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Electronic Health Records
Another Huge Milestone Toward 'One Patient, One Record'
Aug. 1 was a significant day for Lee Memorial Health System—it was the day that HealthPark Medical Center, Lee Memorial Hospital and the Lee Memorial Health System outpatient centers converted to Epic, our electronic health record (EHR) system. This implementation means that all four Lee Memorial Health System hospitals, our outpatient facilities and most Lee Physician Group offices are linked electronically. Now, virtually all of our patients' health records will seamlessly 'follow' them from appointment to appointment, primary care physician to most specialist locations to outpatient facilities, emergency department to hospital.
EHRs are extremely valuable and enable the secure sharing of information, which helps us deliver safer, more reliable, and more coordinated and efficient care. While comprehensive EHRs provide significant value and improve outcome and safety for our patients and the community, it also is important to recognize the hard work and dedication of our Lee Memorial Health System Information Systems (IS) team and many Lee Memorial Health System Epic implementation teams.
In very close collaboration with hundreds of Lee Memorial Health System clinical and operational staff, departmental leaders and physicians, our IS staff and our Epic implementation teams have been working diligently for more than five years to prepare our health system for the conversion to Epic, the nation's leading EHR. From managing implementation issues, coordinating and training staff, installing the programs and providing overall guidance and leadership to the effort, implementing Epic has been a massive and complex undertaking. These teams have successfully launched Epic in all Lee Physician Group primary care and many of the Lee Physician Group specialist locations, all four hospital emergency departments, Gulf Coast Medical Center, Cape Coral Hospital, and now HealthPark Medical Center, Lee Memorial Hospital and the outpatient centers. Together, the IS team, the Epic implementation team members and employees throughout the health system have shown great dedication to the proper installation and implementation of Epic, as well as to our health system and each other. This is a tremendous testimony to the value of collaboration and teamwork.
We are excited for the hundreds of dedicated Lee Memorial Health System Epic and IS team members to see the fruits of their labor as we make this transition tomorrow. A system-wide patient record will now be a reality at Lee Memorial Health System.
As exciting as this is, we know that our IS and Epic implementation team members will continue to enhance and optimize the Epic system so that our staff, physicians, and most importantly, our patients receive the most benefit out of the EHR. In fact, we recently launched MyChart—a secure online access point for our patients. MyChart currently is available to patients of physicians who utilize Epic in their office. MyChart enables our patients to:
- View health summary, medications and most test results
- Review, request or cancel appointments
- Request prescription renewals
- Send secure messages to physician offices
- If authorized, MyChart provides access to utilize the above features on behalf of a loved one or family member in order to help manage their health care
Lee Memorial Health System knows some of our patients may feel wary of this new technology. For those who are concerned, please rest assured that your information is protected and secured by sophisticated password mechanisms and security technology. In addition, an active backup computer system is in place in case a problem occurs. Most importantly, we want our patients and the community to know that this technology is a vital step to ensuring the safest and most efficient care for our patients and their families.
To learn more about MyChart, go to www.LeeMemorial.org/MyChart or visit your Lee Physician Group or other physician who utilizes Epic in their office to receive an activation code.
“Electronic Health Records are extremely valuable and enable the secure sharing of information, which helps us deliver safer, more reliable, and more coordinated and efficient care.”
Epic: Electronic Health Records
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