University of Michigan Health Systems plans Epic transition

The University of Michigan Health System (UMHS) in Ann Arbor recently signed a contract with Epic Systems for the Verona, Wis.-based health IT company to become the primary vendor for clinical software and systems at UMHS for the first stage of a multi-year effort that will involve computing and clinical staff to transform the use of IT at UMHS.

Over time, the products from the Verona, Wis.-based health IT company will replace, unify and/or augment the hundreds of clinical, research, quality and business applications that were developed and purchased by UMHS over the past two decades, according to the provider.

During the next few months, UMHS and Epic staff will conduct a detailed analysis of all the clinical and administrative processes that rely on IT or paper, and outline ways in which researchers could leverage improved access to UMHS clinical information.

After this first stage is complete, UMHS will begin the process of transforming its outpatient clinics and treatment centers, coding and billing operations, scheduling and registration systems and emergency department to run Epic systems almost exclusively, the health system stated.

If all goes well, a new contract to convert systems in the hospitals, pharmacies and central medical record operation will follow, UMHS said. Many smaller systems used in highly specialized areas will also be able to transition to Epic beginning mid-decade.

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