Michigan Medicine Adopts Epic Modules to Improve Patient Care

Over the next six years, Michigan Medicine will be adopting new Epic modules and functionalities to optimize its EHR for better patient care and quality, the health system reported in a recent press release.

In 2012, the health system initially launched its EHR, MiChart, which was built on the Epic Systems EHR platform.

Over the years, Health Information Technology & Services (HITS) teamed up with clinicians, researchers, and administrators to identify functionalities that can best serve the complex needs of the Michigan Medicine community, the press release stated.

MiChart Stage 5 (MC5), the three-phase and six-year program aimed at improving the quality, safety, and efficiency of care for patients, will add 19 new Epic modules to Michigan Medicine’s EHR.

The optimization program kicked off in July 2021, and by the end of fiscal year 2023, eight new modules will be introduced.

The implementation of these new MiChart modules will also take aim at enhancing the quality of data, ensuring patient safety, and establishing reliable systems.

“Taking on [MiChart Stage 5] will allow our organization to take a giant leap forward to meet our goal of a truly integrated EHR,” Carleen Penoza, chief nursing information officer and adjunct clinical instructor of Michigan Medicine, said in the press release.

“Our previous staged implementations of MiChart implemented several Epic modules individually to support clinical and operational needs, including Rehab and Care Management,” Penoza continued. “Integrated workflows reduce the redundancy of documentation and improve efficiency. This, in turn, improves patient safety and patient satisfaction.”

C5 is unique from previous MiChart staged efforts as it will be the first MiChart stage that Michigan Medicine is handling independently without contracting assistance from outside vendors, the press release stated.

“It is neat to be a part of something so impactful,” Kristin Toulouse, MiChart release manager, said. “After so much time, planning, and scoping, to start seeing the projects going live is exciting. We are confident all the different projects will bring value.

In October 2021, the first MC5 go-live occurred, incorporating Epic Systems mobile application, Rover, into the radiology workflow.

Previously, radiology performed portable X-ray exams using paper control sheets, which led to a series of complications. The radiology team lacked easy access to MiChart while going room-to-room, recorded misleading timestamps for patient exams, and technologists had to sort through an abundance of patient records for each exam, leaving a greater risk for user error.

Through Rover, the team was able to improve the accuracy of patient records and reduce the likelihood of user error, Michigan Medicine stated.

In April 2022, another Financial Assistance module went live. The Financial Assistance module was implemented to help increase patient security and satisfaction. By providing operations with a secure central database for patient records, the Financial Assistance module was able to enhance the efficiency of workflows and improve patient access, the organization said.

Before the module was implemented, patients who applied for financial assistance had to send sensitive documents in the mail, a process that could take weeks, the press release stated. However, through the Financial Assistance module, patients can submit documents to their MyUofMHealth patient portal, receive real-time updates on their application status, and review responses quicker.

“It’s all about having the best patient experience possible,” said Amber Athan, operations project manager. “Around 67 percent of patients at Michigan Medicine are using the patient portal, so integrating financial assistance is crucial to providing the best patient c