New Medical Record Platform Connects Albany Med Health System Hospitals

All hospitals and outpatient locations in the Albany Med Health System are now connected through a single electronic medical record (EMR), unifying patient records and introducing a shared portal where patients can easily access their health information.

Columbia Memorial Health, Glens Falls Hospital, and Saratoga Hospital launched the new EMR, Epic, on Nov. 2, seven months after the platform went live at Albany Medical Center in March. The platform connects patient records, scheduling, registration, and billing at all System hospitals, outpatient locations, and urgent care facilities.

With the transition to Epic, the Albany Med Health System expanded its new patient portal, MyChart, to Columbia Memorial Health, Glens Falls Hospital, and Saratoga Hospital patients. MyChart gives patients secure online access to their records so they can schedule appointments, view test results, refill their prescriptions, message their doctor, pay bills, and more. MyChart replaces the patient portals that had been in use at Albany Med Health System locations. Patients have been notified of the changeover and can sign up for MyChart at albanymed.org/mychart.

“For a hospital, the electronic medical record is the source of truth for patent information,” said Albany Med Health System President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis P. McKenna, MD. “Unifying this platform at each of our locations elevates and enhances the way we deliver care as the Capital Region’s largest health system. Patients will have a more seamless experience visiting one of our specialists or receiving emergency care. Our incredible team of experts can easily collaborate and share information to get the whole picture of a patient’s journey within the System.”

Epic is an industry leading EMR and replaces multiple independent EMR platforms that had been in use across the health system. Albany Med Health System clinicians can better coordinate services, securely sharing the most accurate and up to date patient information across locations. This reduces the potential for repeat tests and paperwork, phone calls between physician offices, and allows patients to easily check in on their own or a family member’s health care journey through MyChart. The System has also aligned patient billing processes, including payments, financial aid, and insurance updates.

“Our transition to Epic has been more than two years in the making,” said Dr. McKenna. “Thousands of employees have spent countless hours building this platform, testing it, training on it, and ensuring it’s where it needs to be to heighten the experience of our patients and support our staff in providing the best, most informed care possible.”