Epic

America is facing a rural health crisis. Across the country, many communities lack access to physicians and specialists, leaving patients a long way from timely care. This contributes to higher premature mortality rates, particularly from preventable conditions. Technology can provide a framework to help—from cross-organization clinical and workforce collaboration to operational efficiency gains through the use of AI and automation. This week we’ll share information on how the right tools and support can help rural facilities do more with less.

Patients who use MyChart are making it to their appointments more often than those who don’t. A new study from Epic Research found that patient portal use was associated with 21 million fewer no-show appointments in 2024. Patients who used MyChart were more likely to attend scheduled visits across specialties, age groups, and appointment types. Fewer no-shows mean more timely care, better outcomes, and greater efficiency for health systems. Explore the full analysis: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/gPi98per 

Postpartum hemorrhage is one of the leading causes of maternal death in the U.S.—but it’s often preventable. A new collaboration between the American Hospital Association and Epic outlines EHR-integrated strategies to help hospitals recognize risk early, standardize response, and improve outcomes. Read the report from AHA: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/gq_9at3d

AI is settling in at the hospital, and as use grows, so do the questions: What’s working? What’s next?    Even if the underlying AI technology stopped advancing today, there’d still be years of use cases to develop. Some thoughts as UGM approaches: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/gh6_ep_4

Spotted on campus: one of Epic’s most dedicated groundskeepers.

At Orlando Health Cancer Institute, a new approach to infusion scheduling is expanding access to care. By using Epic’s infusion scheduling template generator, clinics automated appointment templates based on real-time capacity and historical trends, leading to a 32% drop in patient wait times, scheduling calls cut from 6 minutes to 1.3, and nurse satisfaction up 50%. “We thought our sites were full, bursting at the seams,” said VP Alyssia Crews. “But we turned this on and recovered 200 patient care hours per month across our sites.” Read more: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/dGwerVkF

Each week, Epic R&D visit healthcare organizations to observe the software alongside the people who use it. Over the last month, staff have been all over the country, visiting over half of the states to work with community members and see how the software’s being used in real-world situations. Here’s where they were last week:

Five minutes ago, Humana became the first commercial health insurer to directly integrate with MyChart. With this collaboration, members can track deductible and out-of-pocket progress, pull up a digital ID card at the pharmacy, and tap into health plan resources—right in their healthcare provider's MyChart. Learn more here: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/gRpbbRrR

At EGM 2025 in Bristol, healthcare leaders didn’t just talk tech—they showcased results. Elisabeth-TweeSteden Ziekenhuis (ETZ) created a digital care pathway that combines educational materials in the home and remote monitoring, resulting in 50% fewer in-person visits and a 36-day reduction in time from the referral to the procedure for endoscopies.  Amphia Ziekenhuis implemented a home monitoring program which preserves hospital beds for higher acuity patients, saving 3,000 bed days.  Amsterdam UMC doubled MyChart activations with Digipunt, a real-time support desk making digital tools more approachable. “EGM provides an opportunity to bring us all together to showcase & share,” said Dr. Peter-Marc Fortune, Pediatric CMIO at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT). “Once again this year it’s delivered an opportunity to align and optimize our journeys, and to go back to our trusts ready to establish new collaborations and a head full of ideas to improve & enhance our patients’ care & our colleagues’ experience.” Read more: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/gZWjtkWs

Just down the road, in Waukon, IA, a small, rural hospital is doing something huge. VETERANS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL is now live on Epic—through a unique collaboration with University of Iowa Health Care. Using Epic’s Community Connect program, UI Health Care extended its EHR to Veterans Memorial, helping the independent hospital gain access to tools typically available only at larger systems. That connection is already making a difference. Registration times are down from 17 minutes to under four. OB paperwork that used to take hours now takes minutes. And patients who might have driven 90 minutes for care can now see local providers equipped with powerful tools. The Community Connect model lets Veterans Memorial stay independent while gaining the support, data, and workflows to expand access and improve care for its community. Read more: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/gu3jK29K