The four-hospital system moved from Cerner Millennium and NextGen systems to Epic on Nov. 2 and plans to invest an estimated $250 million over five years on the EHR.
“When we look at better sharing of information, about 80 to 90 percent of the hospitals in the Broward County area are now on Epic,” Mr. Travers said. “With Epic’s Care Everywhere platform, it’s a lot easier for us to share information about our patients, which means everyone in the area benefits.”
The switch also supports Broward Health’s unique needs as a healthcare provider in a region known for seasonal residents and cruise line passengers, according to Mr. Travers.
A smooth implementation
Despite the complexity of transitioning multiple facilities and integrating functionalities — from lab and radiology to dental and revenue cycle operations — the project was a “smooth transition,” Mr. Travers said.
“We made the decision to stay on foundation and limit customizations, which allowed us to leverage Epic’s best practices. This approach was key to our success,” he said.
Epic’s on-site support and experienced consultants kept the project on track, Mr. Travers added.
“We had an overall project manager from Epic Boost who knew exactly what we needed to do,” he said. “We also invested heavily in testing, which was the most extensive I’ve seen on any implementation project.”
Improved workflows and patient engagement
Though the system is still new, early results are promising, according to Mr. Travers.
“Immediate access to dashboards and analytics within Epic is helping us identify where to allocate resources and improve patient care,” he said.
The MyChart patient portal, part of the Epic platform, has also transformed patient interactions at Broward Health.
“Previously, our portal had limited functionality. Now, patients can schedule appointments, check in online, and even update their insurance and pay co-pays — all without picking up the phone,” Mr. Travers said.
This functionality has eased administrative burdens on nursing staff.
“Now, nurses aren’t bogged down by voicemails and manual tasks,” he said.
2025: A year of innovation
Looking ahead, Broward Health plans to leverage Epic for innovation, particularly in AI.
“One of our key projects involves using Epic’s AI to enhance message routing in MyChart,” Mr. Travers said. “We’re also exploring AI-powered draft notes for clinicians. The system generates a draft that providers can edit, streamlining documentation while maintaining accuracy.”
With the foundation now in place, Mr. Travers envisions 2025 as a transformative year for Broward Health.
“We’ve been working towards this for a year, and now it’s time to focus on extending the capabilities of this powerful tool,” he said.
