Major Albany Med system upgrade streamlines patient care through Epic platform

A major upgrade to the Albany Med system. Albany Med is already reaping the benefits.

This is the interface of Albany Med's new electronic charting system. It's called Epic, and to the staff at Albany Med, it feels that way.

"Our patients are now able to access their health record very easily. It also enhances access to their providers, physicians, advanced practice providers," said Albany Medical Center hospital director Jason Mouzakas.

It went live at Albany Med in March, connecting all of Albany Med's offices and locations into one platform to work together better and to work better with other hospital groups across the country that are also using Epic.

"We’re able to conference in with that information very easily and very seamlessly. No longer do we have to wait for medical records, test results," said Mouzakas.

It's a game changer in terms of saving time that's critical for sick patients. Within Epic is MyChart, where patients can direct message their doctors, make appointments and check lab and test results. In the last month alone, Albany Med's tracked more than 600 instant chats on MyChart between providers and patients each day. It's helped to make some of the 30,000 appointments scheduled at the hospital in one month. "We know that these are challenging times, whether it’s waiting in a waiting room in the emergency room, whether it’s anticipating a surgical procedure, whether it’s accessing a physician or a provider for an appointment, and what we’re seeing now is the visibility around wait times and about where we can help with patient flow and movement."

Senators Schumer and Gillibrand helped secure a $500,000 grant to go toward these upgrades. Epic will go live a Saratoga Hospital, Glens Falls Hospital and Columbia Memorial Hospital in September.