The Franciscan Alliance (formerly Sisters of St. Francis Health Services, Inc.) has selected Epic, a compre­hensive, integrated suite of applications for electronic medical records (EMRs). This dynamic health-information technology will strengthen our system’s processes related to patient care and clinical administration. OneChart is the name Franciscan Alliance has selected for its transition to and implementation of an EMR system.

The Central Indiana Region (Franciscan St. Francis Health) will lead the Franciscan Alliance transition to new software systems designed to streamline care and continue to elevate quality care throughout the hospital. St. Francis Health launched Epic hospital-wide on Feb. 26, 2011, and is expected to upgrade on Feb. 11, 2012.

From May to August 2011, our hospitals took part in the Collaborative Build process in Merrillville, IN, to work through details and make decisions that will affect how the Epic system works across the Franciscan Alliance. These sessions also were integral for our Northern Indiana hospitals as they work toward their Epic launch dates at Franciscan St. Margaret Health in June 2012 and Franciscan St. Anthony Health in Crown Point and Michigan City in August 2012.

Physician practices from across the corporation will upgrade on Feb. 11, 2012.