Category: epic

Epic consulting workflow overview

Complete Epic Software Module Overview

Posted on | by Jasdeep Mann

A Strategic Guide for Health Systems and Epic Consulting Teams

Epic Systems is the leading electronic health record platform for large health systems, academic medical centers, and integrated delivery networks. Its strength lies in a unified suite of modules that share a single patient record across clinical, operational, and financial workflows. For healthcare leaders, understanding the structure of Epic’s ecosystem is essential to guide implementation priorities, align workflows, and evaluate Epic consulting partners effectively.

Core Clinical Care Modules

EpicCare Ambulatory

EpicCare Ambulatory is the foundation of Epic’s outpatient platform. It supports comprehensive visit documentation, e-prescribing, and results review for primary and specialty clinics. SmartTools such as SmartPhrases and SmartTexts streamline documentation, while specialty-specific templates improve note accuracy. Integration with MyChart enables direct patient communication and appointment management.

EpicCare Inpatient (ClinDoc)

ClinDoc powers inpatient documentation for nurses, physicians, and care teams. It captures assessments, progress notes, medication administration, and discharge planning. Decision support tools guide clinical care, and Rover mobile integration enables bedside charting. ClinDoc forms the core of hospital documentation and is one of the first modules implemented in Epic go-lives.

ASAP Emergency Department

ASAP is designed for emergency departments managing rapid patient throughput. It features a real-time track board, triage workflows, time-stamped documentation, and critical condition alerts. Integration with order sets and best practice advisories supports fast, evidence-based decision-making and seamless transitions from ED to inpatient care.

OpTime and Anesthesia

OpTime manages surgical scheduling, case documentation, and OR logistics, while Anesthesia captures intraoperative vitals, medication administration, and recovery data. These modules work together to streamline perioperative workflows, improve charge accuracy, and enhance patient safety across surgical services.

Stork Obstetrics

Stork supports pregnancy and delivery care, connecting prenatal documentation, labor tracking, and postpartum follow-up. Integration with fetal monitoring devices and newborn records ensures a continuous care experience for both mother and baby.

Ancillary and Specialty Modules

Beacon Oncology

Beacon supports chemotherapy and cancer care management. It standardizes protocols, monitors cumulative drug dosing, and integrates with Willow Pharmacy for accurate medication tracking. Oncology teams use Beacon to manage treatment plans and ensure patient safety throughout therapy cycles.

Cupid Cardiology

Cupid unites diagnostic and procedural cardiology data. It supports echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, and electrophysiology documentation, integrating directly with PACS for image management and structured reporting.

Radiant Radiology

Radiant serves as Epic’s radiology information system, handling scheduling, image tracking, and result distribution. It automates follow-up workflows and integrates with diagnostic imaging systems for seamless results review.

Beaker Laboratory

Beaker provides a complete laboratory information system for both clinical and anatomic pathology. It supports specimen tracking, quality control, and automated result delivery. Integration with other Epic modules ensures test results appear instantly in provider workflows.

Willow Pharmacy

Willow centralizes medication management across inpatient and outpatient settings. It integrates with dispensing cabinets, supports e-prescribing, and provides drug interaction alerts. This module is essential for safe, closed-loop medication administration.

Bugsy Infection Control

Bugsy automates infection prevention and regulatory reporting. It monitors lab data for early signs of infection, identifies isolation needs, and tracks healthcare-associated infection metrics for compliance and safety improvement.

Access and Revenue Cycle Modules

Prelude and Grand Central

Prelude manages patient registration and insurance verification, while Grand Central handles admissions, transfers, and discharges. Together, they provide the foundation for patient access, identity management, and accurate billing downstream.

Cadence Scheduling

Cadence optimizes provider scheduling and patient access. It supports provider templates, self-scheduling through MyChart, and automated rescheduling via Fast Pass. Efficient scheduling improves throughput and provider utilization.

Resolute Professional and Hospital Billing

Resolute manages both facility and professional billing. It automates charge capture, claim creation, and denial management. Integration with clinical modules ensures accurate reimbursement and financial transparency.

Charge Router

Charge Router links clinical documentation to billing. It validates and routes charges from source modules like OpTime, ClinDoc, and Radiant, reducing manual work and ensuring compliance.

Tapestry Managed Care

Tapestry supports organizations operating managed care or value-based contracts. It manages member eligibility, claims adjudication, and network relationships while linking financial and clinical performance metrics.

Patient Engagement and Mobile Tools

MyChart Patient Portal

MyChart provides patients with secure online access to their health information. Patients can view results, request refills, message providers, and pay bills through desktop or mobile apps. The portal supports digital engagement and continuity of care.

MyChart Bedside

MyChart Bedside extends engagement to inpatients through tablets displaying schedules, test results, and educational materials. It enhances patient experience and communication during hospitalization.

Epic Cheers CRM

Epic Cheers is Epic’s customer relationship management system (Healthcare CRM) designed to streamline outreach, improve patient engagement, and automate communication workflows. It supports e-mail, text messages, phone outreach, and multichannel campaigns targeted to specific patient groups. Cheers pulls real-time clinical data from the EHR to identify care gaps, overdue screenings, and upcoming preventive care needs. It provides contact center staff with a unified view of patient information and allows organizations to automate reminders, follow-up messages, referral outreach, and population health campaigns. Health systems use Cheers to increase appointment completion, improve outreach efficiency, and strengthen long-term patient relationships.

Haiku, Canto, and Rover

Haiku and Canto enable mobile access for physicians, while Rover supports nurses and ancillary staff with barcode medication administration and real-time documentation. These apps improve efficiency by bringing the EHR directly to the point of care.

Analytics and Population Health

Healthy Planet

Healthy Planet supports population health management and value-based care initiatives. It identifies at-risk patients, tracks quality measures, and integrates care management workflows. Organizations use it to manage chronic conditions and meet ACO goals.

Cogito and Caboodle

Cogito is Epic’s analytics engine, and Caboodle is its enterprise data warehouse. Together, they enable real-time dashboards, predictive analytics, and operational reporting. These modules help executives monitor performance and make data-driven decisions.

SlicerDicer

SlicerDicer allows clinicians and analysts to create self-service reports and explore data visually. It is commonly used for quality improvement, research, and operational trend analysis without the need for advanced technical skills.

Interoperability and Integration

Care Everywhere

Care Everywhere facilitates the secure exchange of health information between Epic and non-Epic organizations. It supports query-based and push-based record sharing, ensuring that patient data follows the individual across health systems.

Epic on FHIR

Epic’s FHIR APIs enable third-party app integration. These standards-based connections support innovation in patient engagement, remote monitoring, and analytics without compromising security.

EpicCare Link

EpicCare Link provides community partners with web-based access to patient data. It strengthens referral coordination and collaboration with external physicians, improving continuity of care.

Implementation Sequencing for Health Systems

Most health systems implement Epic in a phased approach that prioritizes operational stability and clinical adoption. A typical sequence includes:

  1. Core Access and Registration: Prelude, Grand Central, Cadence

  2. Foundational Clinical: EpicCare Ambulatory, EpicCare Inpatient, ASAP

  3. Perioperative and Pharmacy: OpTime, Anesthesia, Willow

  4. Ancillary Systems: Beaker, Radiant, Cupid, Beacon

  5. Revenue Cycle: Resolute, Charge Router, Tapestry

  6. Patient Engagement: MyChart, MyChart Bedside

  7. Analytics and Population Health: Healthy Planet, Cogito, SlicerDicer

  8. Mobile and Integration: Haiku, Canto, Rover, Care Everywhere, FHIR APIs

Strong Epic consulting guidance ensures each phase aligns with organizational readiness, governance structures, and clinical workflow design. Experienced consultants help tailor training programs, build personalization strategies, and measure adoption through Epic’s Signal data and reporting dashboards.

The Role of Epic Consulting

Effective Epic implementation depends on more than technology. Success comes from aligning system capabilities with clinical workflows and organizational goals. Epic consulting partners bring deep knowledge of system configuration, change management, and physician engagement. They help ensure that teams are trained, workflows are optimized, and adoption metrics are measurable and sustainable.

Conclusion

Epic’s ecosystem spans every dimension of healthcare operations, connecting patient access, documentation, analytics, and engagement within one platform. Understanding how each module fits together enables leaders to prioritize investments, streamline workflows, and improve outcomes.

Health systems that approach implementation strategically—and partner with experienced Epic consulting teams—achieve stronger adoption, better clinician satisfaction, and sustainable improvements in care quality and efficiency. Engaging consultants who understand both the clinical and operational sides of Epic ensures that technology truly enhances care delivery.

Transforming Epic Challenges into Clinical Success

Posted on | by Jasdeep Mann

A Physician-Led Approach to Epic Consulting & EHR Excellence

The promise of electronic health records was simple: digitize healthcare to improve patient care, streamline workflows, enhance clinical efficiency, and improve interoperability between systems. Yet today, physicians spend up to two-thirds of their workday clicking through Epic rather than caring for patients. Nurses report feeling buried under documentation demands. And healthcare systems struggle with clinician burnout at unprecedented levels.

These aren’t just statistics. They’re the daily reality for thousands of clinicians navigating Epic implementations and optimizations across the country. At ReMedi Health Solutions, our physician-led Epic consulting team has witnessed these challenges firsthand, having supported over 45 healthcare systems through major Epic transformations and large-scale implementations and optimizations. We understand these pain points because we’ve lived them, both as practicing clinicians and as informaticists leading these complex healthcare IT consulting projects.

The Five Critical Challenges and How to Overcome Them

1. Breaking Free from Redundant, Unoptimized Workflows

Epic’s power lies in its configurability, yet many organizations simply digitize paper processes without reimagining workflows for the digital environment. The result? What we call “death by a thousand clicks,” where ordering a simple medication or reviewing an allergy requires navigating multiple screens.

Recent studies reveal that Epic’s standard builds often fail to align with specialty-specific needs¹. What works for internal medicine may create friction for oncology or emergency departments. This one-size-fits-all approach forces clinicians into workflows that feel redundant and disconnected from actual patient care.

The ReMedi Approach: Our physician informaticists don’t just teach Epic functionality. They reimagine workflows from a clinical perspective. Through our specialty-specific Epic optimization services, studies show that customizing workflows for each department’s unique needs can reduce documentation time by up to 36%². Our team of physicians, nurses, and pharmacists understands that efficient workflows must reflect how care is actually delivered, not how a system thinks it should be delivered.

2. Epic Software Training: Transforming Training from Burden to Empowerment

Traditional Epic training often fails clinicians. One-time classroom sessions can’t prepare providers for the complexity of real-world clinical scenarios. Nearly 40% of nurses report their Epic training was inadequate, with 42% saying it wasn’t tailored to their specific workflows³.

Without ongoing support, clinicians resort to inefficient workarounds or flood IT departments with help tickets. The knowledge gap between what Epic can do and what users know how to do becomes a chasm that swallows productivity and morale.

The ReMedi Approach: We pioneered the peer-to-peer Epic training model because we believe clinicians learn best from clinicians. Our Epic-certified physicians speak the same clinical language, understand the same pressures, and can translate technical capabilities into practical workflows. In our recent partnership with a leading oncology center, this physician-to-physician support model maintained patient volumes during go-live (an achievement rarely seen in major Epic system implementations).

Our Epic software training methodology has consistently achieved a 99% increase in clinician confidence post-training and a significant decrease in educational-related tickets during go-live support.

3. Unlocking the Power of Epic Personalization

Research demonstrates significant underutilization of Epic’s personalization features, with many clinicians missing out on SmartPhrases, customized order sets, and preference lists that could save hours weekly². They’re using Epic with default settings, leaving powerful efficiency tools untapped.

The most satisfied Epic users heavily leverage personalization features. At UC Davis Health, physicians who completed personalization training reduced after-hours charting by 25 hours per month and improved their Epic efficiency scores by 24%⁴. Yet most organizations lack structured personalization programs, leaving clinicians to figure it out alone (if they have time).

The ReMedi Approach: Our Epic Personalization and User Settings Labs (USL) aren’t just training sessions. They’re transformation experiences. Through one-on-one sessions with our physician consultants, providers learn to create custom note templates with SmartPhrases, build personalized order sets, optimize preference lists, and configure SmartSets for their specific practice patterns.

At UT Health, we provided Epic personalization support to over 2,000 physicians across 80+ specialties. Our clinically-driven approach ensures that Epic works the way physicians work, not the other way around. We’ve seen providers who thought Epic was their enemy become advocates after discovering how personalization can streamline their daily practice.

4. Creating Communication Channels That Actually Work

Sixty-five percent of nurses feel they have no voice in EHR changes at their organization⁵. This disconnect between end-users and decision-makers creates a vicious cycle: clinicians encounter daily frustrations, have no effective way to communicate them, and eventually disengage from the system entirely.

When feedback disappears into a void, minor issues fester into major problems. Organizations miss opportunities to improve workflows, address safety concerns, and boost satisfaction. The technology meant to connect healthcare instead creates silos between those who use it and those who manage it.

The ReMedi Approach: Our clinical help desk and Epic support services revolutionize post-implementation support. By creating dedicated support channels for providers, nursing, and front desk staff (all answered with clinical peer oversight), we ensure that every concern is understood and addressed by someone who speaks the same language.

In one large East Coast health system, our clinical help desk handled over 6,000 calls monthly with a 70% first-call resolution rate and just 23-second average response time. But more importantly, we created a feedback loop where clinical insights directly inform system improvements. Our Power BI dashboards provide real-time visibility into user challenges, enabling rapid response to emerging issues.

5. Conquering the Administrative Avalanche

The numbers are staggering: physicians handle 43 prior authorization requests weekly, spending 12 hours on these administrative tasks alone⁶. Add lengthy documentation requirements, endless InBasket messages, and medication refills, and it’s no wonder 75% of healthcare professionals feel documentation demands impede patient care⁷.

EHR-related administrative burden directly correlates with higher burnout rates, medical errors, and clinician turnover. The technology meant to support clinical excellence has become its greatest obstacle.

The ReMedi Approach: We attack administrative burden from multiple angles. Our Epic optimization and consulting services identify and eliminate unnecessary documentation requirements, streamline InBasket workflows, and implement protocol-driven systems that appropriately distribute tasks across care teams.

During implementations, our hybrid Epic go-live support model (combining on-site physician informaticists with virtual support teams) ensures clinicians never feel abandoned with administrative challenges. We’ve deployed innovative solutions like AI-enhanced support tools that resolved over 1,100 queries on-demand during a large health system go-live, preventing small issues from becoming documentation disasters.

Healthcare IT Consulting Built on Clinical Understanding

What sets ReMedi’s Epic consulting services apart isn’t just our offerings. It’s our perspective. Our leadership team has walked in your clinicians’ shoes. We’ve felt the frustration of newly configured systems, the exhaustion of documentation and click burden, and the satisfaction of finally getting Epic to work as desired.

This clinical DNA infuses everything we do, from our initial workflow assessments to our post-live optimization services. We don’t just implement Epic; we transform it into a tool that enhances rather than hinders clinical practice. Our comprehensive Epic service lines (advisory, training, personalization, go-live support, optimization, and clinical help desk) each address specific pain points while working together to create sustained success.

As proud members of the KLAS Arch Collaborative, we leverage data-driven insights to continuously improve our Epic consulting methodologies. Our 95.8 overall KLAS score reflects not just technical competence, but our unwavering commitment to clinician satisfaction and patient care.

The Path Forward: Expert Epic Consulting for Your Organization

Epic’s challenges are real, but they’re not insurmountable. With the right healthcare IT consulting approach (one that prioritizes clinical workflows, peer-to-peer support, and continuous optimization), Epic can fulfill its promise of enhanced patient care and clinical efficiency.

At ReMedi, we believe every click should have clinical value. Every workflow should reflect how care is actually delivered. And every clinician should feel empowered, not burdened, by their EHR. When we get Epic right, we don’t just improve metrics. We restore joy to the practice of medicine.

Ready to transform your Epic challenges into clinical success? Let’s start a conversation about how our physician-led Epic consulting and training services can make the difference for your organization.

For more information about ReMedi Health Solutions and our comprehensive Epic consulting services, contact us at info@remedihs.com or explore www.remedihs.com.

References:

  1. Tang et al. BMJ Health & Care Informatics. 2025. Epic Implementation User Experiences.
  2. Chen JG, et al. JMIR Formative Res. 2025. Outcomes of an Advanced Epic Personalization Course.
  3. Healthcare Dive. 2024. Nurse EHR Satisfaction & Burnout Report (KLAS).
  4. UC Davis Health. 2019. Physician Efficiency Program Results.
  5. Healthcare Dive. 2024. Clinical Documentation Burden Survey (AMIA).
  6. AMA. 2024. Prior Authorization Physician Survey.
  7. Downing NL, et al. NAM Perspectives. 2022. EHR Optimization and Clinician Well-Being.

Transforming EHR Adoption with Peer-Led Personalization

Posted on | by Jasdeep Mann

Discover How a Leading Northeast Health System Achieved 97.8% Physician Satisfaction with Epic Personalization

Transforming Provider Readiness from 61.8% to 95% Confidence Through Physician-Led Training

When a major Northeast health system with 2,500+ physicians across 20+ facilities faced Epic implementation, traditional training methods weren’t enough. With physician readiness averaging just 61.8% and 33% rating themselves as unprepared, they needed a different approach.

ReMedi Health Solutions delivered a breakthrough physician-to-physician personalization model that transformed their Epic adoption:

Exceptional Results:

  • 97.8% satisfaction rating for ReMedi physician coaches
  • 96.3% satisfaction with personalization sessions overall
  • 95.9% of physicians recommended sessions to colleagues
  • 30.4% increase in Epic readiness after a single session
  • 5,000+ personalization sessions delivered across 100+ specialties

The Secret? Clinical Expertise at Scale: Our hybrid virtual and in-person model enabled 350+ sessions per day during peak periods, while maintaining the clinical depth that drives real adoption. Real-time analytics tracked every metric—from session completion to physician confidence levels.

“I had the pleasure of receiving my Epic Personalization training from a ReMedi Physician who was both patient and incredibly informative. They clearly explained the purpose of each icon, guided me through the process, and even anticipated my needs when I wasn’t sure what to ask. His ability to tailor the training to my role within the institution was invaluable. He went above and beyond to ensure I felt confident and equipped, and his support made the entire experience seamless and productive. A true professional and a great guide!” — Physician, Epic End-User

Download the full case study to discover:

  • The specific 3-pillar approach that achieved 95%+ satisfaction ratings
  • How real-time analytics dashboards tracked 2,596 specialists across all specialties
  • Why 2,270+ custom templates and 2,230+ preference lists were built in just 13 weeks
  • The exact methodology that maintained clinic volumes during go-live

Ready to see how physician-led personalization can transform your Epic implementation?





    Achieving Epic Efficiency: How NMHS Transformed Physician Experience with Personalized EHR Training

    Posted on | by Jasdeep Mann

    How North Mississippi Health Services Enhanced Clinician Efficiency and Confidence with Epic EHR Personalization

    North Mississippi Health Services (NMHS), a leading healthcare provider across Mississippi and Alabama, faced significant challenges during a large-scale Epic EHR implementation. Clinicians struggled with lengthy documentation processes and inefficient workflows, impacting patient care and physician satisfaction.

    By implementing ReMedi’s peer-to-peer virtual training model, NMHS achieved remarkable results through specialty-specific personalization. The clinically-driven, scalable approach empowered clinicians with tailored SmartPhrases, NoteWriter Macros, and optimized SmartSets, significantly improving workflow and EHR usability.

    Download the full case study to explore detailed outcomes, implementation strategies, and learn how NMHS achieved Epic’s Good Install Credit with ReMedi’s proven methods.

    Key Outcomes from NMHS’s Epic Personalization:

    • 97.9% increase in Epic confidence after peer-to-peer training
    • 99.4% rating for ReMedi Physician Coaches
    • Full engagement of Epic Personalization using a fully virtual on-demand model, leading to achievement of Epic’s Good Install Credit
    • System-wide adoption of customized workflows and Epic smart tools optimized by specialty

    Discover How Personalized Epic Training Drives Success
    Complete the form below to instantly access the full NMHS case study and learn how your organization can achieve similar results.

    Download the Case Study Now

      After Leading Epic Go-Lives for over 15 Years, here’s what we’ve learned.

      Posted on | by Jasdeep Mann

      Updated August 2025 by ReMedi Health Solutions

      At ReMedi Health Solutions, our decades of experience leading Epic implementations have taught us invaluable lessons about ensuring successful go-lives. From taking a clinical-first approach to engaging end-users and investing in comprehensive training, we’ve honed in on best practices that drive Epic adoption, efficiency, and better care delivery. Below are some non-exhaustive insights we’ve collected over the years from a healthcare executive’s perspective.  

      Epic Go-Live Lessons Learned from a Physician Executive

      Lesson One. Solve clinical first, then IT.

      For health IT leaders, one of the biggest decisions is determining how to optimize clinical workflows within Epic to support superior care delivery and revenue cycle management. All too often, the technical capabilities drive decisions rather than clinical needs.

      For a health system that is transitioning from, merging, or acquiring a practice using an EHR like Cerner, Allscripts, or Meditech and going live on Epic, it’s critical to understand the ins and outs of both systems at the outset of the migration project. Using a strategic Change Management approach, it’s vital to know deeply how clinical workflows facilitated care on Cerner and how they will be optimized using Epic. Implementing new workflows across the entire system is difficult, but possible when the leadership team can explain both systems.

      At ReMedi, we advocate a clinical-first philosophy. This means understanding and seamlessly integrating Epic into existing workflows for each role – from physicians to nurses, to billing specialists. Training staff to the top of their licensure by role allows them to practice at their highest level within Epic’s functionality.

      We approach Epic solely through a clinical lens first, before examining the technical/IT requirements. Solutions are built around enhancing medical practices and decision-making capabilities, not structured around Epic system specs. For any issues that arise, our physician informaticists determine whether they stem from functionality gaps requiring optimization or necessitate system builds/integrations.

      Lesson Two. Engage your end-users early and often.

      One key challenge health IT leaders face is achieving buy-in and adoption from frontline clinical staff. Epic go-lives are major transformations – without end-user engagement, satisfaction plummets. According to a recent 2024 Arch Collaborative report, some examples of the tops methods that improve EHR satisfaction include:

      • Making EHR education more accessible to all clinicians and staff
      • Prioritizing effective communication with clinicians 
      • Involving clinicians in the EHR decision-making process
      • Working closely with vendors to address challenges
      • Promoting clinician well-being

      From the start, ReMedi emphasizes consistent communication and incorporating feedback from doctors, nurses, care teams and administrators. We make them partners, not recipients, fostering a sense of control over the Epic implementation. This cultivates organizational investment and overall culture change.

      The effects of end-user engagement on Epic adoption are tangible – when staff feel their voices are truly heard, there is a stronger sense of team cohesion and ownership over the success of implementing Epic. This personal stake translates to higher satisfaction ratings and adoption rates.

      Lesson Three. Training is everything: build an army of super-users.

      No amount of Epic functionality matters if staff aren’t trained comprehensively on leveraging those tools. Yet creating a structured, effective training program is one of the most complex decisions health IT leaders face.

      At ReMedi, we advocate developing a multi-pronged training program for a frictionless go-live. This includes immersive classroom sessions, web-based training resources, and most importantly, building an army of super-users. This approach has proven to foster trust, boost adoption rates, and maximize the long-term return on your Epic investment.

      Empowering a dedicated group of end-users with in-depth training and ongoing support creates a core group of internal champions. These super-users, familiar with your organization’s culture and workflows, become in-house experts and resources for their peers throughout implementation and beyond. 

      By providing super-users with advanced Epic training and developing their skills as educators, healthcare organizations create reliable support systems. Staff have a trusted network of peers to turn to for issue resolution and continued optimization of Epic use. 

      Graphic depicting ReMedi's steps to build a Super User program.
      ReMedi’s strategic approach to build a Super User program

      Lesson Four. Epic Personalization is critical, especially for physicians.

      Physician burnout and Epic dissatisfaction are well-documented challenges in the era of electronic records. Epic interruptions and administrative burdens are often cited as root causes.

      However, ReMedi’s approach illustrates how proper personalization and optimization can instead make Epic a productivity multiplier for doctors. We provide functional Epic training tailored specifically for physicians, so they understand the tools geared towards their specialty and responsibilities.

      For more details on our approach to personalization, read ReMedi’s case study with UTHealth to conduct Epic User Settings Labs and personalization sessions. 

      Inside of personalization and physician efficiency sessions, we unlock powerful Epic capabilities like smart phrases, order sets, and preference lists – all personalized to each doctor’s unique speciality and workflows. These shortcuts and efficiency hacks save physicians significant time per patient encounter. Rather than being a burden, Epic becomes streamlined for their workflow.

      Furthermore, by pairing doctors with ReMedi’s physician informaticists specialized in their clinical area, we shed light on new ways to maximize the potential of Epic across the continuum of care. Doctors gain an enlightened perspective on Epic’s full potential directly from peers who have optimized the system for their respective field.

      ReMedi’s approach to Personalization utilizes real-time analytics dashboards to validate training and outcomes.

      Lesson Five. The investment paradox: spend now or pay later.

      Perhaps the biggest decision for health IT leaders is determining the optimal level of investment for Epic go-live and optimization efforts. At-the-elbow support is an additional cost, requiring short-term staffing for hyper-personalized assistance as issues arise during an Epic Go-Live.

      However, skimping on knowledgeable resources risks crippling issues, workforce frustration, and sub-optimal Epic facilitated care down the line. ReMedi has found that implementing a hybrid model with both on-site and virtual support can optimize implementation costs without sacrificing quality. For an example of the outcomes from a hybrid Epic Go-Live, read this case study. 

      The investment paradox really comes down to taking a short-term perspective versus long-term view. While the upfront expenditure for comprehensive training, embedded resources, and persistent optimization is high, ReMedi has seen how this approach catalyzes positive impacts for decades in a healthcare system’s operations, clinician satisfaction, and quality of care metrics.

      A major achievement upon going live on Epic is maintaining normal patient volumes and wait times from day one. We have found that patient data strategy plays a major impact on the ability to serve normal patient volumes during the Go-Live phase. We advise our health system partners that the optimal approach to optimizing patient data in Epic not only includes electronic conversion, but also data abstraction and chart preparation. 

      Patient data must be reconciled in Epic prior to a patient’s first visit in order to avoid “every patient feeling like a new patient” for clinicians. Working with a clinically trained, outsourced data team is an efficient method for health systems to achieve better data quality upon Go-Live at a sustainable cost. 

      Health IT leaders who take the plunge achieve instrumental wins – staffing costs decline as productivity skyrockets, medical errors reduce as decision support tools are maximized, and revenue cycles become more efficient and lucrative long-term.

      By taking a clinical-centric approach, engaging staff as partners, providing multi-layered training, personalizing for providers, and making a focused investment, healthcare organizations can revolutionize the delivery of quality care using Epic. ReMedi’s 15+ years implementing this blueprint have proven these strategies overcome even the most daunting implementation challenges.

      To meet with ReMedi’s talented Physician Executives about Epic, contact us here.

      Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

      What is the most crucial philosophy for a successful Epic EHR implementation?

      The most crucial philosophy is a “clinical-first” approach. This means prioritizing the optimization of clinical workflows and enhancing medical practices and decision-making capabilities, rather than letting technical capabilities drive decisions. Solutions should be built around the needs of physicians, nurses, and billing specialists, ensuring Epic seamlessly integrates into their existing workflows and allows them to practice at the top of their licensure.

      Why is end-user engagement vital for Epic go-lives?

      End-user engagement is vital because Epic go-lives are major transformations, and without buy-in from frontline clinical staff, satisfaction and adoption rates plummet. By consistently communicating with and incorporating feedback from doctors, nurses, and care teams, they become partners in the implementation process. This fosters a sense of control, organizational investment, and a stronger team cohesion, leading to higher satisfaction and adoption rates.

      How does comprehensive training contribute to a frictionless Epic go-live?

      Comprehensive training is essential because no amount of Epic functionality matters if staff aren’t thoroughly trained to leverage those tools. A multi-pronged training program, including immersive classroom sessions, web-based resources, and especially the development of “super-users,” fosters trust and boosts adoption. Super-users, as in-house experts and educators, provide ongoing support and issue resolution, creating a reliable support system for their peers.

      What is the significance of Epic personalization, particularly for physicians?

      Epic personalization is critical, especially for physicians, to combat burnout and dissatisfaction often associated with electronic records. Tailored functional training for physicians, specialized to their unique workflows and specialties, unlocks powerful capabilities like smart phrases, order sets, and preference lists. This transforms Epic from a burden into a productivity multiplier, saving significant time per patient encounter and allowing physicians to maximize the system’s potential.

      What is the "investment paradox" in the context of Epic go-lives, and how should it be addressed?

      The “investment paradox” refers to the decision of optimal investment for Epic go-live and optimization. While upfront expenditure for comprehensive training, embedded resources, and persistent optimization is high, skimping on these resources risks crippling issues, workforce frustration, and suboptimal care down the line. A long-term view dictates that this initial investment catalyzes positive impacts for decades, including declining staffing costs, skyrocketing productivity, reduced medical errors, and more efficient revenue cycles. A hybrid model of on-site and virtual support can optimize costs without sacrificing quality.

      How does a sound patient data strategy impact an Epic Go-Live?

      A sound patient data strategy plays a major role in maintaining normal patient volumes and wait times from day one of a Go-Live. It’s crucial for patient data to be reconciled in Epic prior to a patient’s first visit. This includes not only electronic conversion but also data abstraction and chart preparation. Failure to do so can make “every patient feel like a new patient” for clinicians, hindering efficiency. Working with a clinically trained, outsourced data team can efficiently achieve better data quality.

      What are some examples of services offered to optimize Epic EHR utilization post-implementation?

      Post-implementation optimization services aim to enhance clinician satisfaction and maximize the EHR investment. These include Physician Efficiency Sessions (peer-to-peer EHR training and coaching), Specialty Specific Optimization (advanced training for unique challenges in specialty practices), and Quality Data Abstraction (post-Live efforts to improve data quality). These services ensure continuous improvement and adaptation of Epic to evolving needs.

      What types of support are available during the initial Go-Live phase of an Epic implementation?

      During the initial Go-Live phase, “at-the-elbow” support is crucial. This involves skilled, reliable specialists providing hyper-personalized assistance as issues arise from day one. Additionally, remote and virtual support through “Virtual EHR Services” can increase EHR adoption and address issues remotely. This immediate and accessible support helps clinicians navigate the new system, resolve problems quickly, and maintain productivity.

      Epic User Settings Deep Dive

      Posted on | by admin | Leave a Comment on Epic User Settings Deep Dive

      Updated August 2025 by ReMedi Health Solutions

      An In-depth View of Customizing Epic User Settings for Physicians

      Epic provides patients, clinicians, and their care teams with numerous possibilities to deliver outstanding patient experiences. Specifically, when discussing the Personalization of Epic, the system enables clinicians to customize their experience to match the demands of their unique speciality.

      Why User Settings are Important for New and Experienced Epic Users

      Physicians and clinicians are already overwhelmed with the number of features to learn and the need to maintain patient volumes around the time of Go-Live and post-implementation. With proper training and customization of their Epic User Settings, physicians can have better control and discretion over personalizing their Epic accounts according to their needs and way of working with their patients and staff.

      Personalizing the Epic User Settings for Physicians and Clinicians

      Fundamentally, we believe the success of Epic is based largely on personalization. Over one-third of all physicians believe that personalization is the most important factor in clinical electronic medical records’ effectiveness.

      To date, prominent providers have established specialty-specific templates and workflows for their health systems, but each provider can go a step further and “personalize” their user settings and learn advanced workflows that help them use the system more efficiently. When hospitals offer providers the ability to personalize Epic, it leads to more efficient workflows, better patient care, positive outcomes for patients, and better metrics for hospitals. 

      Preparing for Epic Go-Live

      Through customization lab sessions and peer-to-peer training, ReMedi’s Epic Physician Team dedicates itself to reducing physician stress, minimizing burnout, and increasing efficiency. Our ReMedi Team consists of board certified and Epic certified MDs that have a deep understanding of clinical and IT environments. The peer-to-peer training model that ReMedi offers hospitals leads to high satisfaction for training physician end-users on Epic. 

      Working with ReMedi physicians, healthcare providers and clinicians can learn how to set up and implement Epic SmartPhrases and Macros, templates, order sets, and preference lists to simplify order and note input in personalization labs. ReMedi Physicians assist doctors in creating a toolkit for the most common workflows, allowing clinicians to focus on fine-tuning personalization to meet workflow-specific requirements. Personalization labs, Epic champions, and concierge services also help providers improve their competency and efficiency. 

      Improving Physician Efficiency and Organizational Performance

      Giving providers one on one training with peers further establishes the health system’s commitment to improving the clinical setting. Training leads to optimizing the way that providers use Epic; hands on training creates the opportunity to build better habits as well as learn advanced workflows. As providers and clinicians learn more about Epic, they develop better control of their workflows, optimizing and boosting their charting and ordering tasks.

      The Basics of an Epic User Settings Lab

      For new Epic users, it is important to first learn how to create notes and create orders.

      Note Creation Inside of Epic

      The note is the central point of all patient data, and Epic offers efficiencies within its note functionality that helps doctors prepare comprehensive notes faster and easier. Within the context of creating notes, it’s important to first recognize the specialty of the physician as this will influence the customization of the note. Specifically, using SmartLinks inside of note templates, ReMedi physicians help physicians tailor their note templates so that the notes automatically pre-populate with specific information that allows doctors to focus more on what matters and less on time consuming documentation measures. 

      The reason why physicians mastering note writing in Epic is so important is because it leads to better documentation. Moreover, it creates a better story about the patient, and enables clinicians to provide better care and more value to the patient over the long term.  Finally, better documentation results in higher operational efficiency for health systems at large, which when implemented effectively across the board can make significant impact to the way in which healthcare is successfully delivered. 

      Learning the Ins and Outs of Orders in Epic

      Orders are foundational to getting anything done inside of the clinical setting. Labs, immunizations, transfers, it all begins with an order whether a clinician is providing care in the inpatient or outpatient settings. Order creation is catalyzed by the clinician’s preference list in Epic, so ReMedi physicians generally teach physicians how to update and manage their preference lists to help streamline their workflows. Within preference lists, ReMedi trains physicians on creating favorites, sharing lists, and utilizing order sets based on the specialty of the doctor. 

      It is a best practice for organizations to create order sets for different specialties. They are available for all physicians to use to expedite placing orders. Clinicians can personalize these order sets and save them as their own version.

      Notably, SmartPhrases and order preferences are the basic benchmarks per Epic. Moreover, ReMedi Physicians go above and beyond when training doctors on Epic by teaching the following tactics:

      • Diving Deeper Into the Why – Our approach is to train doctors to fish instead of simply feeding them with the answers to problems in Epic. Rather than merely providing information, we ensure that providers understand how to use the new EHR effectively.
      • Providing Insight and “Eyebrow Raisers” – ReMedi physicians confront the most difficult challenges and concerns head-on. Furthermore, they provide insight, such that upon “discovering something, this leads to this.”
      • Helping with Navigating – We ensure that the Epic build is up to date and that a clear communication channel is open between our Physician Executives and providers. Furthermore, we aid clinicians in retrieving and entering data, relieving them of the stress of dealing with the technological part of the service.

      Undoubtedly, Epic is getting better and better, making work significantly easier for clinicians.

      Case Example: ReMedi’s Advanced User Settings Approach for UT Health

      The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) recently contracted ReMedi Health Solutions to streamline the implementation of Epic Systems for its 2,000 doctors.

      The Epic Implementation process relies largely on having the proper people guiding an organization’s team to ensure success. Moreover, ReMedi acknowledges that Epic implementation is not one size fits all. ReMedi has proven that using physicians to undertake Epic personalization provides clinicians and end-users with an advantage. In fact, as part of a recent partnership with UTHealth, ReMedi’s physicians were able to train and support UTHealth’s practitioners before the transition to Epic. 

      At UTHealth, ReMedi provided specialty-specific workflows to over 18 specialities at the academic healthcare institution. Before going into personalization, ReMedi takes the time to understand the clinician’s workflow first. ReMedi believes that however useful Epic can be, it will remain futile if workflows do not match the process of teaching clinicians how to apply them. After getting a good grasp on their workflow, only then will ReMedi proceed with personalizing Epic and updating User Settings.

      More specifically, below is ReMedi’s Clinically-Driven approach to personalizing Epic user settings for physicians:

      • Create at least one note template with the SmartPhrases tool
      • Create at least one version of an Order set
      • Create at least one preference list of orders
      • Create at least one Haiku Charges preference list
      • Create at least one QuickAction
      • Create at least one version of a SmartSet
      • Discuss How to setup SmartTools

      Conclusion

      Epic holds great promise as the future of EHR. But, no matter how great the potential Epic has in streamlining healthcare processes, it would remain stagnant if the EHR training is inadequate and physicians do not receive training from their peers with Epic experience. With ReMedi’s expertise, healthcare providers can be sure of a seamless shift towards the world’s leading modern EHR, Epic Systems.

      To connect with our team of physician executives about Epic Systems and EHR, email us at info@remedihs.com.

      Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

      What is the primary benefit of personalizing Epic user settings for physicians?

      Personalizing Epic user settings significantly enhances physician efficiency, leads to better patient care, improves patient outcomes, and provides better metrics for hospitals. When physicians can customize their Epic accounts to match their unique specialty and workflows, it reduces stress and burnout, making the system more intuitive and effective for their specific needs.

      Why is specialized training, particularly peer-to-peer, crucial for Epic implementation?

      Specialized training, especially the peer-to-peer model offered by ReMedi, is crucial because it directly addresses physician stress and burnout during and after Epic Go-Live. Having board-certified and Epic-certified MDs train their physician peers provides a deep understanding of both clinical and IT environments. This approach leads to higher satisfaction among end-users and ensures that the training is clinically relevant and practical.

      What are some key Epic features that physicians learn to personalize for improved efficiency?

      Physicians learn to personalize several key Epic features to improve their efficiency. These include setting up and implementing Epic SmartPhrases and Macros, creating and customizing templates, building order sets, and managing preference lists. Mastering these tools streamlines common workflows, simplifies order and note input, and allows clinicians to focus more on patient care and less on time-consuming documentation.

      How does mastering note creation in Epic contribute to better patient care and operational efficiency?

      Mastering note creation in Epic is vital because it leads to better documentation, which in turn creates a more comprehensive and accurate patient story. This improved documentation enables clinicians to provide better, more valuable care over the long term. Furthermore, effective note creation significantly boosts operational efficiency for health systems, positively impacting healthcare delivery.

      What is the importance of "orders" in Epic, and how does personalization enhance this process?

      Orders are foundational to nearly every action within the clinical setting, from labs and immunizations to transfers. Personalization enhances this process primarily through the clinician’s preference list. Physicians are trained to update and manage their preference lists, create “favorites,” share lists, and utilize specialty-specific order sets. This customization streamlines the ordering workflow, making it faster and more accurate.

      What is ReMedi's "Clinically-Driven approach" to personalizing Epic user settings?

      ReMedi’s Clinically-Driven approach to personalizing Epic user settings for physicians involves understanding the clinician’s existing workflow before proceeding with personalization. This ensures that the Epic customizations align with how doctors actually work. Key elements include training physicians to create note templates with SmartPhrases, custom order sets, preference lists of orders, Haiku Charges preference lists, QuickActions, SmartSets, and how to set up SmartTools. The aim is to empower physicians to understand why they are doing something, not just how.

      How does ReMedi ensure that Epic training goes beyond basic instruction?

      ReMedi ensures that Epic training goes beyond basic instruction by “diving deeper into the why,” meaning they train doctors to understand the underlying principles of using the EHR effectively rather than just providing answers. They also offer “insight and eyebrow raisers” by confronting difficult challenges and providing deeper understanding of system interconnections. Additionally, they assist with navigating the system, ensuring the Epic build is up-to-date and maintaining clear communication channels to alleviate technological stress for clinicians.

      Can you provide an example of ReMedi's advanced user settings approach in action?

      A notable example is ReMedi’s partnership with The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), where they streamlined the Epic implementation for 2,000 doctors. ReMedi provided specialty-specific workflows to over 18 specialties. Before personalization, they took time to understand each clinician’s workflow. This physician-led training and support before and during the transition to Epic ensured that the customizations were highly relevant and effective, leading to a successful implementation.