Epic Changes: What New Patient Portal Means For You and Your Child

On March 1, 2018, your Cook Children’s pediatrician’s offices, specialist clinics, urgent care centers, ER and medical center will be using a new computer system called Epic. We are getting rid of the old medical records system and replacing it with a new one.

Let me be real for a second – it’s been a pain in the you-know-what. We’re updating, changing, training, stressing. I may or may not have purchased more wine this month than usual.

Why are we doing this?

Because it’s better. It’s faster, more efficient, more organized, and SAFER than our old systems.

We are doing it because it will lead to better overall care for your child.

I’m actually really excited about it. As a pediatrician, my days revolve around a computer. Many of you may notice I always bring a computer into the room with me. I show you how your kiddo has grown. I take notes to remember important things you tell me. I look up what happened in the hospital when you went to the Cook Children’s ER. I read that consult note from when your child saw the ENT.

The way I do those things will be changing.

Things will be new and glitchy at first – just like any big change is -- but overall, the improvements in your child’s care will be awesome.

But… what does all of this mean for you and your children?

It means that, for a little while, you might experience a bit of a longer wait in the pediatrician’s waiting room, or urgent care, or ER as we learn to use the system.

You might experience slightly longer hold times on our phones while my staff is figuring out how best to schedule your kiddo’s appointment.

Our front desk people have to get used to the changes in booking appointments, changing charts, and updating your insurance information. Don’t worry, it’ll speed up with time.

Our nurses might need a little extra time to type in what medications your child is on, their medical history, and your concerns. Again – this’ll improve quickly.

It means that I, as your PCP, will be able to know every single thing that happened to your child in the hospital (as opposed to a tiny summary that doesn’t give me much information). Every single vital sign, oxygen reading, X-ray, lab result, consult note – I’ll have access to all of it! I may fumble around for the first few days when I try to show you things on my computer. Feel free to giggle at me.

It means that your child’s specialists and I will be able to communicate more effectively.

It means that YOU will have a new portal system called MyChart.

This thing is awesome!

• You’ll be able to look up your child’s vaccine records and print them, see summaries of all of our visits together, and ask me (and my staff) direct emailed questions!
• You can look up test results, see lab work, and find out when your next appointment is!
• Go to www.cookchildrens.org/mychart for more information - You can sign up now!
• It means that we will be SAFER – more safety checks on prescriptions, and constant updates to how we calculate and order things.
• It means it will be less of a hassle for us to get your child’s medical records from many hospitals around the country.

Bear with us, friends, as we embark on this new journey. I promise, it makes a difference in your child’s care.

And feel free to bring us some sympathy chocolate at the office on March 1st…. ;-)