Buffalo, N.Y.-based Catholic Health is planning to implement an Epic EHR system, investing more than $100 million in the project.
The implementation will take around 18 months, and the health system plans to lease 20,000 square feet of space from Canisius College in Buffalo, where it will place around 150 team members to work on the implementation. The partnership with Canisius College will also include internship opportunities in IT, data analytics and healthcare, among others.
Additionally, Catholic Health will recruit 40 new IT, clinical and business specialists for its 150-member implementation team.
The health system spent over two years assessing EHR platforms before deciding on Epic to replace its current system. More than 1,000 Catholic Health employees, including physicians and nurses, participated in its selection.
"We wanted this to be an inclusive process and Epic was the clear choice among our physicians, nurses, and associates for its ease of use, functionality, and the integration it will give us across our system and for patients throughout the community," said Michael Galang, DO, senior vice president and CIO at Catholic Health. "There is a reason the top hospitals and medical schools in the country use Epic, and we look forward to harnessing this technology to attract the best medical talent to our health system and give area patients another reason to choose Catholic Health to improve and manage their health."
Epic is the most widely used EHR system in the country, and deploying it across its five hospital campuses and other facilities will allow Catholic Health access to a library of analytics and best practices. It offers Catholic Health's clinicians an integrated, single source of patient information that can be shared easily across the system. Additionally, Catholic Health clinicians can share patient information with other Epic users across the country using its interoperability platform, Care Everywhere.
Patients receiving care at Catholic Health will have access to Epic's MyChart patient portal, through which they can access their health data, schedule and cancel appointments, and get in touch with providers.