Still on my bucket list of conferences to attend is the Epic UGM (User Group Meeting) they hold every year for Epic users. I love user conferences because you hear about the true realities users face. Plus, there’s a common bond on the same application that makes finding someone who shares your challenges easy.
As was announced back in June, Epic was set on holding their UGM meeting in person in Verona, Wisconsin this week. During this event, Epic users basically take over both Verona and nearby Madison and even then sometimes have to drive further away to get a hotel. Judy had made it clear that she felt in-person was the way to really get things done. That was true for employees at their office and for their Epic user conference.
A number of people have been tweeting from the event. So, here’s a roundup of some of the interesting tweets people shared.
Epic calls this the Deep Space auditorium on their campus. This is where the keynotes were held.
Executive address at #EpicUGM. Deep Space auditorium spaced out well with masks mandated. Judy takes the stage dressed in sprite costume to go with the “Stories of Legends & Lore” theme this year. #UGM2021 pic.twitter.com/iqB6bZphb9
— Saad Chaudhry (@SaadChaudhry) August 24, 2021
This is a pretty cool video of what it’s like to get to the Deep Space auditorium. It also gives you an impression of how big this venue really is.
A cool #Hyperlapse vid of the
Sky Level (Blue) ➡️
Grass Level (Green) ➡️
Dirt Level (Brown) ➡️
Rock Level (Yellow) ➡️ Magma Level (Red) ➡️
then into Deep Space Auditorium! #UGM2021 #EpicSystems #architecturaldesign pic.twitter.com/7F9mq2f7u1— David K. Butler MD (@davidbutlermd) August 25, 2021
This is an interesting look at the massive tents they setup outside to be able to accommodate those who attended. Pretty massive and just as quirky as you’d expect.
The tent for #EpicUGM is as massive as ever. No chance for it be virtual. #healthtech #epicehr #ugm2021 pic.twitter.com/YXxJC77frU
— Joe Warbington (@JWarbington) August 17, 2021
Judy has always had a theme for the Epic UGMs and this year’s theme was Stories of Legend & Lore. Plus, Judy likes to dress the theme. This year she was dressed as a “Sprite” for her keynote.
And so it begins.#judyfaulkner takes the stage to give her executive address to the #EpicUGM2021 audience.
Theme: “Stories of Legend and Lore” 🧙♂️
Her Costume: ‘I’m a Sprite’ ⚡️🔥🌱🌬@EpicShares pic.twitter.com/eHYclzQGrH
— David K. Butler MD (@davidbutlermd) August 24, 2021
Judy covered a bunch of things in her keynote. She shared that they have 53 specialty steering boards. It’s anecdotes like this that make me laugh when people wonder why EHR vendors don’t listen to doctors. Plus, it illustrates the specialty depth that a new entrant would have to compete with if they wanted to compete with Epic.
Looks like she talked about Epic’s “Always On” strategy which goes to our previous article about Epic having functionality available that users don’t turn on. She also talked about efforts to reduce note bloat (and decrease clicks) and their focus on Opioid, Sepsis (new peer reviewed study), and suicide.
One slide noted that refill protocols have saved 390 years of clinician time over one calendar year.
📝 Exec Address Notes:#epicugm2021
– 53 Specialty steering boards
– Turning #Epic functionality’Always On’ strategy
– #physicianwellness programs to decrease clicks etc
– #Cancer Task Force,
– Strategic Focus: on #Opioid, #Sepsis (see image, & peer reviewed ) & #Suicide pic.twitter.com/nIZLbr64wb— David K. Butler MD (@davidbutlermd) August 24, 2021
This was an interesting look at how Epic sees their “EHR galaxy”
The EHR galaxy according to Epic #EpicUGM pic.twitter.com/otjsy5Ne7D
— Saad Chaudhry (@SaadChaudhry) August 24, 2021
Sounds like Judy and the Epic team were walking the fine line of data sharing vs information blocking. Epic had publicly come out against some of the aspects of the Information Blocking regulations, so this isn’t a surprise.
I do love their play on words from Share Everywhere (their data sharing solution) to “Cher Everywhere”. Plus, it was interesting to have a look at how they’re approaching collaborations with Health Plans and their efforts in genomics. They don’t share much, but you can see some details and partners in the slides below.
📝 Exec Address Notes:#EpicUGM2021
– #ShareEverywhere allows patients to send a code and link that allows others to see Patient Portal info (not complete chart)
– Collaboration w Payors via Epic (no charge)
– #Genomics & Clinical data combined
– Collaboration – @EpicShares pic.twitter.com/CIfjZTCydA— David K. Butler MD (@davidbutlermd) August 24, 2021
Dr. David K. Butler appropriately noted that this was the most talk of payors at an Epic UGM. That correlates well with much of the payor talk we’ve seen from Cerner too.
Payor & provider direct connection allow immediate electronic prior authorization. Many clients have invested heavily in 3rd party solutions over past 10 years.
This is the most discussion of Payors I’ve seen at an#EpicUGM #MCO— David K. Butler MD (@davidbutlermd) August 24, 2021
Sumit Rana took the stage as well to share some of the successes with MyChart over the last year (no doubt COVID fueled. Lots of numbers to chew on, but it’s great to see a 4x increase in appointments scheduled through MyChart. Illustrates well that many patients want the option to schedule their appointment digitally.
📝Epic Exec Address #EpicUGM2021
…and ‘Cool Stuff Ahead’
with my fav exec – Sumit Rana 💯! Unfortunately, he got this whole Legends theme mixed up and dressed as a “Rock & Roll” Legend complete w #BlingBling 😎🎸
– Updates on MyChart users
– Innovations during Covid and more pic.twitter.com/jl3cawBmVc— David K. Butler MD (@davidbutlermd) August 24, 2021
I was intrigued by what’s described as a point of care, no-build report driven by AI and machine learning. I kind of feel like I need to see this in action to better understand it, but the concept is intriguing.
Seth and Phil breaking down the #AI strategy #EpicUGM2021 !
Cool point of care, no-build reports driven by AI and machine learning 🤯🤯#SlicerDicer can connect to a basic spreadsheet to imports, model & viz data in one step 🤯💯 pic.twitter.com/uECnXWgEqk— David K. Butler MD (@davidbutlermd) August 24, 2021
This next slide from a session is hard to read, but you don’t need to read it to get the point. The point is that there’s a lot of legislation and rule making happening and plenty more ahead. No wonder we can’t keep up.
Timeline for the myriad of healthcare policy/legislation + adherence items (for EHRs) on CIOs’ minds between now and the end of next year. Just in case your CEO asks, lol. Courtesy of CIO Roundtable session at #EpicUGM2021 pic.twitter.com/GQyrPxBRSZ
— Saad Chaudhry (@SaadChaudhry) August 24, 2021
This kind of feels like a sales piece for Cosmos (welcome to some user conference sessions), but it does make a good point about Epic’s Cosmos having lower barriers to entry because of existing agreements.
The MetroHealth System (Cleveland, OH) presenting on using #epic to rapidly create new knowledge using #realworlddata with Cosmos. #epicugm https://t.co/XEomXMhA9h
— John Lee (@jsleemd) August 24, 2021
I didn’t even see the session and I can guess that “Getting Rid of Stupid Stuff” was one of the best sessions at the event. There’s no worse burnout optimizing than Stupid Stuff. I wish I could have seen the session, but thanks to Rasu Shrestha for connecting it to other efforts to get rid of stupid stuff.
Getting rid of stupid stuff.
Reminds me of Dr Melinda Ashton’s work in going after anything in the EHR that they thought was poorly designed, unnecessary, or just plain stupid.
🎙https://t.co/WgxtLJqXpl#EpicUGM #UGM2021 #healthIT https://t.co/SmkBI99WrV pic.twitter.com/KFx5600tis
— Rasu Shrestha MD MBA (@RasuShrestha) August 24, 2021
Of course, there was a bit of fun with axes too.
Admittedly, my energy has been flagging of late. 18 months, waves of pandemic fever, zoom isolation, cut-the-budget and hurry-fix-this have taken a toll. #UGM2021 has been a balm for the soul. Good food, good company, great presentations and ideas, and this ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/n4rasdkbsX
— CT Lin (@ctlin1) August 25, 2021
Hopefully next year COVID will be better and I can find a way to go to the Epic UGM to report from the event. Although, thanks to all those who shared about the experience. If you attended, how did it go? Was anything else shared that’s worth adding to the list? Let us know in the comments or on social media.