Tower Health announced that as of August 3, all Tower Health hospitals and physician practices are now using the same electronic health record (EHR), Epic. The implementation of the EHR is a critical step in advancing Tower Health as a fully integrated health system.
With this milestone, Tower Health became the first Epic community member in the country to implement Epic's most recent software enhancements, providing users with access to the most advanced version of the Epic platform. Reading Hospital and its affiliated Tower Health Medical Group practices have been using Epic since 2013.
Over the past two years, Tower Health teams worked diligently to prepare for the launch of Epic at Brandywine, Chestnut Hill, Jennersville, Phoenixville, and Pottstown Hospitals, as well as an additional 25 Tower Health Medical Group physician practices. The first phase of the project was to replace and significantly upgrade the network infrastructure at these facilities to meet Tower Health standards and provide a consistent user experience with the EHR implementation.
"A single, shared EHR will bring patients' health information from Tower Health hospitals and physician practices into one record, which will in turn lead to enhanced clinical decisions, outcomes, and a seamlessly coordinated patient experience," said Clint Matthews, President and CEO, Tower Health. "This will drive standardized practices, protocols, and care expectations, while also fostering timely communication between providers, patients, and their families."
Team members completed countless hours of training through nearly 1,200 training classes with more than 4,500 trained new users prepared for implementation and launch.
In conjunction with the launch of Epic, MyTowerHealth was also introduced across the Tower Health footprint. This secure, password-protected, online and mobile-friendly patient portal gives patients online, real-time access to their health information including medical history, appointments, medications, lab test results, and more from any Tower Health provider.
MyTowerHealth gives individuals secure access to manage their healthcare needs wherever they are. With just one click, patients can:
- Communicate directly with their provider
- Access test results
- Request medication refills
- View their after-visit summary
- Confirm upcoming appointments
- Link with Apple Healthkit
- View education videos
Patients interested in creating a MyTowerHealth account can learn more at MyTowerHealth.org or by calling the MyTowerHealth Service Desk toll free at 1-855-827-0346 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
We are excited to bring this integrated technology to Tower Health patients.
About Tower Health
Tower Health is a strong, regional, integrated healthcare provider/payer system that offers leading-edge, compassionate healthcare and wellness services to a population of 2.5 million people. With approximately 14,000 team members, Tower Health consists of Reading Hospital in West Reading; Brandywine Hospital in Coatesville; Chestnut Hill Hospital in Philadelphia; Jennersville Hospital in West Grove; Phoenixville Hospital in Phoenixville; Pottstown Hospital in Pottstown; and St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, a partnership of Tower Health and Drexel University in Philadelphia. It also includes Reading Hospital Rehabilitation at Wyomissing; Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences in West Reading; home healthcare services provided by Tower Health at Home; and a network of 22 urgent care facilities across the Tower Health service area. Tower Health offers a connected network of 2,200 physicians, specialists, and advanced practice providers across more than 230 convenient locations. For more information, visit towerhealth.org.