Epic Secure Chat to launch in Canyons, Desert

After the enterprise-wide Epic integration in September, all Peaks practitioners will be able to securely message colleagues in the Canyons and Desert regions with Epic Secure Chat.

The platform already is available in Peaks. Below is a refresher.

What is Epic Secure Chat?
Secure Chat is a patient-centered, HIPAA-compliant platform designed to facilitate communication among IH Health Epic users regarding patient care and clinical operations. This secure messaging system is available to all Epic users, including nurses, physicians, pharmacists, therapists, case managers, bed planners, unit secretaries, schedulers and clinic managers.

Who can use Epic Secure Chat?

Epic Secure Chat is accessible to users who have a direct patient care role or who support the operations of a clinical care unit. Users also can access Epic Secure Chat via the Epic Mobile applications (Haiku/Canto).

How does Secure Chat support patient care?
Secure chats, which can be between two or more users, can include a patient chart with the conversation, allowing participants to quickly access the relevant patient information. With a single tap or click, users can view the patient information or perform necessary actions directly within the chart.

• Seeing a new patient in the hospital and need to schedule a follow up appointment? Send a secure chat with that patient’s chart to your office manager to arrange a new patient visit.

• Need to admit a patient from clinic? Send a secure chat with that patient’s chart to the admit team.

• Coordinating patient conferences or rounds? Send a secure chat to the treatment team about meeting times.

What types of messages can I send through Secure Chat?
There are three priorities for Secure Chat messages: normal, important and urgent. Critical and emergent priority messages should not be sent through Secure Chat.

Does Secure Chat replace pagers and phones?
No. Secure Chat is the preferred method of communication in Epic but it will not replace pagers and phones.

Does Secure Chat replace In Basket?
No. Secure Chat augments In Basket by providing the ability to have interactive conversations in addition to In Basket messaging.

Do secure chats remain in the chart?
Chat threads remain in Epic Chat for 10 days but are not a part of the patient chart or legal record. They are discoverable for 30 days after being sent.