System EMR to Heighten Communication Among Workforce, With Patients
As Workday is readied for its launch, work continues on the Albany Med Health System’s unified electronic medical record (EMR).
In May, the Epic implementation ended the build work required to move into the next phase of the project focused on system and user readiness. Multiple testing efforts are underway and will continue through the fall to ensure that our design of Epic is effective and functioning. This summer also marked the beginning of change readiness activities with workgroups and advisory councils reviewing high impact workflows in conjunction with clinical and operational leaders. High impact workflows and decisions are those identified throughout the project as having significant impact, both positive and negative, on end users.
The EMR team has also begun to prepare for training delivery later this year by recruiting provider specialty champions and credentialed trainers. These trainers are Albany Med Health System employees who will help train their colleagues using curriculum developed by our partners at Epic and clinical and operational leaders System-wide.
A single EMR platform will allow the Albany Med Health System to offer patients a more unified continuum of care while better supporting our clinical staff. Among the work currently underway is clinical content build, which will take place through January and includes developing standardized order sets that represent numerous specialties from across the System.
With Epic will come new technology and features allowing clinicians to further engage with patients and their colleagues across the System. This includes tools to ease documentation such as a single dictation system with Dragon Medical One and shareable note templates. Epic will also introduce tools to facilitate communication between members of the patient care team, including a secure chat function and a secure mobile platform. Additionally, MyChart, Epic’s patient portal that will follow the patient no matter where they seek care within the System, will allow patients to interact directly with their care team as well as receive test results, see their medications, and keep track of upcoming appointments.
Epic’s launch will occur in two waves. The first will be at Albany Medical Center in March 2024, followed by Columbia Memorial Health, Glens Falls Hospital, and Saratoga Hospital in September 2024.