Walmart teams up with Epic for health centers
Walmart has partnered with health records system provider Epic to standardize EHR tools and processes at its health centers.
Epic, which is the most widely-used electronic medical record system, will support all of Walmart’s health and wellness businesses, starting with four new Walmart Health Centers opening in Florida in early 2022. The single system will engage patients, healthcare professionals, insurance carriers and other stakeholders on the Epic platform.
The system will enable communication, personalization and information sharing for both healthcare professionals and patients utilizing a patient portal.
“Our vision to provide best in class healthcare, anywhere, anytime includes a seamless experience for our customers, healthcare professional partners and associates,” said Cheryl Pegus, MD, MPH, executive vice president, Walmart Health & Wellness. “Leveraging best in class partners like Epic and their technology platform will assist us in providing a unified health record across care settings, geographies and multiple sources of health data.”
Walmart has increased its presence in the healthcare space over the last several years, launching Walmart Health to provide a range of healthcare services, including primary and urgent care, labs, x-ray and diagnostics, counseling, dental, optical and hearing services. The retailer opened its first center in Dallas, with expansions to other locations in Arkansas and Florida.
Walmart is not the only major company to dip its toe into healthcare services. E-commerce giant Amazon also launched its own healthcare offering to employees earlier this year before opening its doors to non-employees. Dubbed Amazon Care, the healthcare offering revolves around telehealth and is available in the Greater Seattle area.
Epic is already widely used in more than 2,000 hospitals and 45,000 clinics, and the majority of U.S. patients have their records in an Epic system.
“Across medical, dental and virtual care, patients will have a unified experience—both within Walmart Health clinics and as they move across the nation’s healthcare ecosystem,” said Alan Hutchison, vice president of population health at Epic. “Providers will have new ways to collaborate with patients, payers, and each other more effectively, so they can work cooperatively to manage a patient’s care journey.”
Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."