UNC Health Care Launches Innovative Fully Integrated Epic Telehealth Solution

App enhances patient experience, enabling video visits with their providers; providers benefit from one-click video workflow, fully embedded within the patient chart

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–UNC Health Care leads the innovation of telehealth by developing a fully integrated solution that enables patients to easily access providers through enhanced functionality of their My UNC Chart patient portal. Partnering with American Well®, UNC Health Care launched the Telehealth (clinical) app into its Epic electronic health record (EHR) workflow that now offers patients video visits and video consultations with one click.

As part of this innovative and fully integrated workflow, providers receive notifications and can seamlessly connect for a video visit without leaving the Epic environment or having to download a separate application. Providers can efficiently access relevant patient medical records and provide documentation through the Epic interface. This telehealth rollout began this month with selected primary care and specialty providers, and will further expand over the following year.

“After the completion of a successful pilot, we’re confident this workflow will enable UNC Health Care to expand our services across the state, with an innovative yet intuitive workflow for both providers and patients,” said Robert L. Gianforcaro, DO, UNC Health Care’s Executive Medical Director of Population Health & Virtual Care.

“Telehealth is a natural and important extension to care delivery. It not only extends the reach and engagement capabilities of the care team, but allows for patients to receive healthcare services and interactions in a way that is both personal and convenient,” said Mike Baird, President of Customer Solutions at American Well. “UNC Health Care’s integration of American Well into the Epic EHR workflow is a model example of how hospitals can innovative within their current EHR workflow, making telehealth not only easy for patients but seamless within the physician workflow. In turn, this reduces burnout and increases the time they can spend with patients.”

UNC Health Care patients will now be able to:

• Participate in a video visit with their provider outside of the doctor’s office when and where they choose
• Utilize their mobile phone, tablet or desktop to participate in a video visit without needing any special equipment
• Access specialists and primary care physicians
• Add family members to participate as part of a video visit

Telehealth visits might not be covered by all North Carolina insurers, but patients may have other options. Patients should consult with their particular plans to avoid out of pocket expenses.

About UNC Health Care

UNC Health Care is an integrated health care system owned by the state of North Carolina and based in Chapel Hill. It exists to further the teaching mission of the University of North Carolina and to provide state-of-the-art patient care.

UNC Health Care is comprised of UNC Hospitals at Chapel Hill, ranked consistently among the best medical centers in the country; the UNC School of Medicine, a nationally eminent research institution; Pardee UNC Health Care in Hendersonville; Chatham Hospital in Siler City; Johnston Health in Clayton and Smithfield; UNC Lenoir Health Care in Kinston; Wayne UNC Health Care in Goldsboro; Caldwell UNC Health Care in Lenoir; Nash UNC Health Care in Rocky Mount; UNC Rockingham Health Care in Eden, Onslow Memorial in Jacksonville, UNC REX Healthcare and its provider network in Wake County; and the UNC Physicians Network.

For more information, please visit www.unchealthcare.org.

About American Well

American Well is a leading telehealth platform in the United States and globally, connecting and enabling providers, insurers, patients, and innovators to deliver greater access to more affordable, higher quality care. American Well believes that digital care delivery will transform healthcare. The Company offers a single, comprehensive platform to support all telehealth needs from urgent to acute and post-acute care, as well as chronic care management and healthy living. With over a decade of experience, American Well powers telehealth solutions for over 150 health systems comprised of 2,000 hospitals and 55 health plan partners with over 7,000 employers, covering over 150 million lives. For more information, please visit AmericanWell.com.

Contacts

Tom Hughes 919-923-6964

tom.hughes@unchealth.unc.edu