Welcome to the Epic Journey: A New Chapter in How We Care for Patients

We’ve officially kicked off one of the most exciting and transformative initiatives in our history: the implementation of Epic, a leading electronic health record (EHR) system that will help us deliver better, safer, and more connected care.

Whether you work in a hospital, clinic, or corporate setting, the Epic Journey will impact all of us—and we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

What Is Epic?

Epic is the most widely used electronic health record system in the country. It brings together all aspects of a patient’s care into one secure, easy-to-use digital platform—making it simpler for providers and staff to access the information they need, when they need it.

But Epic isn’t just for doctors and nurses. It’s for everyone who helps deliver care and information—from scheduling and billing to lab services, IT, pharmacy, and more. Epic will become a shared foundation for how we care for patients and work together.

What Are the Benefits?

Implementing Epic means big improvements for patients and staff:

• A single source of truth: Patient information will be integrated across all our hospitals, clinics, and service lines.
• Safer, faster care: Providers can make better decisions with real-time data at their fingertips.
• Less duplication, more efficiency: No more repeating tests or asking patients to recount their history.
• Improved experience: Epic’s patient portal, MyChart, gives patients more access and control over their care.
• Stronger collaboration: Staff across departments and entities will be working on the same system—for the first time ever.

What’s the Timeline?

This is a multi-year project with phases designed to ensure a smooth transition. Right now, we are in the foundation-building phase, where teams are working behind the scenes to map our current processes, build the system, and begin training planning.

Key milestones:

• April 2025: Kickoff – Orientation Week
• Now – November 2025: Design and build
• Late 2025 – Mid 2026: Testing and training
• Go-Live (in phases): UAB St. Vincent’s – June 2026, All others – July 2027

This timeline ensures that by the time Epic goes live, we’ll be ready—together.

What Should I Be Doing to Help?

You don’t have to be an Epic expert to make a difference. Here are three simple ways you can support the journey today:

1. Stay informed. Read these updates. Ask questions. Be open to learning.
2. Be curious. Epic will change how we work—but change brings opportunity. Embrace the chance to grow.
3. Be a voice. Encourage your teammates. Help spread accurate information and a positive outlook.

In the coming months, we’ll begin sharing training details, opportunities to get involved, and more tailored information by role and department.

What’s Next?

Soon, we’ll unveil JourneyToEpic.org – an Epic Journey website where you’ll find:

• Timeline and roadmap
• Key terms and FAQs
• Training resources
• Spotlight stories from teams across the system

You’ll also start seeing Epic Champions—leaders and peers in your department who will be trained to support and guide others as we prepare for go-live.

This is more than a technology upgrade—it’s a system-wide transformation that brings all of us together. The Epic Journey is about improving care, simplifying our work, and laying the foundation for our future.

Thank you for being part of this historic effort.

Let’s take this journey—together.