CVS Health will implement Epic’s EHR system for CVS Specialty’s care management programs to help integrate and improve clinical processes for CVS Specialty, including Accordant, which provides care management program services for patients with rare, chronic diseases. This announcement marks the expansion of Company’s use of the Epic EHR system beyond MinuteClinic which transitioned to the system in 2015.
The Epic EHR implementation will support CVS Specialty’s evidence-based care management programs and facilitate connectivity with health care providers nationwide that currently use Epic, including many major health systems, hospital networks and physician groups. Epic interoperability currently exchanges more than 1.3 million records daily with tens of thousands of organizations via various national and regional networks including hospitals, clinics and providers.
“As the specialty pharmacy of choice for many payors and patients, we are focused on creating the most clinically advanced specialty pharmacy experience to help improve care and outcomes for our patients,” said Alan Lotvin, M.D. Executive Vice President of CVS Specialty in an official statement. “We are pleased to transition our care management programs onto the Epic platform, which will enable immediate information sharing with other health care providers across the patient’s entire care team. This connectivity is integral in providing the best possible, coordinated health.”
Specialty pharmacy is one of the fastest growing health care segments in the U.S. As the largest specialty pharmacy, CVS Specialty provides advanced clinical services for eligible patients who require treatment for rare or complex conditions. This includes drug therapy management, dispensing and infusion services, in addition to customized support and counseling to help ensure appropriate and safe medication use and achieve positive health outcomes. Eligible patients receive ongoing disease education, counseling and benefits verification, as well as coordination of care with multiple health care providers, comprehensive patient education and adherence management.