An 18-month project to implement an EHR and enable patients to access personal health information online around the clock culminated in an announcement Monday from Northwest Community Healthcare in Arlington Heights, Illinois that its new system had gone live.
NCH has joined more than 300 other healthcare organizations in adopting an Epic EHR. Epic systems is the largest EHR provider in the U.S. Shifting to Epic's system entailed converting more than 2 million patient records and training more than 3,600 healthcare providers and clinical workers to use the system — all in the span of six weeks.
Patients can register for the NCH MyChart system online, which allows for more convenient, safer and more effective record management for providers, Steve Scogna, CEO of NCH, said in a statement.
"Epic is all about one chart in one system," Mr Scogna said. "Implementing Epic helps improve communication between clinicians, allows patient data to be readily available across all units and saves time for clinicians who no longer chase down patient charts."
The interactive portal enables patients to request and schedule appointments online, as well as view test results, keep track of medications and request prescriptions securely.
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