Updated communication guidance: MatchMD should be the initial method of communication between inpatient clinical staff and providers (physicians and APPs). If a provider responds through Secure Chat—or starts communication through Secure Chat—clinical staff can continue the conversation through that platform. For more guidance on when to use Epic Secure Chat, view this communication guide.
As of November 19, all Epic users across the system have access to Epic Secure Chat. This platform—built within Epic—allows clinical team members to send messages directly to each other while staying in the medical record.
Staying in Epic lets our teams send messages faster—and with fewer clicks. Epic Secure Chat also allows you to share info from the medical record directly to others on the patients’ care team, to make collaboration easier.
Why are we making this change?
Because Epic is our electronic medical record platform, we want clinical messages to be in the same place. It’s more straightforward for our teams, and it avoids duplicate systems. By the end of 2025, MatchMD will be phased out at Kettering Health.
This is part of a larger initiative called unified clinical communications, which aims to align platforms for our clinical teams to communicate with each other. We want it to be simpler—and faster—for our clinical teams and providers to communicate, which can ultimately improve collaboration and patient care. By the end of this multi-year project, we’re aiming to reduce communication channels by more than 80%. Put simply: We’re condensing technologies to make it easier for our staff to talk with each other.
How does this affect my workflow?
Clinical team members
Start using Epic Secure Chat instead of MatchMD for 1:1 or group messages about patient care with only other clinical team members (ex: nurses, physical and occupational therapists, etc.).
Physicians and APPs
Start using Epic Secure Chat instead of MatchMD for 1:1 or group messages about patient care with only other providers.
UPDATED December 20, 2024: MatchMD should be the initial method of communication between inpatient clinical staff and providers (physicians and APPs). If a provider responds through Secure Chat—or starts communication through Secure Chat—clinical staff can continue the conversation through that platform.
As teams become comfortable with Epic Secure Chat, unit and practice leaders may define other uses at their discretion. For example, outpatient/ambulatory Kettering Health Medical Group practices will be piloting messages that include both providers and clinical team members.
Here’s how to access it:
- Open Epic on your desktop computer, WOW, or laptop.
- Click the Secure workspace icon, which looks like a speech bubble in the upper right corner of your Epic screen.
- Unread messages are indicated in the bubble.
For details, review the Secure Chat on Desktop/WOW tip sheet. See the attachment associated with the link.
Will all messages come through Epic Secure Chat now?
Epic Secure Chat is for clinical or patient care-related messages from clinical team to clinical team, or from provider to provider. It is connected to our electronic medical record, so messages should be related to clinical topics.
Depending on your message, it may be appropriate to use a different channel:
- MatchMD will still temporarily be used for communication between clinical staff and providers.
- Teams or email should be used for more administrative communications, like schedule changes or department reminders.
- At this time, there is no change to code alerts. Employees will continue to receive those updates through the current methods.
For more guidance on when to use Epic Secure Chat, view this communication guide.
Where can I get more info?
More information about Epic Secure Chat—including an FAQ, quick-start guide, and tip sheets—can be found here.
If you’re a physician or APP who needs help downloading an Epic mobile app, click here.
If you have trouble accessing Epic Secure Chat, please enter a ticket or call iSupport at x44500 or (937) 384-4500.