USA’s Epic Advances AI to Enhance EHR & Point-of-Care Insights

Wisconsin, CEO Judy Faulkner detailed several AI-driven innovations aimed at reducing documentation burdens and integrating research insights directly into clinical practice.

Epic Systems has set its foot to advance its electronic health record (EHR) software with new AI applications designed to ease clinician workloads and improve patient care. 

At the company's User Group Meeting in Verona, Wisconsin, CEO, Judy Faulkner detailed several AI-driven innovations aimed at reducing documentation burdens and integrating research insights directly into clinical practice.

Further, Epic's MyChart augmented response technology (ART) has been implemented in 150 healthcare systems, generating around one million drafts each month. 

Faulkner highlighted the tool's impact, stating, "It saves clinicians about half a minute a message, and that can add up. And importantly, patients say they like it, and many prefer it. ART's responses are often more empathetic than the very busy doctors."

Furthermore, Epic is also expanding its AI capabilities with a new ambient voice tool that assists with charting progress notes. 

Currently in use at 186 organizations, this feature aims to minimize time spent on administrative tasks, thus potentially reducing clinician burnout—a concern affecting 40% to 60% of healthcare professionals.

Broad AI Integration

Epic's collaboration with Microsoft, announced in April 2023, integrates large language model tools into its EHR software. This partnership supports Epic’s efforts to enhance its AI tools, including those for automating order queues and diagnoses, as well as populating nursing flowsheets and specialty forms.

"AI charting allows your clinicians to focus on their patients while the technology listens quietly in the background. The note is then ready in seconds after the conversation is finished. Your clinicians have been really positive. They have told us it saves their marriage. They've told us they're no longer going to quit medicine," Faulkner noted.

Epic's ongoing projects include over 100 generative AI applications such as auto-tagging adverse drug reactions, summarizing patient reports, and assisting with hospital billing codes. 

Reportedly, a new feature launching in February 2025 will use AI to search patient charts and highlight critical information for clinicians.

Sumit Rana,senior VP, Epic, addressed cost concerns, saying, "It's been one of the largest joint efforts with Microsoft, for us, optimizing at every layer to reduce cost. For example, computer costs for AI ART have been cut in half since last year, and I expect costs to continue to go down."

Epic’s Latest Offerings

Epic introduced several new AI-driven tools, including a "Look-Alikes" feature that helps identify rare diseases by comparing patient symptoms with similar cases from the Cosmos research database, which includes data from 226 million patient records. This tool is already active at 65 sites.

Another upcoming tool, "Best Care Choices for My Patient," provides treatment recommendations based on similar patient profiles. 

Faulkner explained, "We have been told that Best Care Choices will be game-changing."

The company is also enhancing its payer platform, allowing for more efficient data exchange between insurers and healthcare providers. This platform aims to reduce prior authorisation delays and improve patient care coordination.

In addition, Epic’s latest features include Aura, a diagnostic suite integrating genetic testing information, and Garden Plot, a new initiative to support small to medium-sized medical groups in using Epic's EHR system more effectively.