Coordinated Health, part of Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), transitioned patient records at most of its facilities to Epic electronic health records (EHR system) Sept. 1.

Patient care is expected to be more integrated across the health network, giving LVHN and Coordinated Health providers access to patient records and standardizing patient care.

“This transition will improve the flow of patient information across our health network and remove barriers that prevent important communication from happening,” said Amy Nyberg, President, Coordinated Health. “Beginning today [Sept. 1], our entire health network can utilize one chart for each patient.”

“We are truly excited to be making the switch to Epic. This switch will allow for comprehensive and coordinated care for all of our patients,” said Wayne Luchetti, MD, Chief of Surgery, Coordinated Health.

The majority of U.S. News & World Report’s top-ranked hospitals and medical schools use Epic.

Epic Systems Corp. is a privately-held healthcare software company. According to the company, hospitals that use its software held medical records of 54 percent of patients in the United States and 2.5 percent of patients worldwide as of 2015.

Epic’s applications support registration and scheduling; clinical systems for doctors, nurses, emergency personnel, and other healthcare providers; systems for lab technologists, pharmacists and radiologists, and billing systems for insurers.

Epic was founded in 1979 by Judith R. Faulkner. Originally headquartered in Madison, Wisc., Epic moved its headquarters to a large campus in the suburb of Verona, Wisc., in 2005, where it employs 10,000 people as of 2019. The campus has themed areas-buildings, such as a castle-like structure, a “fantasyland” that appears to be inspired by J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” books, and a dining facility designed to mimic a train station.

The transition to Epic will allow Coordinated Health patients to access their health information through MyLVHN, the secure patient portal that connects patients with their medical records or the record of someone they care for, such as a child or relative.

Harry Schmaltz, MD, orthopedic surgeon with Coordinated Health Scranton Orthopedics, said the transition to Epic will provide patients in the Scranton region with greater access. “Patients will benefit from MyLVHN, giving them the ability to easily connect with their provider and health information,” Schmaltz said.

With MyLVHN patients can:

• Review their health summary

• Schedule an appointment or video visit

• Access virtual care, such as a video visit or E-Visit

• Check on appointments from a smartphone

• Request prescription refills

• Pay or review bills

• Send and receive non-urgent messages from their health care provider

Patients can create a MyLVHN account during a visit with their provider or sign up online at MyLVHN.org or through the free MyLVHN app.

For technical questions about MyLVHN, patients can call 844-4MY-LVHN (844-469-5846).

Coordinated Health locations switching to Epic are:

1503 N. Cedar Crest Boulevard, Allentown

1621 N. Cedar Crest Boulevard, Allentown

1405 N. Cedar Crest Boulevard, Allentown

2030 Highland Avenue, Bethlehem

2300 Highland Avenue, Bethlehem

2310 Highland Avenue, Bethlehem

222 Red School Lane, Phillipsburg, N.J.

212 Red School Lane, Phillipsburg, N.J.

505 Independence Road, East Stroudsburg

511 VNA Road, East Stroudsburg

2775 Schoenersville Road, Bethlehem

3100 Emrick Boulevard, Bethlehem Township

1411 Jacobsburg Road, Wind Gap

239 N. First St., Lehighton

111 Switzgable Drive, Brodheadsville, Monroe County

26 Station Circle, Hazle Township, Luzerne County

334 Main St., Dickson City, Lackawanna County

1120 Oak St., Pittston, Luzerne County

Coordinated Health includes two hospital campuses, and nearly two dozen multispecialty locations, including ambulatory surgery centers and orthopedic injury centers in northeastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey.