The University of California San Diego Health https://health.ucsd.edu has moved their EMR system to an Epic-hosted cloud environment. So far, the information services team has moved about 10,000 workstations at UC San Diego Health to this virtual delivery method enabling users to access their EMR via the cloud. They have also integrated over a hundred third-party applications that work with Epic within the new cloud environment.
The cloud infrastructure is resilient and offers more uptime with redundant systems to protect the data. UC San Diego Health plans to fully deploy cloud-based solutions for all data storage needs within three years.
A cloud hosted environment helps the system meet industry standards to safeguard patients’ protected health information. Cloud computing enables timely cybersecurity updates and patching as well as heightened security controls. Cloud computing also permits easier disaster recovery and enables hosting vendors to focus on applying specific security needs.
UC San Diego Health is the hub for a single EMR system serving UC Riverside Health and community practice affiliates. This has resulted in a cost saving arrangement that has improved coordination of care among physicians. The health system will also share their EMR system with UC Irvine Health starting this November.
In addition, there is ongoing development for a UC Health-wide data warehouse that will be able to integrate patient data across the UC’s five academic health systems which together will comprise the fourth largest healthcare system in California.