Pittsburgh-based UPMC will be transferring 6 million patient records from nine EHRs to Epic Systems, a task that will involve 600 information technology technicians and as many as 1,200 physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other clinicians, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Sept. 5.
The health system has been using Oracle Cerner for inpatient records and Epic for outpatient records. This move, expected to be completed by mid 2026, will put all patient records on one unified platform, giving providers quicker access to a patient's entire medical record.
According to Chris Carmody, chief technology officer of UPMC, the move will also shrink the 27 million digital patient admission, discharge and transfer messages generated daily at UPMC.
"It's not just a technology transfer, it's truly transformational for the system," Mr. Carmody said. "We're really guided by our clinicians in how we build this system. Care doesn't slow down for data to move."
UPMC did not disclose the cost of the EHR move but said it was expected to pay for itself within seven years.
The health system is also planning to roll out expanded features for its patient portal, MyUPMC.
Ed McCallister, CIO of UPMC, told the publication the EHR switch will have far-reaching effects.
"It's one of the most transformative activities we'd had here at UPMC," he said. "It's going to impact everybody. It's the entirety of the organization that's going to move this forward."