Louisiana First to Offer Statewide Access to Epic’s MyChart Central

Louisiana is the first state to launch statewide access of Epic’s MyChart Central, which allows patients who receive care from multiple providers who use the Epic EHR to have a single portal log-in to access their medical records, communicate with care teams, and manage their care.

Louisiana’s statewide launch follows an initial activation of MyChart Central in Madison, Wisc., where health systems collaborated on a citywide go-live. Epic said that later this year the capability will expand nationwide, allowing patients across the U.S. to connect their MyChart accounts through one Epic ID.

Epic notes that more than 2.5 million Louisianans use MyChart to manage their care, access test results, schedule and check in for appointments, message their providers, request prescription refills, pay bills, and more. The company adds that MyChart Central simplifies the user experience with a single sign-in and a united view across organizations.

The Louisiana healthcare organizations using Epic are:
• Baton Rouge General
• Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System
• Lake Charles Memorial Health System
• LCMC Health
• North Oaks Health System
• Ochsner Health
• St. Tammany Parish Hospital
• Terrebonne General Health System
• Woman’s Hospital

In a statement, Amy Trainor, Ochsner Health senior vice president and chief information officer, said: “I am proud of how health systems across Louisiana came together to make our patients’ lives easier. Being able to access your full health record, no matter where you receive your care, should and will be the standard of care—and we are leading the way. This spirit of collaboration in the launch of MyChart Central is a great example of how we can improve the health and wellness of our communities through partnership and collaboration.”

Epic states that statewide MyChart Central means patients can now have:
• One MyChart login. Patients can use a single Epic ID to sign in to MyChart for all Louisiana organizations using Epic—without needing to keep track of multiple usernames and passwords.
• Password-free convenience. With support for passkeys and biometrics like face and fingerprint, patients can securely sign in without remembering passwords.
• Synced profile information. When patients move or get a new phone number, they can update MyChart Central once. Updates sync to the other organizations where they receive care—saving time and reducing the need to fill out repetitive forms.
• Simpler patient-driven interoperability. A single Epic ID makes it easier for patients to securely share their medical information with health apps they choose.