All Tower Health hospitals and physicians will now use the same electronic health record, according to an Aug. 6 news release.
Tower Health will use the Epic electronic health record platform in order to share and manage patient records.
Epic is a privately held health care software company headquartered in Verona, Wisconsin.
Reading Hospital and affiliated Tower Health Medical Group practices have been using Epic since 2013.
The Epic system is now also encompassing Brandywine, Chestnut Hill, Jennersville, Phoenixville, and Pottstown hospitals.
“A single, shared electronic health record will bring patients’ health information from Tower Health hospitals and physician practices into one record, which will in turn lead to enhanced clinical decisions, outcomes, and a seamlessly coordinated patient experience,” said Clint Matthews, president and CEO of Tower Health.
More than 4,500 team members completed nearly 1,200 training classes to prepare for Epic’s implementation and launch.
In conjunction with the launch of Epic, Tower also launched MyTowerHealth, a secure patient portal that gives patients online, real-time access to their health information, including medical history, appointments, medications and lab test results from any Tower Health provider.
“This will drive standardized practices, protocols, and care expectations, while also fostering timely communication between providers, patients, and their families,” said Matthews.
Tower Health consists of Reading Hospital, Brandywine Hospital, Chestnut Hill Hospital, Jennersville Hospital, Phoenixville Hospital and Pottstown Hospital. It also includes Reading Hospital Rehabilitation, Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences, home health care services provided by Tower Health at Home and a network of 22 urgent care facilities.
