EMR: faculty thoughts on the Epic demos this past week
Date Posted: Tuesday, March 03, 2015 
“The system demo appeared to show a very robust and slick information system where all of the patient information is in one place and provides the potential to have staff work much more efficiently.”
- Janet Green Physician Work Flow Manager
"The Epic system appears to be a versatile robust system that on the surface seems as fast and reliable as Meditech looking up results but with a modern interface and greater flexibility. However, this flexibility will be a steep learning curve.
A couple of appealing features of the Epic system include: (1) the ability to document communication in a simplified/automated format where escalation of communication can be clearly documented without having to addend reports, (2) electronic order entry should theoretically improve the accuracy of the clinical history, (3) ability to protocol cases within Epic with a direct link to the patients’ medical records, labs, and prior imaging studies should improve our ability to provide an appropriate protocol.
Purchasing the latest and greatest technologies today will be outdated and slow a few years from now. Epic appears to be an integrated web based system that much like Google requires little processing demand on the desktop side. This may decompress the need for system wide hardware upgrades while delivering reliable consistent service."
- Andrew Chen, MD Assistant Professor of Radiology
"I was very impressed at how this system integrates every aspect of the patient’s medical record and streamlines all ancillary areas into one location. This system appears to allow providers to focus more on the patient’s needs rather than work on the follow up paperwork. It seems that there will be fewer errors made due to documenting information real time along with all the 'hard stops' that are built into this system. It is as if you have a second pair of eyes working with you to ensure accuracy."
- Linda Anderson Lead Diagnostic Imaging Technologist
"I was very impressed by Wednesdays presentation of the Epic system. My thought was how this system could be a great tool to us to reach our goals of increased productivity, patient satisfaction, and patient safety.
- If patients have the ability to schedule their imaging appointments, date and time of procedures should be more satisfying to patients, decrease the number of “No shows”.
- Having the patients’ picture included on the electronic Med Rec a great HIPPA tool, especially in the out patient setting.
- The ability to schedule diagnostic exams directly into the Radiology system and having that system coach the scheduler to order the most appropriate exam will save time, money, and rework allowing the Radiology department to run more efficiently
- Having one system that allows caregivers access to all patients medical information will increase our ability to treat patients more effectively."
- Donna St. Clair Ultrasound Lead
“The demonstrations of the Epic Software showed a comprehensive and flexible system capable of responding to the dynamic needs of our patients and clinicians in the Radiology Department and throughout the medical center.”
“Decision support, ‘ACR Select’, is an available, integrated, add-on, in the Epic software. This type of decision support for our referring clinicians will improve appropriate utilization of radiology services while maximizing the benefit to patients”.
- Steven Baccei, MD Vice-Chair, Radiology Quality, Patient Safety and Process Improvement
"Epic is a comprehensive global EMR. Some services may want to consider customization of the software prior to implementation at UMass. Regarding Radiology, we need to integrate request to scheduling. Requesters should be able to pick a date and time when requesting an exam/procedure, while having their patient in front of them. Preauthorization needs to be integrated in the process as well as pop ups to remind the requester that lab or other exams need to be obtained if too old or not in the system. I am looking forward to having a system like this one integrated at UMass."
- Stephen Wicky van Doyer, MD FSIR Division Chief, Interventional Radiology