Epic Systems' annual users' group meeting kicked off Monday at its Verona, Wis., campus, with founder and CEO Judy Faulkner delivering the executive address Tuesday. In her address, Ms. Faulkner discussed interoperability for the greater good, the potential of big data and cyberattack liability, all while dressed as Lucille Ball.
Here are seven things to know about Epic's annual meeting, which runs through Thursday, and Ms. Faulkner's executive address.
1. More than 18,000 healthcare executives and Epic employees are attending this year's meeting, with representatives from 11 countries, according to Madison.com. This is the 36th annual meeting.
2. According to Ms. Faulkner, in the past year, Epic's customers prevented 219,000 harmful or fatal medication incidents and delivered 860,000 babies. Customers exchanged 18 million records in July alone.
3. Epic is developing Cosmos Research Network, where clients can pool unidentified patient data and leverage combined experience and insight to make better care decisions, according to the report. "Each of you alone has big data. But if we put our data together, then it's huge data," Ms. Faulkner said.
4. Ms. Faulkner made no mention of the Department of Defense contract that was awarded to Cerner in late July, nor did she discuss the contract Epic won with Systems Made Simple to develop a new patient scheduling system for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The less publicized contract is worth five years and $624 million.
5. Ms. Faulkner did discuss efforts surrounding cybersecurity liability in Congress. She said Epic is talking with Congress about limiting liability in the event of a cyberattack. "If you are cyberattacked, you should be seen as a victim, not a villain," she said.
6. Overall, Ms. Faulkner upheld the idea of supporting collaboration over competition, "to improve life for humankind," according to the report.
7. The theme of this year's user meeting is "A Classic Episode," and Ms. Faulkner's presentation included clips from TV shows like "I Love Lucy" throughout her presentation. In her trend of dressing up for the executive address to match the theme of the meeting, Ms. Faulkner donned a Lucille Ball costume, quoting the comedian as saying, "I'm not funny; what I am is brave," according to the report.
More articles on Epic:
Epic decoded: An inside look at life and corporate culture at the center of the health IT world
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50 things to know about Epic and Judy Faulkner