Sidney Health Center Prepares to "Go Live" with New Electronic Health Record System

Sidney, Montana (May 23, 2014) – Sidney Health Center has partnered with Sanford Health to provide patients with an integrated state-of-the-art electronic health record (EHR). The agreement provides Sidney Health Center with access to the industry's most advanced electronic health records system, Epic.

Sidney Health Center is scheduled to convert from the current Meditech system to the Epic software system at 12:00AM on June 1, 2014. The conversion to Epic will allow Sidney Health Center to meet federal guidelines for the secure use and sharing of health information. Epic, also known as One Chart, allows providers, nurses and other medical professionals a seamless means of collecting, storing and accessing a patient's medical information. This is a tremendous win in the community for exchanging information in the safest, most efficient way possible.

Over the next few weeks, patients may experience longer wait times as staff is becoming accustomed to the new system. In addition, all patients will need to have their insurance cards on-hand to ensure the data is entered correctly in the new system going forward. To assist through the transition, several Sanford Health IT employees will be on-site working beside Sidney Health Center staff to provide support and assistance as needed.

Sanford Health offers various levels of affiliation including associated, managed, leased and owned. With the associated level selected for IT services, Sidney Health Center will continue to operate as an independent, locally-owned hospital and is enthusiastic about the positive opportunities this collaboration will bring in responding to the community needs.

Clinical and business operations staff in the hospital and clinic settings has been training for the past two months to prepare for the impending transition from Meditech to Epic (One Chart).

"Implementing a software system of this magnitude in a rural health care setting would not be feasible without a coordinated effort," said Rick Haraldson, Sidney Health Center CEO. "Sanford Health has implemented their computer software system in 36 healthcare facilities throughout the Midwest region. We are excited to be able to bring the best technology to the residents of the MonDak region and allow them to access to their patient health information 24/7."

The new system will allow patients to sign up for My Chart, which allows them to connect to their personal medical information when it is convenient for them. Medical information will be easily accessible through Sidney Health Center's website in a secure portal managed by Sanford Health. Patients will be able to review immunizations, allergies, summaries of recent visits to the doctor and current health concerns.

For more information about My Chart, please visit Sidney Health Center's website at http://www.sidneyhealth.org/Patients/My-Chart.