Downers Grove, Ill.-based Advocate Health Care has announced plans to implement Epic’s EHR system, replacing Cerner and Allscripts EHR to achieve a single unified EHR platform. Advocate Health Care officials expect to go-live on Epic’s EHR solution within three years, which includes the training of more than 17,000 Advocate physicians, nurses and associates. The new Epic EHR solution will streamline online patient appointment scheduling and digital check-ins.
The news comes on the heels of Advocate Health Care’s recent merger with Aurora Health Care to become the 10th largest not-for-profit health system in the nation. Together, the Advocate-Aurora health system includes 27 hospitals, more than 500 sites of care, employ more than 3,300 physicians and nearly 70,000 associates and caregivers with a combined annual revenues of approximately $11B.
“This transition will allow for better interoperability throughout our entire geographic region, benefiting patients through a seamless, integrated approach,” said Bobbie Byrne, M.D., senior vice president of health informatics and technology and chief information officer of Advocate Health Care in a statement. “We are confident this single-platform EHR will be a nimble, long-term solution that can be continually adapted and developed as technology advances to keep us on the leading edge.”
