Following an extensive review of potential vendors, Care New England Health System has chosen Epic as its new ambulatory clinical information technology partner. With this decision, all Care New England employed physicians and practices will move to a single practice management and electronic medical record (EMR) platform. The benefit will be improved coordination of information to advance patient care and enhanced interoperability with the Care New England hospitals and other providers in the state.

The $17 million, three year project will bring physician practices into the new era of clinical information technology with modules that encompass the medical record, professional billing, scheduling, provider portal, patient portal, secure mobile applications, and multiple interfaces, including with the system’s inpatient EMR, third party payers and CurrentCare, the Rhode Island health information exchange network.

This is the first phase of a project that positions Care New England for full inpatient and outpatient Epic implementation.

According to Cedric Priebe, MD, senior vice president and chief information officer at Care New England, through an increasing number of relationships with leading academic medical centers across the country and its high marks from independent reviewers, Epic is becoming recognized as a leader in integrating solutions for hospitals and physicians and in addressing the future needs of patients.

“It was clear after our analysis,” said Dr. Priebe, “that there was a single best choice, and that was Epic. In building on a single data base, the applications work seamlessly to help support us as we work to improve outcomes, enhance the patient experience and advance research.”

“This is all about the patient,” said Dennis D. Keefe, president and CEO of Care New England. “We believe that Epic’s quality design, ease of use and fluid communication among care teams will lead to improved safety, better outcomes and higher patient and physician satisfaction."

This is the first agreement that Epic has executed in Rhode Island. With that, the company can now claim major project work in all of the 50 states across the nation.

About Care New England

Care New England, located in Rhode Island, was founded in 1996 by Butler Hospital, Kent Hospital and Women & Infants Hospital. Care New England is an integrated health care system that offers a continuum of quality care. The system includes primary care and specialty physicians; two teaching hospitals affiliated with Brown Medical School, Butler and Women & Infants; a community hospital, Kent; a visiting nurse and home care agency, the VNA of Care New England; and Care New England Wellness Center.

About Epic

Epic makes patient-focused software for large and mid-size medical groups, hospitals, and integrated healthcare delivery systems. Founded in 1979, Epic is a privately held employee-owned organization with 290 customers representing over 1,000 hospitals and clinics, and 260,000 physicians using their EMR. Based in Verona, Wisconsin just outside of Madison, Epic has over 6,000 employees. Epic focuses on research and development by putting 47 percent of their earnings back into their products. Their sales marketing force make up less than 2 percent of the company. In December 2012 Epic was chosen “Best in KLAS” for the following software modules: Ambulatory EMR, Acute EMR, Radiology, Pharmacy, Patient Accounting and Patient Management, Practice Management and Optime.