Southcoast Health launches new electronic health record system

NEW BEDFORD – A new electronic health record system was launched Thursday by Southcoast Health across all of its sites to make patient information easier to access.

The software, created by Epic, will consolidate a patient’s medical information into a single record – MyChart – that can be securely accessed by a health care professional in Southcoast Health’s three hospitals, St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River and Tobey Hospital in Wareham, as well as its two urgent care centers.

It also will be available to more than 400 physicians in offices across Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, as well as the Southcoast Visiting Nurse Association, Southcoast said in a press release.
“We began this journey three years ago with our decision to make a major investment in our electronic health record as part of our commitment to improving the Southcoast Health experience and the way care is delivered to our patients,” Keith A. Hovan, president and CEO of Southcoast Health, said in a statement. “Epic provides the benefit of having all of your up-to-date information available in one single record that can be accessed anywhere at Southcoast, and puts us in good company with top health care providers across the nation who have also chosen to go with this leading [electronic health record] system.”
According to Southcoast spokesman Peter Cohenno, the system spent roughly $100 mllion to bring the system online.

Linda Bodenmann, Southcoast Health’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, said Epic has many “behind the scenes features” to enhance how patients are cared for, citing alerts related to medications.

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“If a patient comes to the ER, his or her records from a recent physician office visit are available for the providers to view, medications or lab results will be readily available on the inpatient unit and by the primary care physician at the next office visit. Patients are notified when test results are ready and can view their record through MyChart. The possibilities are endless and so are the benefits,” she said.

MyChart, available on smartphones and personal computers, gives patients the ability to manage and receive their personal medical information, so they can become more active partners in their health care. After signing up, patients will have 24/7 access to their medical information online, can stay in touch with their physician, renew prescriptions, manage their appointments and more, the release stated.

Patient health information is exchanged securely. Patients are in control of their own password and account information on MyChart.

Patients can access the new patient portal by activating their account on their next visit to their Southcoast Physicians Group office or Southcoast emergency department. Once a patient is enrolled, it can be accessed from home by visiting www.southcoast.org/mysouthcoasthealth/ and clicking on the MyChart icon.

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