Epic clients: Prepare your camping gear and s'mores ingredients because Epic kicks off its 2018 Users Group Meeting Aug. 27 at its Verona, Wis.-based headquarters, and this year's theme is "The Great Outdoors."
The annual conference brings together Epic users for four days of sessions, workshops and other "cool stuff," the meeting's website states. For example, this year will feature a "Taste of Epic" activity in which attendees can dig into some of the EHR vendor's "tastiest eats and treats."
The company held its first annual meeting in 1980, one year after it was founded. About 8,000 attendees are expected to attend this year's meeting, which will feature 600 sessions. The attendees represent nearly all of Epic's 400 customers, including international clients from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.
This year, Epic is also planning its first conference for healthcare executives and strategic leaders who don't use Epic, but want to exchange health information with providers on Epic in their communities. Un-UGM is slated for Sept. 26, about one month after the Aug. 27 to Aug. 30 event.
But what have UGMs of old looked like? Becker's Hospital Review found out.
Here are 10 past themes of Epic's annual meeting, including this year's:
2018: "The Great Outdoors"
2017: "World of Wizards"
2016: "Adventures in Wonderland"
2015: "A Classic Episode"
2014: "Down on the Farm"
2013: "Deep Space"
2012: "Rock IT"
2011: "Once Upon a Time"
2010: "UGM: The Musical"
2009: "Wild Wild West"