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Epic EHR Set to Streamline Care Team Communication at Albany Med

The Epic EHR will provide Albany Med clinicians with a secure chat function and mobile platform to support care team communication.

Hannah Nelson
By
Published: 06 Jul 2023

Albany Med Health System is continuing work on a unified Epic EHR implementation that is set to drive care team communication.

In May 2023, the implementation team completed the build work necessary to move to the next phase of the project centered on system and user readiness. Officials said that testing efforts are underway and will continue through the fall to ensure that the system is effective and functioning.

The EHR team is also preparing for training delivery later this year by recruiting provider specialty champions and credentialed trainers. These individuals are Albany Med Health System employees who will help train their colleagues through a curriculum developed by Epic and clinical and operational leaders systemwide.

Albany Med officials said that a single EHR platform is set to enhance care coordination while better supporting clinical staff.

The system includes solutions to ease clinical documentation, such as a dictation system with Dragon Medical One and shareable note templates. The EHR will also provide tools for care team communication, such as a secure chat function and mobile platform.

The systemwide EHR implementation will occur in two waves. First, the system will launch at Albany Medical Center in March 2024, followed by Columbia Memorial Health, Glens Falls Hospital, and Saratoga Hospital in September 2024.

Georgia Medical Center Goes Live on Epic EHR Through Acquisition

Habersham Medical Center has officially become part of the Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS), which includes adopting the system’s Epic EHR platform, according to reporting from Now Habersham.

The Demorest-based hospital now operates under the name Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Habersham.

“It’s been an extremely smooth transition, thanks to the entire team staying in communication around the clock this holiday weekend,” Kevin Matson, NGHS vice president of regional hospitals, told the news outlet. “The electronic medical record switch has been seamless overall, and we continue to have IT support on-site to help staff when needed.”

To manage the implementation, NGHS created a Go-Live Command Center at NGMC Habersham with on-site IT support and operational leaders.

Since go-live just a week ago, NGMC Habersham has already recorded a few significant milestones.

On Monday, 18 patient beds were filled in the 53-licensed bed facility, a higher in-patient census than the hospital “has seen in weeks,” said Matson.

“The Emergency Department is seeing a steady stream of patients,” he added. “The team cared for a stroke patient, stabilized a trauma patient for transfer to Gainesville, and delivered the first official baby at NGMC Habersham.”

“It’s safe to say all our systems were tested, and the team passed with flying colors,” Matson said.

Seven Community Health Centers Tap OCHIN Epic EHR

Community health centers continue to go live on the Epic EHR system from nonprofit research and innovation network OCHIN.

OCHIN delivers its EHR solution to community health centers serving low-income and vulnerable populations. The network leverages innovation and collaboration to improve patient health outcomes and reduce healthcare organization costs.

The following organizations recently joined OCHIN’s network of over 25,000 providers and 2,000 healthcare delivery sites:

  • Community Mental Health Affiliates —​ Hartford County, CT​
  • Petaluma Health Center​ — Sonoma County, CA​
  • Neighborhood Outreach Access to Health ​— Maricopa County, AZ​
  • Triad Adult and Pediatrics​ — Guilford County, NC​ 
  • ​Friends of Family Health Center ​— Orange County, CA​
  • Bear Lake Internal Medicine Clinic ​— Bear Lake County, ID​
  • Santa Rosa Community Health ​— Sonoma County, CA

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