Need to learn new EMR for Residency?

[Redpancreas]

So I’ve matched at a place using EPIC while I’ve used Cerner (with CPRS for subI, EPIC for chart review and elective). From what I’ve seen of EPIC so far, it seems confusing because notes are filled with links as opposed to writing and a few other things. I’d imagine it’ll take some getting used to and I want to start learning about it sooner than later as I think mastery of the EMR makes a huge difference in your competence and don’t want to wait until orientation. Any free classes offered? Which are the best?

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[operaman]

You absolutely won’t need any classes.

Every EPIC build is customized to the institution so things will be different even from what you already know.

The best thing you can do is meet with your programs current interns sometime in late June and have them show you the ropes. Make sure they also share all the important dot phrases with you and show you the basics of how your service does it.

Basically, all you need from an emr is the ability to know:
1) who/where are my patients?
2) what has been happening to my patients?
3) how can I make things happen?
4) how do I document what I’ve done?

That is easily covered in a short session with current interns. You’ll get some mandatory training but it will be absolutely worthless and probably not even geared to residents. Your future pgy2s spending 30 minutes with you is golden.

 

[libertyyne]

Epic is much easier and more user friendly compared to cerner. Most cerner implementations are **** shows.

 

[kb1900]

Epic is much easier and more user friendly compared to cerner. Most cerner implementations are **** shows.

I know fourth years that tweaked their rank lists based on emrs

 

[FindMeOnTheLinks]

epic is extremely easy to use, won't take more than a day to figure out everything you need to know once you start

 

[mvenus929]

I went from Epic to Cerner. I have a feeling you'll have a much easier time going the other way than I did.

 

[WingedOx]

Cerner isn't even that bad for general patient care stuff. It's billing and whatnot that makes it near impossible to use.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Most cerner implementations are **** shows.

Can confirm. The private health system I used to work at had a massive meltdown when Cerner was implemented.

 

[mimelim]

I know fourth years that tweaked their rank lists based on emrs

Those people are idiots.

 

[sashyashy]

EPIC is AWESOME! If you can do a SOAP note than you're golden. I've been doing outpatient rotation and its laid out with HPI, ROS, PE, and plan. The ROS and PE have a tab through section that you can click on a small icon and add more if necessary. I didn't even get any training on it. I was handed a computer and login my first day and figured it out pretty quickly...

 

[evilbooyaa]

Those people are idiots.

Eh, I disagree. It certainly isn't the only factor worth considering, but having the EMR system be a pro or con (depending on which one you like or are used to) isn't a dumb concept to me. I could see a preference in EMR tipping the scales for other programs that are otherwise quite similar to each other.

 

[sab3156]

EPIC is amazing. You will not have any trouble using it. If the place you matched has just started using it recently, all the hospital/department specific kinks may not be worked out yet, but they will get there. If they have been using it for a while, it should be great. It is extremely intuitive.

 

[Ismet]

I went from Cerner to Epic and it was perfectly fine. We had Epic training as part of our orientation, and then you just learn the intricacies of it as you go. Ask your seniors for help finding/doing something if you need it. You'll be fine. Epic >>>>>>>>>> Cerner.

 

[CherryRedDracul]

I've used both. Epic > Cerner.

 

[Mad Jack]

You absolutely won’t need any classes.

Every EPIC build is customized to the institution so things will be different even from what you already know.

The best thing you can do is meet with your programs current interns sometime in late June and have them show you the ropes. Make sure they also share all the important dot phrases with you and show you the basics of how your service does it.

Basically, all you need from an emr is the ability to know:
1) who/where are my patients?
2) what has been happening to my patients?
3) how can I make things happen?
4) how do I document what I’ve done?

That is easily covered in a short session with current interns. You’ll get some mandatory training but it will be absolutely worthless and probably not even geared to residents. Your future pgy2s spending 30 minutes with you is golden.

Epic systems will usually give you an EMR course when you start, which goes between one and five days.

 

[Freeinfinity]

Just be grateful your program uses an EMR. The hospital affiliated with my med school had a combination of paper charts to write notes, inpatient EMR for orders and diagnostic study results, and a separate outpatient EMR completely different from the inpatient one. I've seen an attending and a senior resident put their heads together for 10 whole min trying to figure out what another specialist wrote for a patient....just because his handwriting was so bad.

 

[nlax30]

You’ll be fine and will pick it up as you go along. Just have another more senior show you some tips here and there once you get into it.

I went from an archaic text based meditech system i used for years to EPIC at my current place. It was MUCH for complex and had a higher learning curve but in the end is much much better. They put us through some EPIC training before we started but that was honestly useless and taught by non-clinicians and was not practical at all. Everything I learned just by playing around with it and asking other fellows how to do something.