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Syracuse, NY | March 2014
ARE YOU EPIC TRAINED? hysicians and other health care providers who plan to do clinical work at Upstate University Hospital must be trained in the new Epic electronic medical record system.
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The typical training involves three courses that total 12 hours. Sign up by calling 1-315-464-EPIC (3742.) There is no charge. Neal Seidberg, MD, Upstate’s chief informatics officer, says physicians who complete EPIC training at St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center will have fewer requirements at Upstate – and vice versa. The two Syracuse hospitals provide reciprocity to Central New York physicians who practice in both hospitals and require only a brief course for physicians trained at the other hospital. Upstate University Hospital became the first local hospital in Central New York to fully integrate electronic medical records throughout outpatient and inpatient services. The downtown campus converted to the Epic electronic medical record system in March, and the Community campus converts in May. St. Joseph’s is also installing Epic. Epic is a dominant EMR system used in many hospitals and medical practices throughout the
world. It is estimated that 40 percent of the U.S. population has its medical information stored in an Epic electronic medical record. The inpatient rollout of Epic occurred in a relatively smooth fashion, with members of the information management team fielding questions around the clock. Every physician, nurse and other clinical staff provider underwent Epic training in the months leading up to the conversion. Outpatient areas of Upstate began using Epic in 2012, offering patients access to an online patient portal called MyChart. Through MyChart, patients can view their medical records, securely message their healthcare team, request prescription renewals and appointments, see test results and view their bill. “The major issue here is that seamless data about a patient is available to everybody who took care of them,” says Seidberg. “If you are a patient, your care now comes home with you. It doesn’t just stop at the doctor’s office. And it follows you from office to office.” People can join MyChart when they become patients of any Upstate physician. n
UPSTATE IS THE PLACE TO GO FOR TRAUMA CARE pstate University Hospital and Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital are the first in the state to receive national verification as a Level 1 trauma center by the American College of Surgeons in recognition of the optimal trauma care the center provides patients.
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Verification as Level 1 trauma centers for adults and children followed an intensive two-day onsite review, held in December, by medical experts in the field of trauma. They reviewed information related to patient outcomes, physician and nurse training
Upstate Connect: 800-544-1605 for Physician-To-Physician Service
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