How Epic’s Interoperability Advancements Are Transforming Healthcare: Insights From Epic Consulting Experts

Epic Systems continues to lead the way in EHR interoperability, ensuring healthcare providers can share and use patient data more effectively. With early compliance to USCDI v3, Epic has expanded data-sharing capabilities to include:

• Social drivers of health – Capturing factors like housing, transportation, and food security.
• Cancer research data – Enhancing oncology treatment coordination.
• Expanded patient demographics – Improving inclusivity and personalized care.

These advancements translate to:

• Better care coordination across healthcare systems
• Improved patient outcomes through richer data insights
• Streamlined workflows for providers and staff

As a company investing 35% of its operating expenses into research and development, Epic is constantly evolving — but implementing these advancements can be complex. That’s where Epic consultants play a key role, ensuring seamless integration, security, and compliance.

Here’s what you need to know about Epic’s latest updates and how expert consultants can help maximize your ROI.

What Is Interoperability in Healthcare?

According to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, “Interoperability is the ability of two or more systems to exchange health information and use the information once it is received.” When this patient data is brought together in a central place, it helps facilitate better care coordination and improved health outcomes.

For certified health IT developers such as Epic to maintain their credentials, they must complete real-world testing of version 3 of the United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI v3) by December 2025. Epic fulfilled this requirement in November 2024, over a year ahead of the scheduled deadline.

This achievement further highlights Epic’s leadership in the EHR software ecosystem. By making their expanded set of application programming interfaces available to developers ahead of schedule, Epic has enabled earlier integration with EHR systems. This early access fosters a cutting-edge skill set among developers, underscoring the value of Epic consulting firms that cultivate networks of proactive professionals — such as those we nurture and maintain at HealthTECH Resources.

Epic’s Latest Interoperability Features

Besides aligning with regulatory requirements, Epic’s recent updates further simplify data sharing to personalize healthcare. Specific data that facilitates this in Epic’s USCDI v3 rollout include “tribal affiliation, disability status, caregiver relationships, and preferred language.” Social drivers of health interventions, such as homeless shelter referrals, can now also be exchanged.

Epic Implementation Executive Mike Pontillo said the following:

“Reliable access to social drivers of health will make a real difference in people’s lives. As an example use case, a health coach app could proactively connect a patient to a food bank or transportation assistance program based on data that the app can now receive.”

Furthermore, Epic supports the USCDI+Cancer program with data components that allow for additional “cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, research, and care.” Another area of Epic focus — Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement — is focused upon contributing to an advanced, interoperable single health network on-ramp framework.

Benefits for Providers and Patients

Providers benefit from streamlined and improved data sharing, which can save time and money and lead to better patient outcomes. Providers across systems can also collaborate in enhanced ways.

Patients benefit as their providers can smoothly share information, coordinating their care and reducing levels of friction. Through the patient portal, they also enjoy improved access to their healthcare records.

Epic supplies leading EHR software to hospitals, medical centers, dental clinics, hospice centers, independent practices, mental health facilities, multispecialty groups, rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing facilities, specialty diagnostics labs, urgent care centers, and more.

Each of these facility types will need to customize the application in uniquely beneficial ways, and we have experts across a range of specialties in our Epic healthcare consulting network. From implementation to data migration to training and project management and much more, we have the right Epic consultants for your needs.

Challenges in Implementing Epic’s Interoperability Features

Implementations can come with challenges because of system compatibility issues, data migrations with inconsistent formats, complex customization requirements, regulatory changes, and more. Staff may be resistant to the new system elements, requiring effective change management, usage handbooks, and targeted end-user training sessions.

Our Epic consultants cover a range of specialties, including analysts, application coordinators, instructional designers, project managers, program managers, and directors. Our Epic healthcare consulting company will seamlessly fill in your staffing gaps for these purposes: implementation, integration, optimization, process documentation and training, go-live-cutover services, data cleaning and migration, and more.

How Epic Consultants Can Help Your Organization

Our Epic consultants will work alongside your in-house IT team as you upgrade your systems to support the new interoperability features. Before doing so, they will consult with key stakeholders in your healthcare organization to ensure clarity on your goals, budget, and timeline. They will implement with care, making sure that methodologies align with your workflows and other requirements.

Recognizing that each group of end users will have different requirements, highly skilled trainers in our vast professional network will craft engaging and interactive programs in individualized ways. Your staff will have the opportunity to use the software in ways that mimic real-world applications, give input into the setups, and receive answers to their questions.

Our Epic consultants stay up to date with ever-evolving regulatory requirements, ensuring that your implementation fits within HIPAA and other regulations and safeguarding your healthcare organization for future changes.

One concern with systems integration is security. That’s why we maintain a quality network of cybersecurity experts to help ensure secure data and patient privacy. This may involve two-factor authentication, encryption, end-user role controls, and so forth.

Even after your healthcare organization’s Epic system has been upgraded, a need remains for ongoing maintenance and support. We regularly provide this to healthcare facilities — whether that means support for your in-house IT team or directly to end users of the system. When it’s time for the next Epic upgrade or new compliance requirements emerge, our Epic healthcare consulting team is ready to help. When new security issues threaten, we’ll proactively protect your software and organization.

Although a range of Epic consulting firms can handle the baseline requirements, HealthTECH Resource goes above and beyond to drive and maximize your return on investment (ROI) from Epic system implementations and upgrades.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Epic Consulting and Interoperability

USCDI v4 has a due date of January 1, 2028. With Epic beating the deadline for version three, they have a head start on this next one. New data classes and elements in this version include:

• Facility information (identifier, type, and name)
• Allergies and intolerances (non-medication)
• Encounter information
• Goals — renamed to Goals and Preferences — which will contain treatment intervention and care experience preferences
• Health status assessments, which will include alcohol use, substance use, and physical activity
• Laboratory data, which will include the result unit of measure, reference range, and interpretation along with the specimen source site, identifier, and condition acceptability
• Medications, which will include instruction and adherence data
• Procedures, which will include performance time
• Vital signs, which will include average blood pressure
• Medical device information, which will be expanded beyond implantable devices

USCDI v5 will follow. Version five is expected to have advanced direction observation data about relevant documents: their existence, location, content, and validity. The sex parameter for clinical use is expected to contain sex-specific information that’s relevant for observations, tests, procedures, and results.

Proactivity is key when your healthcare organization wants to stay on the cutting edge and fully in compliance — and that’s exactly what happens when you choose the best of Epic consulting firms: HealthTECH Resources, a boutique-style agency with more than 20 years of industry experience and a sole niche focus on healthcare software such as Epic EHR.

Partner With HealthTECH Resources for Optimal EHR Usage and ROI

Epic Systems continues to drive forward EHR technologies that benefit healthcare providers and patients alike. The most recent advancement is their early compliance with USCDI v3 that empowers healthcare organizations to leverage the capabilities available through interoperability and provide personalized patient care.

When implemented, integrated, and optimized in the best way, healthcare organizations can save time and realize a faster ROI.

HealthTECH Resources is the Epic healthcare consulting company with unparalleled experience that facilitates these achievements by providing accelerated, ultra-efficient solutions. You’ll benefit from outstanding experts with knowledge that meshes with your requirements and efficiently and cost-effectively address your pain points through our in-depth industry insights and proprietary processes. When you need to augment your staff with Epic consultants, you may, instead, decide to select our contractor-to-hire professionals and/or permanent placements.

Reach out today to work with the EHR industry’s fastest, most knowledgeable, and reliable recruiting team. Contact us online, or call us at (602) 903-7961.