoperability focus, and advances in AI.

“We are already on an Oracle database,” Ott said. “How they’re leveraging their expertise in business databases for healthcare is very intriguing.”

Ott highlighted Oracle’s AI tools as a game-changer for the organization. Billings Clinic had previously piloted Oracle’s ambient listening AI tool, which enables providers to document patient interactions automatically. “Our clinicians say it’s game-changing. They can now have dinner with their families and go to bed on time,” Ott shared. “Their work-life balance is changing for the better.”

Ott also pointed to Oracle Health’s commitment to fulfilling promises as a significant factor in their decision. “When Oracle says they’re going to do something, they follow through,” he noted. “That gave us confidence that we were making the right long-term decision.”

The Transition from Cerner to Oracle Health

Ott’s experience with Cerner provided a unique perspective on Oracle’s impact post-acquisition. Having used Cerner since 1999, he acknowledged initial concerns when Oracle acquired the company.

“The first reaction was fear—what does this mean for my organization and staff?” Ott recalled. “But once we got past the emotional reaction, we began to see the opportunities.”

According to Ott, Oracle’s approach to customer engagement set a positive tone early on. “They reached out immediately to ensure we were well-informed and involved in strategic discussions,” he said. “That alleviated a lot of the initial stress and uncertainty.”

Since the acquisition, Ott has observed significant improvements in project timelines, support, and overall collaboration. “We’re now included in strategic discussions at the Oracle Health level, which is very rewarding and inspiring,” he shared. “It’s not perfect, but it’s significantly better.”

The Importance of Interoperability

Interoperability has become a cornerstone of Oracle Health’s strategy, a focus that aligns closely with Billings Clinic-Logan Health’s goals. As a CIO, Ott emphasized the value of seamless data exchange between systems.

“The idea of true interoperability—where there are no interfaces—is music to my ears,” he said. “If we can eliminate some of those interfaces, it significantly reduces complexity and costs.”