Penn State Health to launch Epic to create more connected patient experience

HERSHEY, Pa. — Penn State Health patients will soon have a simpler, more connected way to manage their care. With a systemwide launch planned for Oct. 31, Penn State Health is implementing Epic, a new electronic health record (EHR) and billing system that aims to strengthen care coordination, expand access and help create a more seamless experience across the health system.

The transition includes the launch of MyChart, a new patient portal that will replace five separate patient portals with one easy‑to‑use experience. Patients will have one place to message their care team, view test results, schedule appointments, manage prescriptions, join virtual visits, access their health information and more. The single electronic health record will help connect care across Penn State Health, creating a more seamless experience for patients.

“Patients know Penn State Health for the quality of our care, and our new, unified electronic health record will help make that care easier to reach and easier to experience,” said Kyle Snyder, chief operating officer for Penn State Health. “Whether they're seeing a primary care physician, visiting a specialist or receiving hospital care, they will benefit from a more connected experience that helps our teams deliver coordinated, high-quality care.”

While the new EHR is designed with patients at its core, Epic will also strengthen the system behind the scenes. For clinicians, support teams and revenue cycle staff, the platform will help streamline workflows, reduce manual tasks and enhance communication, creating more time for what matters most: caring for patients.

It will also provide powerful data and artificial intelligence tools to support research, education and innovation. By training future clinicians on the same system used by more than 90% of U.S. medical students and residents nationwide, Penn State Health aims to better prepare the clinicians it educates for today’s healthcare environment.

“As an academic health system, we have a responsibility to look beyond today and invest in the future of care,” said Michael Kupferman, CEO of Penn State Health. “Epic provides a unified digital foundation that strengthens how we educate and train clinicians, advance research and innovation, and deliver high-quality care for the communities we serve, today and into the future.”

With the unified digital foundation, Penn State Health clinicians and support staff will be able to coordinate care more efficiently — not only across the system’s hospitals and outpatient practices but also with other health systems. This real-time visibility supports safer care, faster decision‑making and improved health outcomes.