I L , MD - Atlantic Health...Jodi Morris, Epic Credentialed Trainer, answers questions Continued...
Transcript of I L , MD - Atlantic Health...Jodi Morris, Epic Credentialed Trainer, answers questions Continued...
The Epic Training team has
been busy preparing for the
July opening of Epic training
registration. Dates will vary
based on application. This will
be for everyone who needs to
take Epic training for the Feb-
ruary 4 go-live of Epic at Chil-
ton and Overlook Medical
Centers as well as Home Care
and Hospice.
There are multiple types of
training that will take place
from fall 2017 through winter
2018. This includes training
for credentialed trainers, super
users, end users and providers
(see infographic on page 3 for
dates). Roughly 11,000 people
will need to be trained in Epic,
an enormous undertaking re-
quiring careful planning and
timing. Making sure everyone
who will use Epic understands
how to use it is imperative to
ensuring a smooth transition to
the new system and maintain-
ing quality patient care.
“Epic Training is one of the
biggest success factors in im-
plementing Epic,” said Mark
Nolte, Epic Training Manager,
who has been through several
Epic go-lives. “While the
time commitment isn’t small,
we’ll have a stronger
healthcare system and better
care for our patients. The
more involved and engaged
we are, the more successful
we’ll be.”
All Epic training will take
place at the new Epic Train-
ing Center. Located in the
former Gibbs community
college on Route 10 in Liv-
ingston, the center has multi-
ple classrooms for hands-on
learning. Directions to the
site and other information
will soon roll out on the new
Training section of the Epic
Compass site.
Several members of the Epic
Implementation team, includ-
ing representatives from
Home Health, Nursing Edu-
cation, Nursing Informatics
and Nursing leadership, took
a tour of the new facility on
June 21, and had a preview of
the Course Catalog that will
be made available online to
EPIC TRAINING IS COMING!
NEW TRAINING CENTER AND COURSE
REGISTRATION OPENING SOON
JUNE 2017
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Continued on page 3
WHY I LIKE EPIC: INTERVIEW WITH
MICHELLE NEIER, MD
This is the first in a series
of interviews with Atlantic
Staff who have used and
like Epic.
“The sky won’t fall. It’s
not that terrifying. It re-
ally will be OK.”
That’s how Michelle
Neier, MD, Pediatric
Oncology, Morristown
Goryeb Children’s Hos-
pital, answers when
asked if there is one
message she could share
with providers before
Epic provider training
starts in Fall 2017.
Though she says it with
a laugh, Dr. Neier is serious
when it comes to under-
standing the Epic system
and its transformative im-
pact on how providers treat
their patients.
“I like the ease of use. I
like that everything is in
one place. I’m not search-
ing for charts anymore and
I’m not struggling to read
someone’s handwriting,”
explains Dr Neier. “I can
now much more easily
communicate with the other
physicians either within
pediatrics or in other loca-
tions. It is going to be a
Continued from Page 1
WHY I LIKE EPIC
INTERVIEW WITH DR. NEIER
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Have you used
Epic? Let us
know.
Please contact
EpicCommuni-
cations@atlanti
chealth.org
hugely positive change for
Atlantic Health System to
have all of our hospitals on
Epic.”
Dr. Neier first learned Epic
during provider training for
pediatrics at ambulatory
practices in Morristown in
2015. While the time in-
volved in Epic provider
training can be daunting, Dr.
Neier believes her preexist-
ing computer savvy helped
smooth the process. For pro-
viders yet to go through Ep-
ic training (with or without
computer savvy), it’s all
about overcoming rumors
and fears and keeping in the
mind the bigger picture. She
is a firm believer that with
adequate will and prepara-
tion, Epic is a tool to make
providers’ lives easier.
More than just software
“Many people think of
learning Epic in terms of
learning a new software sys-
tem. While Epic is new soft-
ware, I think the better way
to look at it is how Epic will
change and make easier the
way you currently practice
medicine.” Dr. Neier recom-
mends looking at Epic in
terms of how it can help
mimic or streamline work-
flows as opposed to a com-
plete change. “If you think
about how you can adapt
your workflow to make Epic
part of it, it’s less over-
whelming.”
Looking beyond the Screen
Dr. Neier especially hopes
to dispel the idea that using
Epic means an increased
amount of time spent on the
computer. “A lot of people
assume that once you switch
to Epic you have to be on a
computer the entire time.
It’s just not the case, and I
think that’s the biggest myth
about it. You shouldn’t just
be looking at the computer.
You should still be interact-
ing with your patient and
their families and stopping,
just as you would have with
paper, to take notes. There’s
no reason why that dialog or
process needs to change.”
Though a brand new elec-
tronic health system repre-
sents an enormous change,
Dr. Neier underscores how
much of patient interaction
and care remains the same.
Michelle Neier, MD, Pediatric Oncol-
ogy , Goryeb Children’s Hospital
“Someone said to me short-
ly before go-live, ‘You’ll
just be sitting in your office
looking at your computer.’
I look at it differently. I
explained that, no, I’m not
chained to my computer.
With Epic, so much of the
focus is on the software
aspect. I start my visits the
same way I did before. I
come in the room, I greet
the patient, and I say, ok
hold on a sec, I’m going to
open up Epic so we can
review your meds together.
I care about the patient in
front of me. That’s what
people lose sight of. This is
just a way of capturing the
data. If you use it to capture
data and share information,
then it will be helpful. If
you use it as a looming all-
encompassing technologi-
cal hurdle, of course it will
be harder for you.”
Tips for Training
One way to help understand
how to use Epic before and
even during training is to
ask someone currently us-
ing it if you can watch how
it’s used in action. “It’s
kind of theoretical until you
use the system,” says Dr.
Neier. She also recom-
mends asking about tips
and tricks that are useful to
a particular practice area
and to follow-up on topics
that don’t make sense or
seem especially confusing.
Dr. Neier could think of a
few things she wished she
had known to ask about
while in training.
“There are little things I’ve
learned over time. For exam-
ple, I didn’t know that if you
right-click where it says
‘encounter provider’ you can
just say ‘change provider.’
It’s a small thing, but it real-
ly helps.” Another fear Dr.
Neier was happy to quell
involved opening and clos-
ing charts. “We all had this
fear that if you close or open
a chart incorrectly that the
world will come crashing
down on you. It’s just not
the case. If you open a chart
by accident, it’s ok! Not the
end of the world or even
something to worry about.”
Dr. Neier emphasizes the
need to vocalize and dispel
these kinds of fears and to
remember Epic is a tool to
improve how you care for
your patients. She believes
this is key to successful Epic
training and using the sys-
tem smoothly after go-live.
“Epic will ultimately make
your life easier. The comput-
er won’t explode. You’ll be
alright.”
staff on July 16. Mark
Nolte, Epic Training Man-
ager, gave an animated
walkthrough of what to
expect.
Julie Sarinelli, Nurse Man-
ager, Epic Clinical Cham-
pion, Judy Wall, Director,
Epic Clinical IT, Denise
Fochesto, Chief Nursing
Officer, Business Director
and Jodi Morris, Principle
Trainer, ClinDoc, helped
field a range of questions
from attendees. The Epic
Site Coordinators were
also on hand to help distill
key information to bring
back to their respective
sites.
The event also offered the
Don’t for to check out the latest issue
of the Epic ClinDoc Bulletin available
monthly on the Epic Compass page.
chance to raise concerns
and discuss how to com-
municate important infor-
mation about training to
staff. The result was a live-
ly discussion that included
both laughter and serious
discussion of what is at
stake to make Epic training
run smoothly.
The late attendance policy
was a particularly hot topic.
Doors will be closed at the
start time of each class, un-
derscoring the need for staff
to properly plan to be on
time. Another hot topic was
understanding how Super
Users experienced in one
role can provide support in
other areas.
Epic Training is Coming!
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Jodi Morris, Epic Credentialed Trainer, answers questions
Continued from Page 1
Epic Training Timeline for Chilton,
Overlook, Home Care and Hospice
Mark Nolte, Epic Training Manager, previewing the Epic Course Catalog
“Once you know Epic, when you see another user’s screen
you can help someone navigate to what they need,” ex-
plained Jodi Morris. “For instance, an inpatient nurse will
use a system list like an ED nurse would use a Snapboard.”
Though training is requires time, it is also an exciting op-
portunity to strengthen the skillset of all staff who take Ep-
ic training. “Though Epic training is a required commit-
ment you don’t have to see it as a burdensome one” said
Denise Fochesto. “It’s critical to realize that knowing how
to use our new system will not only make your life easier,
it will also improve how you do your job and care for your
patients.”
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Testing the build of At-
lantic’s Epic system is
critical to ensuring that it
operates as it was de-
signed to before the sys-
tem goes live. The Epic
Testing team kicked off
the Testing Phase of the
project in May and hasn’t
stopped testing Atlantic
Health’s Epic system and
related interfaces since!
There are multiple kinds
of testing that must be
conducted to ensure the
system is ready. One such
type of testing is User Ac-
ceptance testing (UAT).
This testing is designed to
give end users the chance
to review and validate
workflows in Epic. The
process is also a chance to
uncover, track and resolve
any issues, and requires
an extensive amount of
time from the Design
team and Subject Matter
Experts (SMEs). The
team held their UAT kick
-off at 475 South street on
May 30 and continued
UAT through early June.
During UAT there are
two types of testing, Inte-
grated and Application
testing. Integrated testing
validates end user work-
flows from start to finish
over multiple applica-
tions. Application testing
validates workflows with-
in one application area.
Integrated Testing will
have its kickoff on June
26. Application testing is
underway and scheduled
for completion at the end
of July. Testing will con-
tinue through the summer
until the Training phase
of the Epic project in Fall
2017.
According to Heather
Ramadoss, Epic Testing
Manger, and several
members of the testing
team, the process was
largely productive and
successful. “Once you
enter vital signs, it’s pret-
ty easy,” said Cynthia
Wertman, Unit Nurse Ed-
ucator, Mother Baby
Unit, Morristown Medi-
cal Center, referring to
her experience in UAT.
The progress was thanks
in large part to the hard
work and efforts of the
team. “Everyone worked
so hard to make sure the
process was successful,”
said Heather. “There is
really a concerted effort
to resolve all issues and
continue to make great
progress in ensuring our
system is ready.”
EPIC USER ACCEPTANCE TESTING
A SUCCESS
Members of the Epic end users conducting User Acceptance Testing at 465 and
475 South Street.
A classroom at the New Epic Training Center
There are many aspects that contribute to a
healthcare system’s ability to ensure it is ready for
a large scale implementation. Awareness, desire to
change, knowledge of new processes and the abil-
ity to apply new skills are all good indicators of
readiness. What is critical is that all staff recog-
nize the need for system-wide operational owner-
ship of Epic and are supportive of its adoption.
As part of extensive efforts to ensure Atlantic
Health is ready for Epic, the Epic Operational
Readiness program officially launched with the
first of its bi-weekly meetings on May 31. The
group is comprised of hospital leadership from
across the system as well as department managers
and staff working on the Epic implementation.
“Our Epic Operational Readiness team brings to-
gether seven sites via telepresence on a bi-weekly
basis as we plan this exciting phase in our jour-
ney,” says Stephanie Schwartz, President, Chilton
Medical Center. “This team will be key to ensur-
ing Atlantic Health is not just ready for go-live,
but ready to excel as a fully integrated healthcare
system.”
The focus of the meeting is on action-oriented and
direct discussion and decision making to ensure
all sites are ready for go-live. Critical information
is also shared, such as operational risks, project
status, key metrics and assessments as well as
tools for communicating about the project. The
team will provide support and ensure engagement
from all sites to make certain Atlantic Health can
standardize, optimize and transform successfully
when Epic goes live in 2018.
“We are all very excited about the capabilities Ep-
ic has to enhance the patient experience, improve
patient safety and dramatically improve the avail-
ability of patient date to all stakeholders,” says
Alan Lieber, President, Overlook Hospital. “The
Operational Readiness meetings are meant to en-
sure that we coordinate the Epic implementation
so that we optimize these goals, minimize the sur-
prises and support our teams as we go live.”
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EPIC OPERATIONAL
READINESS PROGRAM
LAUNCHES
From L to R; Julie Sarinelli, Nurse Manager, Epic Clinical Champion, and Epic
Site Coordinators Christine Pearl, Norlene Thomas, Jill Irwin and Jeanne Silva
A new ISS location is being set up to support the Epic Training Center
See below for more photos from the new Epic
Training Center
Please email
[email protected] with
questions, comments and ideas for stories!
Debbie Cancilla
Vice President, CIO
Ben Bordonaro
Director, ISS
Kathleen Conn
Epic Communications
Ronnie Daly, MD
CMIO
Deb Dente
Director, Revenue Cycle
Denise Fochesto, RN
CNO, Business Director
Ray Leyba
Director, ISS
CJ Milano
Director, Administration
Katie Monfredi
Business Coordinator
Mark Nolte
Training Manager
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EPIC IMPLEMENTATION TEAM
KEY CONTACTS
Heather Ramadoss,
Testing Manager
Julie Sarinelli, RN
Nurse Manager, Epic Clinical Champion
Jennifer Scatcherd
Program Manager, Epic Project PMO
Judy Wall, RN
Director, Epic Clinical IT
Site Coordinators
Jill Irwin
Chilton Site Coordinator
Christine Pearl, RN
Newton/Hackettstown Site Coordinator
Kelly Sansone, RN
Morristown Site Coordinator
Kelly [email protected]
Jeanne Silva, RN
Morristown Site Coordinator
Norlene Thomas, RN
Overlook Site Coordinator