Epic Systems Explores AI Integration to Revolutionize Healthcare

At an underground auditorium bustling with thousands of healthcare executives this week, Judy Faulkner, CEO of Epic Systems, took to the stage dressed as a swan, complete with feathers. While her costume choice might have surprised some newcomers, those familiar with the health-tech industry, especially Epic’s community, knew that this was just the start of their annual Users Group Meeting (UGM). This year’s event, held on Tuesday, focused heavily on how new artificial intelligence (AI) features could benefit both doctors and patients.

Epic Systems is a major player in healthcare software, with its technology implemented in thousands of hospitals and clinics across the United States. The company manages medical records for over 280 million Americans, although patient data is often spread across various vendors.

An Enchanting Atmosphere

Every year, Epic’s headquarters in Verona, Wisconsin, becomes a hive of activity as thousands converge to learn about the company’s newest products and strategies. UGM is one of Epic’s biggest annual events, and this year was no exception. The 1,670-acre campus, adorned with farm animals, wizard statues, and buildings themed around “Alice in Wonderland” and “The Wizard of Oz,” provided a fitting backdrop for the “storytime” theme of the conference.

Faulkner and her team embraced the whimsical theme by dressing up as characters from children’s literature. The presentations were lively, featuring skits and songs, as the executives highlighted updates across Epic’s suite of products. Key offerings discussed included MyChart, an app allowing patients to access their medical records, and Cosmos, a de-identified patient dataset used for clinical research.

AI Takes Center Stage

A significant portion of Epic’s announcements at the conference revolved around artificial intelligence. According to Faulkner, the company is developing over 100 AI features, although many are still in the early stages. One of the key advancements coming by the end of this year is a generative AI tool that will assist doctors in rewriting messages, letters, and instructions in plain language, making them more comprehensible to patients.

Epic also aims to simplify routine tasks for doctors by using AI to queue up orders for prescriptions and laboratory tests automatically. Many physicians face the burden of time-consuming duties, such as drafting letters for insurance denial appeals and reviewing prior authorization requirements. To alleviate this, Epic plans to introduce AI tools this year to streamline these processes.

Looking ahead to 2025, Epic’s generative AI is expected to advance further, with capabilities to integrate results, medications, and other critical details into a doctor’s responses through the MyChart platform. Specific features, such as AI-driven wound measurement calculations from images, are also slated for release next year.

In addition, Epic unveiled a new scheduling application for healthcare staff, “Teamwork,” designed for both physicians and nurses. Faulkner mentioned that Epic is “investigating” the possibility of enabling direct claims submission through its software, potentially eliminating the need for intermediaries like clearinghouses. Should Epic succeed, this could represent a significant shift in how insurance claims are processed within the healthcare industry.

 

The viability and adoption of these AI features by health systems remain uncertain, but Epic’s presentation concluded on a high note with a visionary demonstration of the future potential of its technology.

A Glimpse Into the Future

Seth Hain, Epic’s senior vice president of research and development, led the futuristic demo. He interacted with an AI agent through the MyChart app, discussing his recovery from a fictional wrist surgery and answering questions about his pain levels. The AI agent instructed Hain to use his camera to capture his wrist movement, which it then analyzed to assess his healing progress. Based on data from similar patients in Epic’s Cosmos database, the agent determined that Hain’s wrist extension, measured between 60 to 75 degrees, indicated he was ahead of schedule in his recovery.

Curious about his ability to resume playing pickleball, Hain asked the AI agent for advice. The response was cautious, advising him to “still wait a little longer” before returning to the game.

After the presentation, Hain met with reporters and clarified that the demo was performed in real-time without any human intervention. However, he emphasized that this capability is still in its infancy. “It is very, very, very early in regards to how and where the community, the broader medical community, will adopt that type of thing, but it’s viable,” Hain explained. He added that it would likely take several years before such technology is widely available and accepted within the healthcare sector.

As Epic Systems continues to innovate with AI, the company’s efforts signal a potential transformation in the way healthcare is delivered. By enhancing the efficiency of medical professionals and improving patient outcomes, these advancements could usher in a new era for the industry. For now, however, the road to fully realizing these technological capabilities remains long and filled with challenges.