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Virtua Implements Innovative Epic Information System

Virtua recently announced plans to transition to Epic, the next generation information and electronic health record (EHR) system. Implementation begins this month with two “live” events:  Virtua’s Ambulatory setting scheduled to launch in October 2017, and Virtua’s  Acute setting to launch in March 2018. Designed for a range of functions, Epic offers clinical and financial systems, registration and scheduling capabilities and the ability for patients to access their own health information.

More than 300 health systems currently use Epic, including academic medical centers and large integrated delivery systems such as Penn, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Johns Hopkins, New York University, Cleveland Clinic and Kaiser Permanente. Recently, both CVS and Walgreens have chosen the Epic platform for their minute clinics. 

Virtua has always been a leader in Health Information Technology (HIT) adoption, utilizing technology to best supplement and enhance care of the patient.  “We have always put the patient at the center of the healthcare process with a technology platform that can support that healthcare process whether the setting is an acute care center, clinic or the patient’s home,” said Tom Gordon, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer.  “The Epic solutions will give us more tools to support the clinical needs of our providers and patients.”

Virtua evaluated several technology platforms, and selected Epic based upon the growing importance of patient engagement, smooth transitions of care, centralized scheduling, documentation across patient visits, ease of use, accountable care and the changing healthcare model. Virtua’s guiding principles in the decision making process were:
  • Better align with healthcare reform and consumerism
  • Enhance patient care delivery and communication across the continuum of care
  • Integration and Interoperability to best tell the patient story

“Epic’s full suite of solutions will position Virtua’s technology platform to support the changing needs of our patients and the changing healthcare system,” said Richard P. Miller, Virtua President and CEO. “Our technology will be even more consumer focused, engaging patients not only in their care, but also in their health and wellness.”

Serving the community has always been a priority for Virtua.  “The Epic MyChart solution will provide our patients with the ability to access their patient records from any device or computer,” said Al Campanella, Virtua Executive Vice President for Strategic Business Growth and Analytics. “This will add efficiency and convenience for viewing results, scheduling appointments, and communicating with providers.”

To date, approximately 55 percent of the U.S. patient population has a medical record in Epic. Virtua will add all of its patient records into its Epic EMR by the end of 2017.