Velocity Urgent Care adopts Sentara’s Epic electronic medical record
Velocity patient data will be available across all Sentara facilities
Sentara Health has moved its 17 Velocity Urgent Care centers onto its Epic electronic medical record (EMR).
Sentara became sole owner of Velocity in December of 2023, following six years as a joint venture, during which Velocity used a different EMR.
To ensure consistency, accuracy of patient data, and easy access for patients through Sentara MyChart, Velocity Urgent Care will now use the Epic EMR.
“The transition to Epic is good for patients and our providers,” said Kurt Hofelich, vice president of ambulatory services for Sentara.
“Any Sentara provider can now see when patients visited a Velocity Urgent Care and their patient record, which helps us make better clinical decisions. Epic helps us reduce duplication and improves patient outcomes.”
Benefits of the Epic conversion include:
• Epic will send a visit summary to a patient’s Sentara primary care provider so they are aware of the visit and their care plan, including short-term medications
• Urgent care visit information, lab results, and diagnostic test results will be available in the Sentara EMR for all other Sentara providers, facilities, and hospitals if follow-up care in these venues is needed
• Sentara MyChart users will be able to view their Velocity Urgent Care records along with all other Sentara records in their patient charts
• Sentara MyChart users can pre-register for an urgent care visit and save a place in line at any time, reducing waiting times
• Urgent care registration is quicker and more accurate with all patient information already on Epic
Hampton Roads, Va.-based Velocity Urgent Care employs almost 200 people.
Two more Velocity sites will open in Virginia Beach, Va., and Elizabeth City, NC, in September and December, increasing Velocity’s total sites to 19.
Velocity’s expansion has followed Sentara's growth in Virginia and North Carolina, with most Velocity sites located near Sentara hospitals or outpatient sites.
“A large organization like Sentara provides our team with additional resources and more access to training, and our patients with a seamless connection to Sentara’s Epic EMR,” said Barbara Smith, vice president of operations for Velocity Urgent Care under Sentara Medical Group.
“Being part of Sentara promotes patient safety and continuity of care, and we could not have joined a better organization.”
Sentara became sole owner of Velocity in December of 2023, following six years as a joint venture, during which Velocity used a different EMR.
To ensure consistency, accuracy of patient data, and easy access for patients through Sentara MyChart, Velocity Urgent Care will now use the Epic EMR.
“The transition to Epic is good for patients and our providers,” said Kurt Hofelich, vice president of ambulatory services for Sentara.
“Any Sentara provider can now see when patients visited a Velocity Urgent Care and their patient record, which helps us make better clinical decisions. Epic helps us reduce duplication and improves patient outcomes.”
Benefits of the Epic conversion include:
• Epic will send a visit summary to a patient’s Sentara primary care provider so they are aware of the visit and their care plan, including short-term medications
• Urgent care visit information, lab results, and diagnostic test results will be available in the Sentara EMR for all other Sentara providers, facilities, and hospitals if follow-up care in these venues is needed
• Sentara MyChart users will be able to view their Velocity Urgent Care records along with all other Sentara records in their patient charts
• Sentara MyChart users can pre-register for an urgent care visit and save a place in line at any time, reducing waiting times
• Urgent care registration is quicker and more accurate with all patient information already on Epic
Hampton Roads, Va.-based Velocity Urgent Care employs almost 200 people.
Two more Velocity sites will open in Virginia Beach, Va., and Elizabeth City, NC, in September and December, increasing Velocity’s total sites to 19.
Velocity’s expansion has followed Sentara's growth in Virginia and North Carolina, with most Velocity sites located near Sentara hospitals or outpatient sites.
“A large organization like Sentara provides our team with additional resources and more access to training, and our patients with a seamless connection to Sentara’s Epic EMR,” said Barbara Smith, vice president of operations for Velocity Urgent Care under Sentara Medical Group.
“Being part of Sentara promotes patient safety and continuity of care, and we could not have joined a better organization.”
By: Dale Gauding