A new health information system called ‘Epic’ launched at the Winchester District Memorial Hospital (WDMH) and a few other locations in November. Staff and physicians underwent training to make full use of the new features and interface, and look forward to a new way of caring for patients. It is a powerful system that uses cutting-edge technology to securely store, organize, and access patient records.

“Epic replaces the current hospital information systems made up of multiple electronic and paper-based systems containing different parts of a patient’s health record,” said Cholly Boland, CEO of WDMH. “Epic gives the patient’s care team the information they need at their fingertips and is proven to reduce wait times, length of stay in the hospital, and readmission.”

WDMH joins a network of nine hospitals utilizing the new Epic system, which allows patients to check their own records through the MyChart portal and app. Medical history, diagnostic test results, upcoming appointments, lists of allergies and medications, and educational materials will all be available through the portal.

Some hospital services will be reduced at the time of launch to allow staff to adjust to the new system while still providing optimal patient care. More details can be found on the hospital website and social media.