Officials at Door County Medical Center are asking patients to begin preparing for a major change in how medical information is handled. The hospital will soon join Epic, an electronic health records system already used by hospitals across northeastern Wisconsin. According to DCMC, Epic is used by providers who care for approximately 72% of the U.S. population.

With Epic’s MyChart platform, Chief Medical Officer and primary care provider Dr. Jim Heise says patients can expect improved care coordination and easier access to their health information as a result of the change.

The transition from the hospital’s MyPortal platform through Meditech to Epic’s MyChart system has been more than a year in the making. When the system goes live Feb. 7, Door County Medical Center will become one of the smallest hospitals in the country using Epic for its electronic health records.

One of the final steps in completing the transition relies on patients. This past week, DCMC employees began transitioning their own electronic health records to MyChart to better assist patients when their transition begins Jan. 22. Door County Medical Center Clinic Registration Coordinator Joy Hansen and Patient Financial Services Director Ashley Moede say there are several ways patients can get help to ensure a smooth transition.

Heise recommends patients arrive 20 to 30 minutes early for appointments to confirm their records have been transferred and to address any questions or concerns related to the change. The full conversation is available on the Door County Medical Center Community Connections podcast page.