From hybrid schedules to vaccine clinics, here are seven updates on Epic, Cerner and Allscripts' work-from-home policies and COVID-19 initiatives.
- Kansas City, Mo.-based Cerner on Oct. 1 mandated that all its U.S. employees get vaccinated against COVID-19 by Dec. 8.
- Cerner delayed its hybrid return-to-office approach until after Jan. 1, CEO David Feinberg, MD, said during the EHR vendor's third-quarter earnings call. Dr. Feinberg said although he doesn't want to be overly optimistic, "it seems like there’s a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel."
- When Cerner employees do return to the office, there will be a hybrid approach, Stephanie Greenwood, a spokesperson for Cerner, told Becker's. There is a small percentage of its associate base who work full time in the office and a small percentage of employees who are fully remote. The majority of Cerner employees will be dynamic, which gives them the flexibility of working from home or on site.
- Allscripts implemented a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for U.S. employees and extended its work-from-home policy through June 2022, Tom Lynch, a spokesperson for Allscripts, told Becker's.
- Epic began its back-to-Campus plan in May, Brett Rehm, senior vice president of technical services, told Becker's. On July 17, employees had to be on campus three days a week. On Aug. 1, employees had to be on campus four days a week. In September and October, employees may work from home one day every other week. In November, Epic will assess how the plan is working for its employees.
- EHR giant Epic on July 30 notified its approximately 9,600 workers that they had until Oct. 1 to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
- Epic said 99 percent of employees are either partially or fully vaccinated. Less than 0.5 percent of Epic's employees chose to leave the Verona, Wis.-based company rather than get vaccinated, an Epic spokesperson told Becker's on Oct. 8. Epic is hosting two vaccine clinics on campus to make it easier for its staff to get inoculated.