The Kemptville District Hospital (KDH) and Winchester District Memorial Hospitals’ (WDMH) new “Epic” health information platform launches this weekend, and staff is outlining what to expect during the transition.
The platform, already in use at several Ottawa area hospitals, consolidates peoples’ medical records so they’re easier for both patients and healthcare workers to access.
A third hospital in Deep River is also transitioning to the platform alongside KDH and WDMH.
“Putting Epic in place is a big change for staff and patients with many benefits, but it will take time to adjust,” says Brittany Rivard, KDH’s Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Operations. “Please be patient with the staff at each of our hospitals as they adjust to this new system.”
Staff from both hospitals say things like appointments and registration might initially take a bit longer than usual, as workers get used to the new platform.
KDH Chief Executive Officer Frank Vassallo and WDMH Chief Executive Officer Cholly Boland have made a joint statement, saying their teams are ready for the change.
“Preparation has been underway for many months with extensive staff and physician training, new equipment purchases, and improvements to the IT infrastructure,” they say. “Thank you to our teams for your commitment to continually improving patient care.”
Epic is set to launch at both hospitals on Saturday, November 5th.