EHR Vendor Epic Announces COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate, Mask Requirement

In a letter sent to staff, EHR vendor Epic Systems announced that all US-based employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 1, according to reporting from Madison, Wisconsin’s NBC15.

As COVID-19 cases rise across the country, Epic told NBC15 that those who choose not to get vaccinated will not be able to remain employed there.

Updated guidance from local public health officials on Friday led to the vaccine mandate, Epic told NBC15.

“We need our staff to be fully vaccinated to continue our important work,” an Epic representative told the news station on Friday, July 30. “We will work with each employee to discuss how they can safely get vaccinated, but we recognize some employees may choose not to get vaccinated and hence will not be able to continue in their role.”

According to senior vice president of technical services, Brett Rehm, and vice president of implementation, Tina Perkins, almost 97 percent of the company’s staff are currently fully vaccinated, NBC15 noted.

In the company-wide letter, the EHR vendor stated that employees should receive their final COVID-19 vaccine dose before September 17 to meet the October 1 deadline.

The Verona-based company will host a Pfizer vaccine clinic on their campus with first doses administered on August 17 and second doses given on September 8.  

Additionally, after the Public Health Department of Madison and Dane county (PHMDC) released guidance to wear masks indoors this week, Epic will require employees to wear masks when getting food at company food areas. Employees may take off their masks to eat and drink, NBC15 reported.

Staff must also wear masks in meeting rooms if the number of attendees is 75 percent or more of the room’s capacity. Anyone who prefers that everyone in the room wear a mask during a meeting will also call for a mask requirement, NBC15 reported.

The mask requirements will go into effect on Tuesday, August 3.