Upstate University Hospital becomes the first hospital in Central New York to fully integrate electronic medical records on Saturday, March 1 when Epic goes live. Epic is the name of the EMR system Upstate adopted.

"During this time, your care will not change," say posters in the hospital. "You may see additional support staff in patient care areas. Our teams will be working together to ensure a smooth transition to this new system that will make your medical care even more organized than before."

Outpatient areas of Upstate began using Epic in 2012, offering patients access to an online patient portal called MyChart. Through MyChart, patients can view their medical records, securely message their healthcare team, request prescription renewals and appointments, see test results and view their bills.

Why electronic medical records are good for patients

What MyChart offers to patients

 Electronic medical record benefits, (HealthLink on Air interview)

Exploring doctor-patient electronic communications (HealthLink interview)