This Month's Latest Tech News in Elgin, IL - Wednesday April 30th 2025 Edition

This month marks a pivotal time for Elgin as technology and AI-driven innovation reshape both education and healthcare in the community. ModMed's donation of its ophthalmology-focused electronic health record (EHR) system to local colleges, including Elgin Community College, is equipping future ophthalmic technicians with vital hands-on experience and boosting workforce readiness through immersive electronic health record access for ophthalmic technicians.

Legislative momentum is also building, as Illinois lawmakers propose guardrails to guide responsible AI adoption across classrooms and healthcare, enhancing ethical standards and safeguarding data with AI regulation in education and healthcare.

Reflecting a broader trend, a recent national executive order advances AI education, prioritizing teacher training and workforce development to ensure students thrive in a digital-first future by fostering artificial intelligence literacy for American youth.

As Elgin navigates these changes, the community stands at the forefront of harnessing AI for greater opportunity, equity, and impact in both education and healthcare.

ModMed, a leading provider of specialty-specific healthcare technology, has made a significant impact in Illinois by donating access to its ophthalmology-focused electronic health records (EHR) system to three community colleges: Elgin Community College, College of Dupage, and Triton Community College.

This initiative, highlighted in the company's official press release on ModMed's ophthalmology EHR donation, equips more than 50 aspiring ophthalmic technicians each year with hands-on experience in real-world workflows, patient documentation, and healthcare technology management.

Elgin Community College, for example, now prepares up to 20 students per semester for the Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) exam, with their first graduating class seeing two-thirds gain employment in the field.

A summary of the program's impact is shown below:

College	Annual Students Supported	Program Highlights
Elgin Community College	Up to 40	COT exam prep, strong employment outcomes
College of Dupage	15 (current clinicals)	Largest in Illinois, COA & COT tracks
Triton Community College	~34	Hands-on EHR training in labs every semester

As Mitzi Thomas, College of Dupage Assistant Professor, put it:

“ModMed has created a practical way for our students to access tools that weren't available to them before.”

More details about this partnership and its effects on local workforce training can be found in recent coverage by Becker's ASC Review on ModMed's community college donations and in the Health IT Business News Financial Edition coverage of technology donations in eye care education, underlining how technology donations are shaping the future of eye care education in Illinois.

The inaugural class of Elgin Community College's Ophthalmic Technician program has officially graduated, marking a significant milestone both for the students and for healthcare education in the region.

Launched in Fall 2019 in response to regional demand, the program is a two-year Associate of Applied Science degree that prepares graduates for immediate entry into the in-demand field of ophthalmic technology.

Program highlights include a state-of-the-art laboratory featuring advanced diagnostic equipment, hands-on clinical rotations, and curriculum designed to prepare students for the nationally recognized Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) exam.

As Assistant Professor Lori Marco notes,

“This degree is good for people who do not want to or cannot complete four years of college. Health care is a field that will always be there.”

Graduates from the first cohort have already secured job offers and reflect diverse backgrounds, demonstrating the program's role in expanding career opportunities.

The class's 100% completion rate underscores ECC's commitment to workforce development and meeting the healthcare needs of the community. For more on the program's structure and graduate experiences, visit the official ECC News announcement, read detailed profiles on ECC's news page, or learn about the academic and facility features of the Ophthalmic Technician program.

Program Feature	Details
Degree	Associate of Applied Science (2 years)
Lab Facilities	2 exam lanes, 2 diagnostic rooms, advanced equipment
Certification Preparedness	Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) exam
Completion Rate (2024)	100%

This graduation not only signals new career tracks for ECC students but also addresses a critical regional need for skilled eye care professionals.

ModMed is redefining educational EHR innovation by integrating AI and cloud technologies across specialty medical training, with a strong focus on automating clinical documentation, optimizing workflows, and enhancing patient engagement.

At the 2025 AAOS Annual Meeting, ModMed will showcase its latest AI-powered solutions, led by the ambient listening tool ModMed Scribe, which leverages specialty-specific data to streamline charting and suggest diagnoses, surgical orders, and prescriptions.

These advancements go hand-in-hand with predictive analytics for patient health, automated EMR documentation, and seamless interoperability with third-party health systems, giving students and providers access to smarter, connected care tools.

As Dr. David Wei, Medical Director of Orthopedics at ModMed, emphasized:

“AI is reshaping the future of orthopedic care, and ModMed is leading the charge.”

ModMed's 2025 software updates further include tailored treatment recommendations, real-time data sharing, and AI-driven revenue cycle management, detailed in the following table:

Feature	AI/Cloud Benefit
Ambient Listening (Scribe)	Automates note-taking and visit documentation
Predictive Analytics	Early detection of patient health risks
Claims Denial Assessment	Flags high-risk claims before submission
Enhanced Patient Portals	AI chatbots for scheduling and personalized insights

These robust, cloud-based solutions are designed not to replace but to “make you better,” supporting educators, students, and practitioners while meeting modern healthcare's evolving needs.

Learn more by exploring ModMed's official press releases on AI and educational EHR innovations, the detailed feature launch at the 2025 AAOS Annual Meeting, and comprehensive 2025 update overviews with tangible benefits for specialty training from EmrFinder's analysis of ModMed EMR Software.

Elgin Community College is equipping its students for national ophthalmic technician certification thanks to a partnership with ModMed, which grants hands-on access to a state-of-the-art, ophthalmology-focused electronic health records (EHR) environment.

This educational initiative, also in place at College of Dupage and Triton Community College, lets more than 50 Illinois students annually practice real-world patient documentation, specialty workflows, and technology management - vital skills for passing Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT) and Certified Ophthalmic Assistant (COA) exams.

“Our program's goal is to prepare students who are ready to excel in their careers. Thanks to ModMed, our students can confidently step into their future roles,” said Shelby Stanley, Program Director at Elgin Community College in a recent press statement.

The first cohort at Elgin saw two-thirds secure jobs upon graduation, highlighting both industry demand and the value of this hands-on training. As detailed in ModMed's announcement, each college integrates the EHR into clinical labs and coursework, fostering workforce readiness in a sector where technology and patient care intersect.

For a deeper look at this community impact, see the original ModMed press release on its EHR donation to Illinois colleges, explore recent program milestones in the Business Wire feature on ModMed ophthalmic technician program, and find ongoing updates in ModMed's official company newsroom.

College	Program Launch	Annual Students Supported	Recent Graduates (Spring 2025)
Elgin Community College	2022	Up to 20/semester	Two-thirds employed
College of Dupage	-	15 in clinicals	15 using ModMed EHR
Triton Community College	-	16 graduating in May	18 enrolled for August

Collaborative workforce development in Illinois' eye care sector is seeing tangible progress through a strategic partnership between Modernizing Medicine (ModMed) and three local community colleges - Elgin Community College, College of Dupage, and Triton Community College.

ModMed has donated access to its specialty-specific electronic health records (EHR) system, creating hands-on, workforce-aligned training environments for over 50 ophthalmic technician students annually.

“ModMed has created a practical way for our students to access tools that weren't available to them before,”

shares Mitzi Thomas, Assistant Professor and Chair at College of Dupage, underscoring the growing demand for real-world tech experience in healthcare training.

Notably, Elgin Community College's program, launched in 2022, has already celebrated its first graduating class with two-thirds securing employment - a testament to the effectiveness of integrating advanced EHR systems into curricula.

The table below highlights key data from each participating college:

College	Program Launch	Annual Students	Key Outcomes
Elgin Community College	2022	20/semester	First class graduated; 2/3 employed
College of Dupage	N/A	15 in clinicals	Largest in IL; dual COA/COT tracks
Triton Community College	N/A	16 graduating in May, 18 enrolled for August	100% use EHR in lab training

This initiative enhances each college's ability to prepare students for national certification and elevates the recognition of ophthalmic technicians as vital healthcare professionals.

For more details, read the official ModMed press release on EHR donation at Illinois community colleges, explore how this partnership supports future ophthalmic technicians and innovative education, and stay updated on advancements via ModMed's newsroom.

Chicago area community colleges are raising the bar in ophthalmic technician education, blending rigorous clinical training with the latest healthcare technology.

Elgin Community College, College of DuPage, and Triton College each offer exceptional programs - backed by industry leader ModMed's recent donation of its specialty-focused electronic health records (EHR) system, providing students hands-on experience with real-world digital tools.

As Mitzi Thomas, Assistant Professor at College of DuPage, observes:

“ModMed has created a practical way for our students to access tools that weren't available to them before. This partnership sets our students up for success in a competitive field.”

These programs prepare students for national certification and high job placement, supported by comprehensive courses in anatomy, ophthalmic procedures, and patient care, as outlined in the Ophthalmic Technician A.A.S. program at College of DuPage.

The innovative collaboration with ModMed enables over 50 students annually to enter the workforce with advanced EHR, documentation, and workflow management skills, directly addressing Illinois' shortage of certified eye care professionals, as highlighted in ModMed's press release on empowering future ophthalmic technicians.

For those interested in joining these forward-looking programs, further details on course requirements and specialized pathways are available at the official College of DuPage Ophthalmic Technician Program page.

ModMed has secured the #1 spot for specialty-focused electronic health record (EHR) software in the 2025 Black Book Research Awards, continuing its dominance across 11 medical specialties including dermatology, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, and orthopedic surgery.

The 2025 Black Book survey, which drew from over 33,000 validated respondents nationwide, ranked ModMed's solutions highest for specialty-specific workflows, interoperability, and user satisfaction.

As shown in the table below, ModMed's scores and client experience ratings in key specialties frequently exceed 94%, reflecting the company's commitment to highly tailored design and practice-centric functionality.

Specialty	Score (out of 10)	Client Experience Rating (%)
Dermatology	9.6	96
Gastroenterology	9.5	95
Ophthalmology	9.6	96
Orthopedic Surgery	9.4	94
OB/GYN	9.4	94

“ModMed's EHR solutions consistently deliver the tools that physician practices need to excel,” said Doug Brown, President of Black Book Research. “Their ability to tailor software to specialty workflows while maintaining interoperability, compliance, and user satisfaction makes them a leader in the field of electronic health records for specialty care.”

In addition to specialty EHRs, ModMed was also recognized for integrated practice management and revenue cycle management, reinforcing its reputation for comprehensive, user-driven healthcare IT solutions.

Read more details in the official press release on ModMed's 2025 top ranking, view the full specialty rankings and scores in the Black Book Research's published survey analysis of EHR vendors, and explore how ModMed's specialty EHRs stand out in ModMed's 2025 success overview for integrated practice solutions.

This month, ModMed continued to reinforce its influence in healthcare technology with a prominent showcase of its latest AI-driven solutions at the AAOS 2025 Annual Meeting, unveiling tools designed to transform orthopedic practice efficiency and patient care.

Notably, ModMed Scribe - an AI-powered ambient listening solution - was featured for its ability to streamline clinical documentation by listening to patient-provider interactions and suggesting structured note content across diagnoses, surgical orders, and more.

Additional AI advancements include preemptive claims denial assessment to prevent revenue loss, automated patient message routing for faster communication, and enhanced fax categorization to reduce manual entry.

The newly introduced ModMed Procure module extends automation to inventory management, enabling practices to optimize supply tracking and billing within a single platform.

As Dr. David Wei, Medical Director of Orthopedics at ModMed, stated,

“AI is reshaping the future of orthopedic care, and ModMed is leading the charge.”

These innovations come as ModMed's AI tools receive industry recognition, including ASTP certification for provider efficiency, and as the company grows following a major acquisition by Clearlake Capital.

For a comprehensive look at ModMed's AI-powered feature set and its transformative impact, visit ModMed's official release on orthopedic AI innovation at AAOS 2025, read third-party industry coverage from MarketWatch on ModMed's advancing technology, and explore an in-depth overview at Medtech Insight's report on ModMed's AI-powered Scribe launch.

Triton Community College's Ophthalmic Technician Program continues its rapid expansion, underscoring the institution's commitment to high-demand healthcare training.

As a two-year Associate in Applied Science degree, the program delivers hands-on instruction in essential skills such as diagnostic testing, patient data collection, and support for ophthalmic procedures, with a firm focus on professionalism, safety, and empathy.

Of note, students benefit from exclusive in-lab access to ModMed's innovative EHR software, ensuring they graduate workforce-ready and conversant in industry-standard technology.

The impact of this collaboration is clear: in May, 16 students are set to graduate, with 18 new enrollees for August - a testament to the growing interest and strong employment outlook.

“For a decade, I've worked to ensure students are prepared for success in the field. This collaboration elevates our program and increases recognition for this essential career path,” said Lisa Maas, Program Chair, in a statement highlighting ModMed's partnership.

Program outcomes include proficiency in modern care workflows, compliance with healthcare standards, and readiness for professional certification - a career-advancing, though not mandatory, step in Illinois.

The table below summarizes program milestones for 2025:

Number of Graduates (May 2025)	Incoming Students (August 2025)	EHR Technology Used
16	18	ModMed EHR

Future technicians can learn more about admission requirements and scheduled information sessions on the official Triton Community College Ophthalmic Technician Program page.

For broader context on regional initiatives in workforce training and healthcare technology, see recent coverage on ModMed's role in Illinois community colleges.

In Elgin and beyond, tech companies are making a meaningful impact by combining innovation with social responsibility, as demonstrated by ModMed's recent donation of ophthalmology-focused EHR access to Elgin Community College, College of Dupage, and Triton Community College.

This initiative creates a real-world "sandbox" environment for over 50 students annually, providing opportunities for hands-on learning in patient documentation and technology management, and directly addressing the growing local demand for certified ophthalmic technicians.

As Shelby Stanley, Program Director at Elgin Community College, shared,

“Our program's goal is to prepare students who are ready to excel in their careers. Thanks to ModMed, our students can confidently step into their future roles.”

Table 1 highlights the scale and reach of this program:

College	Annual Student Participants	Specialty Focus	Notable Outcome
Elgin Community College	~20/semester	COT Exam Prep	2/3 of graduates already employed
College of Dupage	15 (clinicals)	COA & COT Programs	Largest community college in Illinois
Triton Community College	16 (graduates in May)	Ophthalmic Technician	18 new students in August

Beyond education, ModMed champions diversity and community health with employee resource groups and outreach programs, affirming the company's broader commitment to social good.

For more on the EHR donation and its educational goals, see ModMed's official press release.

Learn about ModMed's ongoing social responsibility and workforce initiatives on their corporate responsibility page, and view larger trends in health IT philanthropy in the Health IT Business News April 2025 roundup.

Elgin's technology landscape is undergoing a dynamic transformation, with unique opportunities emerging from statewide innovation efforts and a vibrant local push for tech training and workforce development.

Declared Innovation and Technology Month by Governor JB Pritzker, April underscored Illinois's commitment to becoming a global quantum technology leader and expanding STEM career pathways - an ambition further reinforced through major events like World Quantum Day and statewide STEAM expos for students (Illinois Innovation and Technology Month details).

Workforce data reveals both promise and challenges: the 2025 Illinois K-12 Technology Workforce Report highlights increased cabinet-level IT leadership but also warns of staffing gaps and budget disparities in smaller districts, compounded by looming retirements among tech staff.

Local job seekers can explore a broad range of remote tech roles, such as backend and platform engineering - some offering salaries upwards of $180,000 - as featured on Golang Jobs in Elgin and reflecting the demand for both Golang and cloud platform talent.

Meanwhile, regional innovators - like South Elgin-based Craveworthy LLC, named among EY's 2025 Midwest Entrepreneur Of The Year® finalists - are demonstrating that Elgin's entrepreneurial spirit remains strong and critically tied to tech sector growth.

As Elgin invests in smart city solutions and robust digital upskilling (from K-12 through adult programs), the city is well-positioned to bridge workforce gaps, foster entrepreneurship, and power its tech-driven future into 2025 and beyond.