RICHMOND, Ind. – Reid Health has partnered with Community Health Network in Indianapolis to bring a new, nationally recognized patient and care management system to the region served by Reid.
The partnership will bring electronic medical record and business applications from Epic Systems to Reid Health system patients. The system will include a patient-friendly patient portal and access to records at all care sites of both health systems. The collaboration will also provide Reid Health the benefit of a connection to a larger health system for sharing of clinical practice standards while maintaining independence as a regional referral center.
“We will reap much benefit from this major technology change and upgrade, because Community Health Network is already established as an Epic Systems user and brings that experience to Reid Health,” said Craig Kinyon, Reid President/CEO. “Though the transition period will be seamless to our patients, this is a significant project and implementation that will take up to two years to fully implement. The implementation of the Epic applications, much like our recent campus replacement project, continues to build upon our focus in adopting leading patient care technology that brings advanced tools to physicians and clinicians in caring for the health of our community.”
“This clinical collaboration is a win for both of our organizations,” said Bryan Mills, Community Health Network president and CEO. “Our Epic implementation has helped us adopt and spread best practices for patient care across our many care sites, and we believe adding in the expertise of Reid Health’s providers can only serve to accelerate this innovation. The ultimate beneficiaries are patients of both Community and Reid, as we work together to create patient-centered care aimed not just at treating medical issues, but enhancing health and well-being.”
Kinyon said Community Health Network is a good system partnership for Reid Health because the two organizations have similar missions and patient-focused cultures. “This arrangement aligns well with both Reid Health’s and Community’s strategy of seeking mutually beneficial partnerships while at the same time maintaining independence,” he said.
The collaboration is made possible through Epic Connect, an approach that Wisconsin-based Epic Systems employs to allow existing users to securely share their Epic implementations with other healthcare organizations throughout the country. Reid Health care sites will be integrated into Community’s Epic Systems infrastructure, also allowing Reid to benefit from the expertise that Community has developed while using the Epic applications over the course of several years.
“Several members of Reid’s medical staff were heavily involved in the selection of Epic. We are excited for the opportunities to advance patient care both through the system itself as well as through the partnership with Community’s physicians,” said Allen Joseph, M.D., Chief of Reid’s medical staff.
The system also provides an enhanced patient portal that will eventually replace the one currently offered through the Reid Health system. The portal provides a direct electronic connection between patients and their providers for access to patient care management and medical record information.
With the approval of Reid’s board this week, plans are being made for a project kickoff later this year, with an additional 12 to 15 months needed to build and implement the system.
