Epic EHR Integration to Improve Molecular Testing Access

Caris Life Sciences, a molecular science company, has announced a partnership with Epic Systems to support an EHR integration to improve molecular testing access.

Through this partnership, oncologists will be able to order an array of molecular tests from Caris Life Sciences within Epic for more than 250 million patients with a record in the EHR.

Caris' entire suite of molecular profile services, including whole exome and whole transcriptome sequencing for tissue and blood samples, will exist within Epic's Orders and Results Anywhere (ORA) network for all Epic system users, representing 60 percent of oncologists.

The integration, available later this year, will give providers direct access to test results without having to perform any additional steps, streamlining clinical workflow. By gaining direct access to structured genomic data and patient health information, providers can improve health outcomes and the patient experience, the press release stated.

"Integrations like ours with Caris Life Sciences directly benefit patients by improving access and efficiency to testing results that lead to informed treatment decisions,” Alan Hutchison, vice president of Population Health at Epic, said in the press release. "We are excited for this enhanced partnership with Caris to further increase health access and care, and the opportunity to help deliver precision medicine to a greater number of communities."

Epic has partnered with several health companies in the last few months to improve testing access. In April, the EHR vendor collaborated with precision oncology company Guardant Health in an effort to enhance patient access to cancer screening.

The Epic EHR integration will give providers the ability to order Guardant SHIELD, a blood test that screens for early signs of colorectal cancer, Guardant Health stated.

Health systems, community healthcare providers, and retail health clinics will be able to incorporate Guardant Health blood tests directly into routine clinical care, offering immediate result delivery.

"Guardant Health’s integration with Epic will provide an easier and more efficient workflow for clinicians to order cancer tests and access real-time results, giving providers the information they need to make the best care decision for their patients," Hutchison stated in a separate press release.

In June, precision medicine company Myriad Genetics also announced that it would integrate its tests within Epic’s EHR, expediting the test ordering process.

“Genetic testing and precision medicine save lives,” said Hutchison. “Through this relationship, we’re bringing genetic insights to the point of care at scale, giving providers and patients the information, they need to make more timely, informed decisions.”