Patterson Breaks Ground on New Center

Patterson Companies Inc., celebrated construction of its upgraded Patterson Technology Center complex in Effingham, Ill.

When completed in fall 2011, the nearly 100,000-square-foot center will have the space and high-tech capabilities to expand current development, testing and call center support of the newest technologies for customers and business partners in the markets served by Patterson Dental, Webster Veterinary and Patterson Medical – the businesses that comprise Patterson Companies.

The center supports Eaglesoft practice management and digital software, CAESY patient education, Patterson-branded computer hardware and exclusive Patterson products, such as CEREC and Schick.

The state-of-the-art complex will have a workforce capacity of about 600 – nearly double that of the current center, also in Effingham. Features will include simulated dental, veterinary and rehabilitation environments showcasing the newest technology products and seamless integration capabilities. This representation provides opportunity for employees to gain more extensive hands-on training using cutting-edge technologies and demonstrates how leading software and digital technologies, for example, work together to enhance efficiency and productivity.

Additional upgrades include expanded quality assurance and usability labs for testing software and observing users as they navigate the software. Larger, more comprehensive resource rooms will allow for continual training and enable support specialists to more quickly access a wider array of equipment used by more customers. The center also serves as a software and hardware certification center for technology advisors and service technicians in the field. Electronic workstations – virtually without paper – will be implemented.