This past summer, Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) was thrilled to launch their new hospital information system – Epic. It is considered to be one of the best hospital information systems worldwide, used by many top-ranked hospitals. Epic is a fully digital system that replaces electronic and paper methods.
For the first time, every patient’s medical information will be available in one secure place online. Staff and physicians can track a patient’s journey, beginning with their first visit at any Hamilton Health Sciences site. Essential health information can be shared with patients, their approved family members and other healthcare providers.
Two vital features of Epic are MyChart and Visit Messaging. MyChart is a free, secure, online tool that allows patients to manage their personal health information. Patients can view test results, medication lists, appointment summaries as well as attend video appointments. Visit Messaging allows patient’s families to receive text-message updates directly from the operating room.
When Lindsay Janzen’s baby underwent a six-hour surgery, the worried mom received text-message updates from the operating room to her phone while she waited at McMaster Children’s Hospital.
“Knowing McKinley was going to be put under anesthesia and have a breathing tube during surgery was extremely worrying,” says Janzen. “As a parent, you’re scared and thinking about the worst-case scenario.”
“I appreciated getting real-time updates through texts,” says Janzen. “We didn’t have to worry about missing an opportunity to talk in person to a member of the surgical team.”
Epic will vastly improve how HHS delivers care across programs and services for the communities served.
