As part of our High-Reliability Organization (HRO) journey, RWJBarnabas Health is continuously evaluating the Epic Activation Timeline and adjusting plans to meet the commitment of COVID-19 site readiness and a successful Epic implementation.
Currently, vaccination efforts are limiting staff availability and state guidelines regarding in-person capacity are challenging our ability to train our providers system-wide.
After careful evaluation, a decision was made to push back Epic activation dates for two sites originally scheduled for Wave 1:
The factors taken into consideration, outlined in the SBAR below, align with our HRO vision of comprehensive support for providers, students, researchers, clinical care teams, patients, and the communities we serve. It will also set us up for success as the Epic Together project moves forward.
To evaluate the current Epic activation timeline for Waves 2 through 3.
As part of our High-Reliability Organization (HRO) journey, we are continuously evaluating the Epic Activation Timeline and adjusting plans to meet the commitment of COVID-19 site readiness and a successful Epic implementation.
This evaluation was done in partnership with leaders from RWJBarnabas Health, Rutgers Medical School, and The Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ).
The Epic Executive Committee, in partnership with leaders from Rutgers Medical School and The Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, evaluated the Epic Activation Timeline for Wave 1 through 3 based on:
o Ensuring any new interim workflows have a mitigation strategy to insulate patient safety risks
o Ensuring interim workflows do not decrease efficiency and satisfaction
o Ensuring the combined Medical Group (Physician Enterprise, Barnabas Health Medical Group, and Rutgers Medical School) are active on Epic by Oct. 2021
o NCI re-accreditation success at CINJ
o Eric B. Chandler must activate with Rutgers Medical school due to shared clinical providers
o Ensuring there is enough training capacity based on the Governor’s executive order for a hybrid in-person training model
Covid-19 Site Readiness
o Prioritizing staff availability for COVID-19 site readiness and vaccination versus Go-Live readiness
o This decision eliminates interim workflows to insulate any potential patient safety issues and ensures clinician and staff efficiency and satisfaction.
o An NCI re-accreditation success strategy predicated on a comprehensive support model for providers, researchers, clinical care teams, students, and patients. This model will include extended pre-live preparation resources and extended At-The-Elbow Go-Live support.
o The NCI success model enables greater provider productivity, efficiency, and patient enrollment into clinical trials before and during the Epic activation phase.
o This adjustment will ensure there is sufficient training capacity in Wave 1 and still ensure the strategic initiative of a combined medical group active on Epic by Oct. 2021
o It also makes sure Eric B. Chandler activates with Rutgers Medical School due to shared clinical providers.