University of Vermont Health Network requests $150M from state board for Epic EHR

Julie Spitzer -

Officials at South Burlington-based University of Vermont Health Network testified in front of the Green Mountain Care Board that a $150 million investment in a new EHR would save the health system money and improve patient care, according to VTDigger.

Green Mountain will determine in the coming months whether the network can spend that much on a new Epic install at its offices and four hospitals.

According to hospital officials, replacing dozens of different IT systems at each hospital would cost up to $200 million, but installing new Epic software in those locations would cost $151.7 million over six years. The network's flagship hospital, UVM Medical Center, will pay the majority of the bill but expects $30.7 million in revenue from Epic in the form of subscription fees and $27.1 million in system and staffing savings from the project.

Health system officials see the transition to Epic as a step in the right direction for the whole state. The network's CIO Adam Buckley, MD, added that patients and physicians would be happier with Epic as all their data will be accessible in one place.

The board has 120 days from closing the case on Oct. 3 to issue a decision, according to VTDigger.

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