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An Epic Improvement

At the HEART of

by Paul Hiltz, FACHE
what matters most.
othing frustrates patients more than Even when one of our patients visits another healthcare
fi lling out medical history forms provider that does not utilize Epic’s software, they will still be able
Neach time they visit a new healthcare to give a link to their MyChart records, so the provider can view
provider. Remembering every single their medical information to deliver the appropriate care.
procedure, every single health scare, and every In addition to patient records, MyChart off ers a secure
single medicine can be extremely diffi cult. messaging solution for use by care teams to ensure that all
At NCH, we are doing our part to end healthcare providers are up to date on a patient’s medical status
that frustration for our patients with the while making recommendations for treatment. Th e ability to
system-wide implementation of an improved have more healthcare providers informed about any patient will
electronic medical records (EMR) system allow us to deliver the best quality care possible. Other features
from Epic Systems Corporation (EPIC). Our leadership team include billing inquiries and improved bill payment functionality,
at NCH has carefully reviewed Epic’s system for over a year and medication refi lls and requests, test results, a problems list, provider
June 4 marked the switch from Cerner to Epic as the system’s notes, and online appointment scheduling with current and new
new electronic medical record (EMR) platform. We are confi dent providers.
in the quality of Epic as it is rated higher by physicians than any Additionally, MyChart off er video visits, self-check-in,
other EMR system and is currently utilized by 20 of the 21 best electronic consent signatures, and questionnaires are also available.
hospitals ranked by U.S. News and World Report. For patients who already have a MyChart account, they can link
Epic’s unifi ed platform places patients' needs squarely the two together and see their information in one spot.
at its core. Epic handles all patient documentation and billing in Our goal in making this important switch is to provide
addition to replacing about 150 diff erent applications. Th e ability even better access to care, records, and results as well as an
to eliminate double documentation and record-faxing for more improved experience for our patients.
effi cient record keeping improves the provider’s ability to deliver We are eager to see the improvements that Epic brings
high-quality care. and are certain that it will help us live out our mission statement of
MyChart, the patient-facing software provided by Epic, helping everyone live a longer, happier, and healthier life.
is already familiar to many patients around the nation. More than
fi ve million records are shared daily by organizations using Epic.
Approximately 1,700 hospitals and healthcare systems in the
United States alone use Epic with more than 250 million patient
electronic records on fi le. Many of our seasonal residents already
have their records on Epic/MyChart with their doctor up north,
and now, the new platform will allow those same patients easy The Difference Is In the Care.
access to their records with their NCH doctor here in Southwest At NCH Heart Institute, compassionate care is at the heart of what
Florida. matters most. From diagnosis to recovery, our renowned physicians
Likewise, our NCH Healthcare System physicians will
and nurses provide a comprehensive cardiac care experience that is
get a notifi cation when one of their patients has a change to their For more information about accessing and signing up for MyChart,
medical record when they are outside the Naples area, such as visit nchmd.org/mychart. unparalleled and had led NCH to be named as one of America’s 100
being admitted to a hospital. best hospitals for cardiac care.

NCHheart.com

74 Life in Naples | August, September, October 2022 Life in Naples | August, September, October 2022 75