STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — One of Staten Island’s hospitals has received tens of millions of dollars from New York state to enhance its health information technology and bolster cybersecurity.
Last week, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that 22 hospitals across New York, including Richmond University Medical Center, have received a combined $300 million in state funding to improve their technological infrastructure.
“By modernizing our hospitals’ IT infrastructure and protecting patients’ information, we’re strengthening the foundation of health care in New York state,” Hochul said. “These investments will help ensure that hospitals have the tools they need to safeguard patient data, expand telehealth services and deliver a healthier future for all New Yorkers.”
Richmond University Medical Center received $54 million, the most of any New York hospital, which will be used to implement the Epic Electronic Health Record system.
Epic, one of the most advanced healthcare information systems in the world, will improve care at the borough hospital by offering simplified provider workflows and enhanced communication across multiple departments.
Once the new system is fully implemented, patients at Richmond University Medical Center will have access to MyChart, Epic’s secure portal that offers easily accessible medical records, appointment scheduling and the ability to communicate directly with a patient’s healthcare providers.
“Implementing Epic EHR is a transformative step for our hospital,” said RUMC President and Chief Executive Officer Daniel J. Messina, PhD, MPA, FACHE. “This investment gives us a game changing system that enhances the high quality care our patients receive at RUMC and throughout our Richmond Health Network offices while at the same time giving our medical staff the tools they need to serve our community more efficiently. Our thanks to Gov. Hochul for partnering with us to improve lives inside and outside our hospital walls.”