Epic

Three ways that independent rural facilities are implementing Epic: The State of Washington is launching a multi-agency Epic implementation called Health Care Management and Coordination System (HCMACS) to connect state-run facilities, safety net organizations, tribes, and community-based providers through a shared instance of Epic. HCMACS is one of the first state-level implementations of its kind, advancing Washington’s vision for seamless, coordinated health services. Another way is through Community Connect. Campbell County Health just went live on Epic through a collaboration with UC Health. A rural health system of 90 beds is now connected to a broader network of care, helping to provide a better experience for patients and staff alike while keeping care close to home. State rural health associations are also working to develop a flexible framework to extend Epic to small practices and critical access and community hospitals across their states.

The right tools can help rural healthcare organizations address some of the challenges they face like patient access, administrative burden and staffing challenges, and financial limitations. Here are a handful of examples: Virtual care programs bring high-demand providers to the bedside using Epic-integrated telemedicine. Clinicians can remotely support broad networks of rural facilities and staff, providing needed support and giving patients timely access to specialized care. AI and automation tools can help these organizations optimize efficiency. Providers using Epic’s ambient notes have reported an average of 2 hours saved per day, and 81% agree that it has increased work satisfaction. Epic’s generative AI revenue cycle tools can help manage the bottom line. Using these tools, one organization overturned $1.15 million in claim denials over a 5-month period. Another organization improved medical coding accuracy and efficiency by 46%. The tech is there… but creative solutions are needed to help organizations access it.

America is facing a rural health crisis. Across the country, many communities lack access to physicians and specialists, leaving patients a long way from timely care. This contributes to higher premature mortality rates, particularly from preventable conditions. Technology can provide a framework to help—from cross-organization clinical and workforce collaboration to operational efficiency gains through the use of AI and automation. This week we’ll share information on how the right tools and support can help rural facilities do more with less.

Patients who use MyChart are making it to their appointments more often than those who don’t. A new study from Epic Research found that patient portal use was associated with 21 million fewer no-show appointments in 2024. Patients who used MyChart were more likely to attend scheduled visits across specialties, age groups, and appointment types. Fewer no-shows mean more timely care, better outcomes, and greater efficiency for health systems. Explore the full analysis: https://lnkd.in/gPi98per 

Postpartum hemorrhage is one of the leading causes of maternal death in the U.S.—but it’s often preventable. A new collaboration between the American Hospital Association and Epic outlines EHR-integrated strategies to help hospitals recognize risk early, standardize response, and improve outcomes. Read the report from AHA: https://lnkd.in/gq_9at3d

AI is settling in at the hospital, and as use grows, so do the questions: What’s working? What’s next?    Even if the underlying AI technology stopped advancing today, there’d still be years of use cases to develop. Some thoughts as UGM approaches: https://lnkd.in/gh6_ep_4

Spotted on campus: one of Epic’s most dedicated groundskeepers.

At Orlando Health Cancer Institute, a new approach to infusion scheduling is expanding access to care. By using Epic’s infusion scheduling template generator, clinics automated appointment templates based on real-time capacity and historical trends, leading to a 32% drop in patient wait times, scheduling calls cut from 6 minutes to 1.3, and nurse satisfaction up 50%. “We thought our sites were full, bursting at the seams,” said VP Alyssia Crews. “But we turned this on and recovered 200 patient care hours per month across our sites.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/dGwerVkF

Each week, Epic R&D visit healthcare organizations to observe the software alongside the people who use it. Over the last month, staff have been all over the country, visiting over half of the states to work with community members and see how the software’s being used in real-world situations. Here’s where they were last week:

Five minutes ago, Humana became the first commercial health insurer to directly integrate with MyChart. With this collaboration, members can track deductible and out-of-pocket progress, pull up a digital ID card at the pharmacy, and tap into health plan resources—right in their healthcare provider's MyChart. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gRpbbRrR