How does Epic facilitate care coordination among departments?

Epic facilitates care coordination among departments primarily by providing shared access to patient data. This shared access is crucial for healthcare professionals to collaborate effectively, as it allows them to view and update patients' medical records in real-time. With this comprehensive visibility, clinicians across different departments can coordinate treatment plans, track patient progress, and ensure continuity of care.

Unlike restricting access, which could hinder communication and collaboration, shared access allows for a more integrated approach to patient care, enabling healthcare teams to work together seamlessly. Additionally, while scheduling appointments is important, it does not encompass the broader spectrum of care coordination that shared data access provides. Limiting communication to email would also restrict the dynamic and immediate nature of patient care interactions, which the integration of shared data aims to enhance. Thus, shared access to patient data is the key element that supports effective care coordination in the Epic system.