Since March 18 all Tower Health Urgent Care locations have been fully integrated into Tower Health's Epic electronic health record (EHR). This is another major step forward in Tower Health's journey to becoming a fully integrated healthcare system, and significantly enhances the role of Tower Health Urgent Care facilities in serving the community during the COVID-19 situation.
"With our 20 urgent care locations live on Epic, we are better prepared to provide seamlessly coordinated care for our patients," said Clint Matthews, Tower Health President and CEO. "Now more than ever a single, shared EHR bringing patient health information from Tower Health care sites into one record is important. A shared patient record gives physicians and care teams across the system access to a comprehensive view of each patient's health, which will in turn lead to more informed clinical decisions and improved outcomes."
"This shared medical record will also drive common practices, protocols, and care expectations, while also fostering timely communication between providers," said Charles F. Barbera, MD, Vice President of Pre-Hospital and Unscheduled Care at Tower Health. "This is especially helpful in Tower Health's response to COVID-19. The addition of Tower Health Urgent Care to our existing Epic platform means our patients will also be able to view any details from their visits to our urgent care locations in their MyTowerHealth patient portal."
Tower Health Urgent Care was formed when Tower Health acquired 19 formerly Premier Urgent Care locations in late 2018. The goal of that acquisition was to expand Tower Health's services portfolio to span a complete continuum of care, a strategy derived from the desire to enhance the health of our communities and provide patients with the right care, in the right place, at the right time. Urgent care provides an important avenue for Tower Health patients to access healthcare services, particularly when their primary care provider is unavailable or if they do not have one. Having access to urgent care also helps to prevent unnecessary visits to an emergency room.
About Tower Health
Tower Health is a strong, regional, integrated healthcare provider/payer system that offers leading-edge, compassionate healthcare and wellness services to a population of 2.5 million people. With approximately 14,000 team members, Tower Health consists of Reading Hospital in West Reading; Brandywine Hospital in Coatesville; Chestnut Hill Hospital in Philadelphia; Jennersville Hospital in West Grove; Phoenixville Hospital in Phoenixville; Pottstown Hospital in Pottstown; and St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, a partnership of Tower Health and Drexel University in Philadelphia. It also includes Reading Hospital Rehabilitation at Wyomissing; Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences in West Reading; home healthcare services provided by Tower Health at Home; and a network of 22 urgent care facilities across the Tower Health service area. Tower Health offers a connected network of 2,200 physicians, specialists, and advanced practice providers across more than 230 convenient locations. For more information, visit towerhealth.org.