Several hospitals and health systems are launching Epic EHR implementation projects in 2025, aiming to enhance efficiency and improve system integration.
Blessing Health System in Quincy, Ill., a 347-bed acute-care hospital, is embarking on an 18-month transition to Epic. Despite the significant costs, the move is seen as essential.
“We can’t afford not to do this,” Christopher Solaro, MD, PhD, chief medical officer at Blessing Health System, told Becker’s. “We have locations in Illinois and Missouri, along with numerous outlying clinics, and we need a single, truly integrated, state-of-the-art system to meet the needs of both our patients and providers.”
Beyond system integration, Blessing Health System’s Epic transition is expected to improve patient access through Epic’s patient portal and enhance interoperability.
“Not only will we have integration within our health system, but interoperability across our regions, so it’s going to provide our patients a much more comprehensive, seamless experience for healthcare,” Dr. Solaro said.
The new EHR system is set to go live across Blessing Health System on March 21, 2026.
Another health system making the leap to Epic is Gunnison Valley Health in Gunnison, Colo., a licensed 24-bed critical access hospital. The organization is implementing the system to streamline operations and improve care coordination.
The hospital previously relied on four or five different EHR systems across departments, leading to communication breakdowns, data reporting challenges and inefficiencies. Through a strategic partnership with UCHealth, based in Aurora, Colo., Gunnison Valley Health will not only transition to Epic but also gain access to additional resources to support patient care and the implementation process.
“The real why [for the switch] was that we had so many systems,” Jason Amrich, CEO of Gunnison Valley Health, told Becker’s. “It was becoming a barrier for us to provide the highest level of care we could in our community and do it in a way that was the best steward of our resources.”
Gunnison Valley Health plans to go live with Epic in May.
These efforts reflect a broader industry trend toward EHR consolidation, with health systems prioritizing integration, interoperability and patient-centered care.
