EHRs have evolved over the last few years to include artificial intelligence, ambient listening and more automated workflows. They are now sophisticated platforms operating as the organization’s IT backbone.
Epic has become a favorite EHR among health systems. It’s installed in 42% of acute care hospitals in the U.S. and covers nearly 55% of hospital beds across the nation, according to KLAS. Ten health systems transitioned to Epic last year, adding 108 hospitals in the process. Over the next 12 to 24 months, several other health systems are planning Epic transitions and unification. One of those organizations is Adventist Health.
The Roseville, Calif.-based health system is planning to go live with Epic EHR in September 2026, and the health system is already preparing for the switch. It has 28 hospitals and 440 clinics that will be tied together with a digital-first strategy.
“We’re not treating it as a routine implementation. We see it as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to re-architect how we deliver care,” said Karen Hunter, DNP, RN, chief nursing informatics officer at Adventist. “Epic is becoming the operating system of our health system, and we’re using it to lay the groundwork for scalable innovation and long-term transformation.”
Epic has integrated AI into the EHR system for a variety of capabilities supporting administrative and clinical workflows. Dr. Hunter said the clinical informatics model at Adventist is the lynchpin connecting the technology and clinical expertise for optimizing their new capabilities as they customize their platform.
“We refuse to bolt innovation onto broken systems. Instead, we’re embedding informatics into operational teams, making it part of the daily rhythm of care, not an external advisory layer,” said Dr. Hunter. “It’s about real-time insight, continuous improvement, and making transformation tangible for people who deliver care every day.”
The EHR transition aligns with Adventist’s mobile-first strategy to allow for real-time data capture and consumption so care teams have the information they need to make decisions and achieve better outcomes.
“It’s ambitious. It’s complex. But we believe it’s not just worth doing; it’s non-negotiable,” said Dr. Hunter.
UT Health Austin in Texas is undergoing a similar transition. The organization aims to be a world-class academic medical center powered by cutting-edge technology and digital solutions for truly integrated and multidisciplinary patient care.
“Designing a digital-first, sustainable academic health system that delivers person-centered care while pushing the boundaries of clinical innovation, technology and behavioral health with the patient as the center of it all,” said Salim Saiyed, MD, CMIO of UT Health Austin. “We are not just creating an academic health system, we are establishing a new institution built to define the future of health.”
Transitioning to Epic’s EHR platform is powering progress toward the digital-first mission at UT Health Austin.
“This is more than a platform replacement. It’s a transformative opportunity to reimagine care delivery, streamline workflows and enhance the clinician and patient experience,” said Dr. Saiyed. “Building the foundational blocks of our digital ecosystem, including a robust data platform, digital engagement platform and ERP. These platforms will enable AI-powered automation, personalized care experiences and seamless integration across the continuum of care.”
