Difference between revisions of "Epic Systems"

Revision as of 15:04, 13 October 2011

Epic Systems is a medical software company that provides multiple utilities for medical practitioners in one patient-centric database. The databases houses all computer physician order entry, medical records, scheduling software, and practice management applications. According to Epic, one of the main objectives is to “improve the patient experience, provide more effective care, streamline administrative tasks, and strengthen their financial health" [10].

Introduction

As of 2009, Epic, based in Verona, Wisconsin, services approximately 175 customers across the United States and Europe [9, 10]. KLAS, an independent IT reviewer for health-care clients, has consistently rated Epic as one of the top healthcare IT companies in the world. In 2007 KLAS names a total of seven Epic products in its top 20 IT programs; to date, no other healthcare IT software programing vendor has had more than two. In addition, Epic was named the #1 Overall Software Vendor in 2010 by KLAS and has ranked highly in customer satisfaction and response times [1].

History

1970s

The fundamentals for Epic was first introduced by Judith Faulkner, a computer programmer who pursued graduate studies in computer science following a mathematics degree. During the 1970s-1980s, Faulkner worked as a consultant and taught computer science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which according to Dan Balaban, it was “During this time, she led the design of clinical records systems for various departments serving the university's hospital and for the Milwaukee County mental health department” [10].

Then in 1979, Judy Faulker, along with a dozen or so other programmers and information managers, pooled around $70,000 to found Human Services Computing, Inc., which would later become Epic [10]. This system was the commercialization of a clinical records system that they had built for The University of Wisconsin-Madison. This system, called Chronicle, was written in the MUMPS language which was created in the late 1960's and still used today. Chronicle was a patient-centric enterprise system designed to manage inpatient, ambulatory, and payment information.

1980s

Throughout the 1980's the company largely focused on billing and inventory tracking systems. Systems such as Cadence Enterprise Scheduling, a program application for improving the efficiency of scheduling patient appointments was released in 1983, and Resolute Professional Billing, a program which connected patient scheduling and billing, released in 1987, quickly became some of the industry's top scheduling and billing applications [9, 10]. Then, in 1992, Epic released the first Windows-based EMR called EpicCare [2]. After just five years, the popularity and interest in EpicCare grew substantially resulting in more than 15 million dollar profit for Epic [9].

2000s

In 2000, Epic releases MyChart, a software program which gives patients access to their medical records [9]. While it is a highly regarded EMR system, Epic Systems also garnered an unwanted amount of notoriety as a result of an engagement with Kaiser Permanente (KP) to develop and rollout KP's HealthConnect system, a comprehensive EMR system developed to empower health care providers and patients alike. However, in November 2006 a project manager for KP sent an alarming email that predicted losses of up to $7 billion dollars resulting from the HealthConnect implementation [3]. A publicity firestorm ensued for KP. In the end, though, HealthConnect has proven to be a successful system, and KP recently received 12 awards from HIMSS Analytics for achieving the highest levels of EMR implementation [4]. Patients have also been pleased with the system which enables them to be more involved in the management of their own health issues.

Epic had a partnership with Philips to develop a scaled-down version of Epic's software, called Xtenity, which was marketed to mid-sized health care organizations. This partnership ended on September 29, 2006, and no organizations used Xtenity in a production environment. Epic hired many of the former Philips employees from the Netherlands who helped establish Epic's European location.

Since 2006, Epic has increasingly been working on expansion into the international health care market. In 2007, Epic established a subsidiary in the Netherlands to market Epic software.

2010s

In 2010, Epic announced its intention to pursue green energy sources including solar, biomass, and wind power. The company hopes to eventually obtain 80-90% of its energy needs from alternative sources [8].

As of 2011, Epic serves approximately 240 customers globally with nearly 220,000 physicians using EpicCare and sharing information via Epic's Care Everywhere network [1].

What started out as a relatively small company over 30 years ago has transformed into a company which employs over 3,000 people and generates over 500 million dollars a year in revenue [9].

SOFTWARE DETAILS

Epic uses a MUMPS/Cache database [7] to offer an integrated software system [5]. This system is based on the interaction of multiple modules communicating with Epicenter, the patient-centered backbone of the Epic system. The EMRs are the ambulatory system known as the EpicCare EMR and the EpicCare Inpatient Clinical System. These systems interact with each other and with department specific modules such as the ASAP Emergency Department System, Willow Inpatient Pharmacy, Radiant Radiology Information System, OpTime Operating Room Management System, and the Epic Anesthesia Information Management System. In addition, they interact with practice management software that handles registration, scheduling, billing, and call management. Specialty specific modules also exist including Beacon for Oncology practices, Cardiant for Cardiovascular services, Kaleidoscope for Ophthalmology, Phoenix for Transplant services, and Stork for Obstetric services [1].

These systems offer clinical decision support services and computer physician order entry. In addition, Epic also inspired the development of clinical trial applications such as CTA (Clinical Trial Alert), at the University of Cincinnati, and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio, using Epic's CDSS.

To learn more about Epic's EMR certification, visit: http://www.epic.com/software-certification.php.

Other applications from Epic are [5]:

• ADT (Inpatient and Outpatient Admission-Discharge-Transfer Application)
• Anesthesia
• ASAP (Emergency Department Application)
• Beacon (Oncology Application)
• Beaker (Clinical Laboratory Application)
• BedTime (Bed Management Application)
• Bridges (Interface Application)
• Cadence (Scheduling Application)
• Cardiant (Cardiology Application)
• Care Everywhere (Information Exchange Application)
• Clarity (RDBMS Management Application)

• Data Courier (Data Environment Propagation Utility)

• Diagnose Behandeling Combinatie (Dutch Billing Module)

• EpicCare Ambulatory (Ambulatory Medical Record Application)

• EpicCare Home Health (Specialized Home Health Application for use in Patient Homes)

• EpicCare Hospice (Specialized Hospice Application)

• EpicCare Inpatient (Universal Hospital System)

• EpicCare Link (Web-based Application for Community Users)

• EpicWeb (Web-based Clinical Application)

• Haiku (Device Mobility Clinical Application)

• HIM (Chart Tracking, Chart Deficiency Tracking, Release of Information Application, Coding & Abstracting)

• Identity (Master Patient Index [MPI] Application)

• Kaleidoscope (Ophthalmology Application)

• MyChart (Patient Chart Access)

• OpTime (Surgical Application)

• Phoenix (Transplant Application)

• Prelude (Inpatient and Outpatient Registration Application)

• Radar (Dashboard Application - formerly known as 'MyEpic')

• Radiant (Radiology Application)

• Reporting Workbench (Operational Reporting Application)

• Resolute (Billing Application)

• Stork (OB/Gyn Application)

• Tapestry (Managed Care Application)

• Welcome (Patient Self-Service Kiosk)

• Willow, formerly named EpicRx (Hospital Pharmacy Application)

• Willow Ambulatory (Outpatient Pharmacy Application)

This electronic medical records software is from Epic Systems Corp., Madison, WI. it provides integrated access to summary information about a patient. The patient's active medical problems, current medications, and drug allergies are among the core data that physicians must keep in mind when making any decision on patient care. So providers can easily find the newest individual result, in a flowsheet format to higlight changes over time across multiple variables, and in focused views tailored to specialities and settings.

Reference

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-123006762.html

CCHIT Certified Products

ASAP Emergency Department Information System Spring 2008, Expires 11/12/2010 (This product has not been tested against the applicable proposed Federal standards in existence on the date of certification for certified EHR technology of its type under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).) 6

EpicCare ASAP - Core EDIS Spring 2008 & EpicCare ASAP - Core EDIS Summer 2009, Both expire Dec. 31, 2014 (CCHIT and also Preliminary ARRA IFR Stage 1 certified) 6

EpicCare Ambulatory - Core EMR Spring 2008 & EpicCare Ambulatory - Core EMR Summer 2009, Both expire December 31, 2014 (CCHIT and also Preliminary ARRA IFR Stage 1 certified) 6

EpicCare Ambulatory EMR Spring 2007, Expires Nov. 30, 2010 (This product has not been tested against the applicable proposed Federal standards in existence on the date of certification for certified EHR technology of its type under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).) 6

EpicCare Ambulatory EMR Spring 2008, Expires Sept. 30, 2010 (This product has not been tested against the applicable proposed Federal standards in existence on the date of certification for certified EHR technology of its type under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).) 6

EpicCare Inpatient - Core EMR Spring 2008 & EpicCare Inpatient - Core EMR Summer 2009, Both expire Dec. 31, 2014 (CCHIT and also Preliminary ARRA IFR Stage 1 certified) 6

EpicCare Inpatient Clinical System Spring 2008 (Exp. 11/12/2010) & EpicCare Inpatient Spring 2007 (Exp. 11/5/10) Both products have not been tested against the applicable proposed Federal standards in existence on the date of certification for certified EHR technology of its type under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). 6 [EarnValle 9_7_10]

References

1. Epic Systems
2. http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Epic-Systems-Corporation-Company-History.html
3. Robeznieks, A. November 11, 2006. Kaiser Permanente project manager discusses notorious e-mail. http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20061109/FREE/61109011
4. HIMSS Analytics. (March 2009). HIMSS Analytics Stage 7 Award – Paperless and Proud of IT! http://www.himssanalytics.org/hc_providers/stage7Award.asp.
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_Systems
6. http://www.cchit.org/products
7. MUMPS (Massachusetts General Hospital Utility Multi-Programming System)[ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MUMPS]
8. Ferolie, Jim. The Verona Press (7/7/2010). "Solar panels just the beginning for Epic"
9. Eisen, Marc (06/20/2008). "Epic Systems Corporation: An Epic timeline". Isthmus. http://www.thedailypage.com/daily/article.php?article=22984. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
10. Ivey, Mike (2009-03-17). "Epic's system: Take advantage of need for electronic medical records". madison.com (The Capital Times). http://www.madison.com/tct/mad/topstories/443307. Retrieved 2011-09-05.