UPMC, a major healthcare provider, plans to consolidate six million patient records into a single Epic EHR system for better health data interoperability by mid-2026. This transition from Oracle Cerner and Epic for inpatient and outpatient records respectively will offer seamless patient experiences via the MyUPMC portal. Blue Mountain Hospital is adopting Cerner’s CommunityWorks EHR, uniting hospital and clinic records for improved efficiency, albeit with increased costs. Meanwhile, REHAB Hospital in Hawaii embraces Oracle Health EHR modules to enhance patient care and streamline compliance efforts.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said that by the middle of 2026, UPMC will start a substantial undertaking by moving six million patient medical records to a single Epic EHR system. The improvement of health data interoperability is the main objective of this action. A well-known hospital behemoth, UPMC, has been utilizing Epic for outpatient records and Oracle Cerner for inpatient EHR for several years. Healthcare workers will have quick access to patient’s complete medical histories thanks to the implementation of a unified Epic platform.
This transition to the Epic platform will be seamless for patients, with the added benefit of expanded features for MyUPMC, a secure patient portal enabling appointment scheduling, test result reviews, and direct communication with doctors. Although UPMC officials did not disclose the exact project cost, they anticipate that the system’s benefits will offset the investment within a seven-year timeframe.
Ed McCallister, UPMC’s Chief Information Officer (CIO), expressed his belief that the Epic platform will have far-reaching effects across the organization, stating, “It’s one of the most transformative activities we’ve had here at UPMC. It’s going to impact everybody. It’s the entirety of the organization that’s going to move this forward.”
In other healthcare IT news, Blue Mountain Hospital in Oregon has chosen to implement a Cerner EHR tailored for small, rural medical centers, known as CommunityWorks EHR. Maisie Taylor, the director of quality and information technology project manager, is overseeing this conversion for the 25-bed critical access hospital. The cloud-based Cerner EHR will centralize and manage a comprehensive range of records for both the hospital and its affiliated physician group, the Strawberry Wilderness Community Clinic. It’s worth noting that Cerner operates as a subsidiary of Oracle Health.
One standout feature of Blue Mountain Hospital is the ability to unite the hospital and clinic on a single system, eliminating the need for two separate electronic systems. While the upfront costs amount to $1.5 million, ongoing monthly fees of $40,000 to $45,000 include automatic operating system updates, data platform updates, enterprise-wide analytics, and full support services. This cost structure, though higher than what the hospital was paying for its legacy systems, brings added benefits and efficiencies.
Meanwhile, the REHAB Hospital of the Pacific, Hawaii’s sole comprehensive medical rehabilitation hospital, is implementing Oracle Health EHR modules across its various facilities. These modules are designed to support the hospital’s main 82-bed campus, three outpatient clinics, and a hospital-based physicians’ clinic, with a focus on treating patients with physical and cognitive disabilities. The adoption of the Oracle Health EHR aims to provide a more accurate clinical overview by improving access to patient care data and external medical records.
Glenn Requierme, CIO at REHAB Hospital, emphasized the hospital’s commitment to using innovative solutions to facilitate exemplary care and help patients regain their independence. They believe that working with Oracle and its EHR will automate patient records, enhance care coordination, and allow caregivers to concentrate on assisting patients in returning to their desired activities. Additionally, these EHR modules will play a pivotal role in meeting regulatory requirements and simplifying data collection and compliance efforts for rehabilitation facilities like REHAB Hospital.
