Epic Charting System

Specialties Emergency

Published

Hey everyone! I'm a RN in a busy ER and we currently use Tsystem computer charting. I love it and think its super easy! My hospital is about to switch to the Epic system. How hard is it to learn? If you have used tsystem and epic, which do you prefer?

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I have no experience with Tsystem, but Epic is pretty user friendly. Windows based. Heavily mouse driven. I have only used it, McKessen and Meditech. It's far better than the other 2 =)

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Specializes in Tele/PCU/ICU/Stepdown/HH Case Management.

I used Epic in my last hospital position. Large system, but user friendly once you know where everything is.

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I like Epic. Not difficult at all.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

I've used the Kaiserized flavor and the regular version of Epic and I've used a Cerner PowerChart system... and paper. I have to say quite simply that once you know where things are in Epic (even if it has a slightly different title) it's pretty easy to use. Unfortunately as I was a student nurse at the time, I couldn't use all of the features that are available to nurses in either of the EHR systems.

Please don't get me wrong: Epic does have it's quirks. Some of the medications have additional screens that must be filled in and the system doesn't seem to do a good job of letting you know about those.

Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to get a good look at how Epic customizes the system for the ED, but it shouldn't be too difficult to learn if you're used to using an EMR system or you're familiar with working with spreadsheets.

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Epic is set up to be user friendly regardless of where or how often the patient enters the healthcare system. If one of my oncology patients shows up in the ER, the ER staff can very easily how long ago the patient had chemotherapy, blood transfusion, or surgery. Even if the ER is at a different hospital, the EPIC systems can be linked so that information from a different hospital is also readily available. I have used 3 other electronic systems. EPIC got it right.

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Specializes in Emergency/Trauma.

I was very pleased with the ease of EPIC vs. PulseCheck at my last hospital. Some of my change-resistant coworkers had nothing good to say, but I thought EPIC made much more sense from a continuity of care perspective than having multiple different systems for ED/floor/lab/reg/pharm etc. I wish my current hospital would transition. I would even volunteer as a resource/champion, and I NEVER stick my neck out.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Epic is pretty easy to learn. However, it has many different versions I've found. Our largest hospital system uses it and then our second hospital system went with it too and they are like two different systems.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

Epic was a lot more user friendly before they added a bunch of JCAHO requirements like pain documentation and patient/parent training documentation. The teaching screens are all over the monitor and you feel like you're in a pin ball game after you've discharged 70 or 80 patients. Our hospital decided to roll Epic out in the midle of the swine flu scare a few years ago. That was EPIC!!

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Specializes in ED.

We currently use TSystem which I love but are switching to Epic...not sure how to feel.

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Specializes in Trauma/ED.

I've used both computerized Tsystem and now Epic, you will hate Epic at first. It is not nearly as straight forward as Tsystem but after awhile you will get used to it and have a new normal. There is nothing like left clicking for circling and right clicking for slashing as well as the great chart summary you get from Tsystem. The good part about Epic to me is it is commonly the same system that the inpatient world uses so you don' t have the issue with inpatient staff unable to easily see or understand your Tsystem charting. Epic is a little different, it is an inpatient system that has been altered to do ED charting as well. Tsystem was designed for the ED and it shows. Epic is very customizable so even if you are familiar with the system and you go to another hospital you will still have a slight learning curve.

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you are blessed... our ER still uses meditech... that pos lol

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