The future of Beebe Healthcare began at 5:08 a.m., Nov. 1.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s when they flipped the switch on Epic, a state-of-the-art, single, connected health record that patients can access through MyChart.<\/p>\n
Patients can use MyChart to view medical records, link medical records from other health systems, schedule appointments and pay bills.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a huge undertaking, an amazing accomplishment,\u201d said Dr. David Tam,\u00a0Beebe president and CEO.\u00a0\u201cThis is a transformational day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tam said MyChart centralizes patients\u2019 medical records all in one place, no matter where the person or their records come from.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey can be from Bayhealth, Jefferson, Penn or Johns Hopkins, anywhere in the country; their information will all be in MyChart,\u201d Tam said.<\/p>\n
Tam said the vision for the transition to a patient-centered solution began during the pandemic.<\/p>\n
More than 100 people were involved in the planning, design and implementation of Epic, working nights, weekends and holidays over the last three years.<\/p>\n
Tam said the formal process of launching the system started back in January.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were building the foundation, consolidating legacy systems and integrating third-party systems. It was complicated. It had to be rolled out on thousands of devices. The platform is secure and redundant,\u201d said Mike Makysmow, chief information officer.<\/p>\n
Tam said Epic cost Beebe more than $50 million, including training and new equipment. He said the money came from Beebe\u2019s operational budget.<\/p>\n
Kathy Tregear, chief nursing officer, was responsible for the design, training and device deployment.\u00a0She said the 7 a.m. nursing shift Nov. 1 was the first to use Epic operationally.<\/p>\n
The Cape Gazette spoke with Tregear and the rest of Beebe\u2019s leadership team about an hour after the start.<\/p>\n
Tregear said nobody\u2019s phone was blowing up because of any issues.<\/p>\n
But, while the weekend went well, patients experienced delays Nov. 3, the first Monday after going live, as more stress was put on the new system. Beebe issued this statement in response.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Epic go-live is going as expected, and the system is working properly. We anticipated Monday to be a big day as more than a thousand patients visit outpatient sites and the hospitals. There have been longer-than-expected waits at Lab Express sites, as Monday mornings are typically one of the busiest times. Our top priority is the safety and quality of care that patients are receiving throughout the organization. We appreciate the community\u2019s support during these first few days\u00a0as our fully trained teams work diligently to apply their skills to the new system and ensure patients receive quality, timely care. We are already seeing improvements at many locations. Beebe is confident that this is the best path forward for the delivery of healthcare to Sussex County.\u00a0Once this transition is complete and more patients are signed up and using MyChart\u2019s features, they will experience a more seamless patient experience at all of our care sites.\u201d<\/p>\n
Employees in every job in the hospital were trained on Epic \u2013 doctors, nurses, technicians, food service workers and housekeepers, according to Tam.\u00a0He said some of the Beebe staff were already familiar with Epic from previous jobs.<\/p>\n
Tregear called Epic a game-changer.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor our nurses and clinicians, it means more time focused on care and less time spent on paperwork. It enhances the patient experience and strengthens the way we deliver care,\u201d she said in a news release announcing the launch.<\/p>\n
Beebe said 190 million patients and 3,700 healthcare systems nationwide use Epic and MyChart.<\/p>\n
Dr. Bill Chasanov, chief health systems design officer, said patients will see some immediate changes when checking in for appointments at any of Beebe\u2019s 50 locations in Sussex County.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll now be checking in on an iPad. It will be more seamless. We\u2019re still refining the processes, so changes will continue,\u201d Chasanov said.<\/p>\n
Chasanov said Beebe was the first in the nation to install a pharmacy dispensing system called\u00a0Pyxis, along with Epic.<\/p>\n
Epic will also give Beebe access to improved analytics to help its community outreach teams identify health trends, address gaps in care and proactively manage chronic conditions across Sussex County more effectively, according to the news release.<\/p>\n
\u201cEpic is a big part, but not the only part of Beebe\u2019s future,\u201d Tam said.\u00a0\u201cWe\u2019re continuing the legacy of 1916 when the Beebe brothers brought advanced healthcare to Sussex County. We\u2019ve entered the next phase\u00a0in the same journey.\u201d<\/p>\n