Pembroke Regional Hospital (PRH) is thrilled to announce that it will join five other hospitals in Eastern Ontario in adopting the Epic health information system, which includes the MyChart patient portal. This move, set for the fall of 2026, aims to improve care coordination and patient outcomes by providing seamless access to health records across the region.
Along with Arnprior Regional Health, Glengarry Memorial Hospital, Hôpital Montfort, Queensway Carleton Hospital, and The Royal, PRH will be part of a larger effort to implement Epic. The system will allow patients and health care providers from 16 partner hospitals, collectively known as the Atlas Alliance, to access health records with just a few clicks. The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) will manage the implementation of Epic.
Cameron Love, President and CEO of TOH, explained that the expanded project scope has pushed back PRH’s timeline for Epic adoption. “The extended implementation period considers the added workload of onboarding six hospitals and the need for extensive training to ensure smooth operation,” he said. However, Love emphasized that the unified system will be a game changer, particularly for patients who visit multiple hospitals, as they will have a single digital health record accessible through MyChart.
PRH President and CEO Sabine Mersmann highlighted the hospital’s multi-million dollar investment in Epic, which will replace the current paper-based system. “This shift means that critical patient information will be instantly available when patients are transferred between hospitals, eliminating the need for patients to repeat their medical history,” Mersmann said. This transformation will lead to more coordinated care and empower patients and their families.
The adoption of Epic will also provide significant benefits for recruitment, offering a standardized approach to care delivery across all hospitals involved. Mersmann noted that collaboration between the hospitals will result in cost savings and improved care pathways.
“This is the largest change project we’ve ever undertaken, and our team and community are ready for this transformation,” she added. As the region prepares for this major upgrade, the new system promises to greatly enhance patient care and streamline healthcare processes across Eastern Ontario.
(Written by: Emma Butler)