Epic is working to develop two new EHR versions, which are slated to be released this year, Adam Whitlatch, a lead developer at Epic, told Becker's Hospital Review in an interview.
These additions will bring the number of Epic EHR versions to three: the full Epic EHR, called "all-terrain;" a mid-range Epic EHR with fewer modules, called "utility;" and a slimmed-down Epic EHR, with fewer modules and advanced features, called "Sonnet."
"The features that would be removed would be things that other major EHR vendors already don't have, so you won't really be missing anything," Mr. Whitlatch says, adding that Epic is still evaluating which advanced features won't be included in the Sonnet version.
The target market for the two new versions are physician practices and smaller hospitals, such as critical access hospitals, which may benefit from the lower price points and shorter implementation times. Another target market is medium-sized community hospitals, which may want a lower starting price point with the option for a more advanced EHR version later on.
The two new EHR versions will still be interoperable with the Epic all-terrain EHR, according to Mr. Whitlatch.