This move will enhance how it provides care, reduces costs and connects to an integrated network of community health centers. This transition will take place at all four of the health center’s locations in Fort Dodge, Dayton, Eagle Grove and Mason City.

The move to the system called Epic is part of a nearly statewide collaboration and a new unique national model. It will amplify the collective impact of Iowa’s community health centers as they share data and resources to support an integrated care system.

“This has been an epic year for us at Community Health Center,” said Renae Kruckenberg, chief executive officer of the health center. “We began taking steps for this transition back in February. It takes a lot of staff commitment and dedication for a project like this. Everyone has a role in patient care from the front desk to our providers, support staff and those behind the scenes in medical records and billing. Staff have been training and preparing for this transition for months.”

The new system will also empower community health center patients. With Epic, patients will have significantly improved access to their health information. They will have the ability to connect with their care teams and play an active role in their care.

“Externally, we are looking forward to making things easier for patients and providing a new tool for patients to have access to their health information,” Kruckenberg said. “Internally, we are looking forward to all of our teams being on the same system. With the system we have now our medical and behavioral health teams work on one platform and our dental team on another.”

This project will be managed by INConcertCare, a sister organization of the Iowa primary care Association in collaboration with OCHIN, a nonprofit leader in equitable health care innovation.