Skip to main content

According to Beckers Hospital Review 2023 marks a significant shift as an increasing number of large hospitals and health systems transition to the Epic Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. This move, driven by the desire to harness the potential of digital health and artificial intelligence, is seen as a monumental step towards redefining patient care and operational efficiency.

Cleveland-based University Hospitals stands as a testament to this transformative journey. The institution recently completed its transition to the Epic EHR system, a mammoth task that involved converting 5.6 million patient records into a unified EHR system. David Sylvan, the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at University Hospitals, highlighted the profound impact of this transition. He emphasised that the new system would enable the hospital to identify scheduling gaps, paving the way for accelerated appointment scheduling. But the benefits don’t end there. The hospital can delve deep intoew EHR data with the n, extracting valuable insights to pinpoint process enhancement opportunities. This, in turn, can guide decisions on the optimal deployment of both human and capital assets.

However, University Hospitals isn’t the only institution recognising the potential of the Epic EHR system. Pittsburgh-based UPMC, in a strategic move on September 5, decided to consolidate its nine EHRs into one by switching to Epic. The underlying motivation? To position the health system at the forefront of advances in digital health and artificial intelligence. Rob Bart, MD, the Chief Medical Information Officer for UPMC, shed light on this decision, noting the maturity of Epic’s patient portal compared to other EHR vendors. The ability to interact directly with patients through digital tools, he believes, is crucial for UPMC’s future trajectory.

It’s worth noting that Epic’s rise to prominence isn’t a sudden phenomenon. As reported by KLAS Research in May, Epic has established itself as the top EHR vendor in the U.S. by hospital market share. Furthermore, it has become the preferred choice for large organisations, boasting a clientele that includes most of the country’s well-resourced academic medical centres.

In essence, prominent health systems’ transition to the Epic EHR system underscores a broader trend in the healthcare sector. Institutions are not merely adopting new technologies; they are strategically aligning themselves with solutions that promise to redefine the future of healthcare. By integrating advanced digital health tools and artificial intelligence capabilities, these health systems are setting the stage for a healthcare revolution that prioritises patient-centric care, operational efficiency, and data-driven decision-making.

As health systems continue to integrate AI and digital health tools, we can anticipate a future where predictive healthcare becomes the norm, where patient outcomes are improved through proactive interventions, and where the boundaries of traditional healthcare are continually expanded.

Kevin McDonnell

Author Kevin McDonnell

Helping ambitious HealthTech, MedTech, Health and Technology leaders shape the future of healthcare.

More posts by Kevin McDonnell