When people hear the word “epic”, it connotes a sense of greatness or heroism. To overcome reoccurring obstacles is epic, as well as finishing a long-awaited journey. Several folks at Providence Alaska Medical Center would have to disagree. The journey of Epic at the large hospital campus was sure a long-awaited journey. It was also a big obstacle to overcome. To hear this word, however, makes several employees at Providence nervous and anxious—maybe even cringe.
Epic is the term that has been thrown around the past 12 months and is here to stay. It is software that integrates the healthcare organizations’ databases which span from clinic, access, and revenue functions into one system. This electronic medical record and charting system will steer clear from the use of paper trails that some clinics still rely on. This software will streamline the work of clinical providers, hospital staff, and patients to ensure a patient’s visit is admitted, charted, discharged, and billed correctly. It puts patient care at the utmost front. Indeed, it is epic to have such advanced technology to hold all mediums in one system, however its greatness does not ware off on individuals who have been a part of the hospital system for years.
The problem many individuals feel about switching over to Epic is how reliant the hospital will be with electronic systems. Many healthcare providers and workers at Providence are not used to the advanced technology medium. Comments heard here and there express how concerned and frightening this transition actually is. Many people in the healthcare organization have been working there for years, even decades. There have already been many changes along the way with the latest system implementation in 2005 when the hospital implemented a system called McKesson. They are not ready for another switch.
People shouldn’t be scared of technology, because we live in its generation. As systems and products are constantly advancing with new discoveries, so should an organization’s workflows. People need to be ready to adapt to something that will benefit a larger population. I’ve heard people confessing they are not ready for change, yet change is inevitable. We live in a society where being efficient is expected. Being able to incorporate all of the miniscule workflows and constant bounce from system A to system B will save a tremendous amount of time and work. Epic will synchronize all of these tasks.
Working in a hospital organization has one primary concern: care for the patient. Being able to work in a system that integrates all different systems that Providence formerly adopted will ensure patient care is top notch. Employees and staff of the organization need to learn to utilize all their resources available to them—and Epic is willing to provide that.
The system is looking to streamline many of the overlapping workflows that departments within the hospital may either tend to overlook or have conflicting issues with. Epic will provide organized and reliable modules to straighten these cranks out. For example: a patient missing registration information when being admitted will have the precise information on file for greater accuracy due to Epic having “stops” in the system that inform a staff member what information is necessary. A patient will have the correct coding and billing of procedures being done at a visit because of constant confirmations built into the Epic system that will ensure defined checks are met. A patient will also be fully-aware of their encounter visit information being charted by soon having access to their own records from the comfort of their own home.
Providence Alaska Medical Center contracted with Epic in October 2009 and signed on for an 18-month implementation phase to end in May 2011. They were the guinea pigs of the product which brought great interest to the Providence Health & Services Board of directors towards the Providence Health Systems organization as a whole. This will now be brought to Providence Region systems located in Washington, Oregon, California, and Montana.
The entire region implementing this new product will benefit patients across all hospitals and clinics. It is foreseen to develop long-term relationships to patients and to provide the best care possible.
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