Epic
by Epic Systems Corporation
Dominant hospital EHR with 42% market share, MyChart patient portal, and comprehensive enterprise healthcare platform.
Overview
Epic Systems Corporation is the dominant electronic health records (EHR) company in the United States healthcare market. Founded in 1979 by Judith “Judy” Faulkner in a basement in Madison, Wisconsin, Epic has grown into the largest EHR vendor in the country, now headquartered in Verona, Wisconsin on a 1,100-acre campus inspired by fantastical themes. Epic holds approximately 42.3% of the acute care hospital EHR market share and manages over 325 million patient records—more than the population of the United States.
Key Features
Epic offers a comprehensive suite of healthcare applications including EpicCare (ambulatory and inpatient EHR), MyChart (patient portal with 150+ million activated users), Care Everywhere (health information exchange network connecting 90% of US patients), Cadence (scheduling), Prelude (registration), Resolute (billing), Beacon (oncology), Stork (obstetrics), and Healthy Planet (population health management). Epic is known for its deep interoperability through Care Everywhere and its AI initiatives, including Hey Epic! (generative AI features) and integration with Microsoft’s DAX Copilot for ambient clinical documentation.
Best For
Epic is designed primarily for large hospital systems, academic medical centers, integrated delivery networks, and major health systems. It is NOT typically suitable for small independent practices due to its enterprise pricing model and complexity. Organizations like Kaiser Permanente, the Veterans Health Administration, Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins, Cleveland Clinic, and most major academic medical centers use Epic.
Built for: Academic Medical Center, Cardiology, Health System, Hospital, Multi-specialty, Oncology, Pediatrics, Primary Care — Enterprise (100+), Large (26-100 providers)
Pros & Cons
Strengths
- Industry-leading 42.3% acute care market share with proven reliability
- MyChart patient portal with 150+ million activated users
- Care Everywhere network connects 90% of US patient records
- Comprehensive suite covering all hospital departments
- Strong interoperability and health information exchange
- Continuous investment in AI features (Hey Epic!, DAX Copilot integration)
Limitations
- Extremely expensive - implementations range from $10M to $200M+
- Not suitable for small independent practices
- Long implementation timelines (18-36 months typical)
- Requires significant IT infrastructure and staffing
- Vendor lock-in due to proprietary architecture
- Steep learning curve for clinicians
Pricing
What Users Say
"Epic is the gold standard for hospital EHR systems. The integration across departments is seamless, and MyChart has transformed how our patients engage with their health records."
"While Epic is powerful and comprehensive, the cost of implementation and the ongoing support requirements are substantial. It's overkill for smaller organizations."
How It Compares
The Bottom Line
Epic is best suited for large hospital systems, academic medical centers, and integrated delivery networks that need a comprehensive, enterprise-grade EHR platform and can invest in the substantial implementation and ongoing costs.
Try EpicExplore More
Similar EHR Systems
Other systems that might fit your needs
WebPT
Best for Specialty
ChiroTouch
Best for Specialty
ModMed
Best for Specialty
PCC
Best for Specialty