Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Healthcare topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Local hospital staff preparing for EPIC conversion; hospital wins $100,000 colorectal‑screening grant
Summary
Hospital representatives told commissioners the hospital will go live on EPIC June 14 and urged patience during the first-week transition. The hospital also said it received a $100,000 Prevent Cancer Foundation grant to expand colorectal screening and follow-up assistance starting this summer.
Representatives from the local hospital told Fulton County commissioners on April 7 that the hospital will switch to the EPIC electronic health-record system in mid‑June and that the change will require extensive staff training and extra time for initial patient registrations.
Hospital representative Brad Rogers said staff are “in training all day” and that the system is scheduled to go live the weekend of June 14 so staff can work the changeover with reduced weekday volume. "We're gonna go live June 14," he said, adding that the hospital will roll the system over the weekend and aim for a smooth first full business day on June 16.
Rogers told commissioners that initial patient check-ins will likely take longer as staff confirm demographic records during the migration. He also described an upcoming MyChart rollout that will let patients access health records and, later, schedule appointments via an app.
Separately, the hospital reported it has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the Prevent Cancer Foundation to support colorectal cancer screening in Fulton County. The grant provides $50,000 this year and $50,000 next year and will fund community education, distribution of Cologuard testing and assistance covering colonoscopy costs for people with high deductibles or no insurance. Rogers said the county’s colorectal screening rates have lagged: cancers are often detected at later stages locally than recommended in screening guidelines. The grant work is expected to begin in July.
Why it matters
EPIC conversion affects clinical workflows, appointments, billing and patient access. The grant is intended to boost early detection of colorectal cancer in Fulton County through outreach and by helping uninsured or underinsured residents obtain follow-up colonoscopies when screening tests indicate a need.
Next steps
Hospital staff asked the public for patience during the first weeks after EPIC goes live. The hospital will promote MyChart registration through QR codes, social media and local media; the colorectal screening program is scheduled to begin community outreach in July.
