Samwise Healthcare IT Newsletter
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Epic Gains Ground as Acute Care EHR Purchasing Slows
Acute care EHR purchasing dropped 40% year-over-year in 2025, nearly 50% below 2023 levels, yet Epic captured the deals that did close, according to new KLAS research. Just two health systems with more than ten hospitals made enterprise-wide platform decisions, and both chose Epic. The vendor added 49 hospitals among smaller and midsize organizations, growing its total to 77 new multispecialty hospitals and pushing its acute care market share to 43.7%, up from 42.3%. KLAS cited data exchange with regional partners and Epic’s platform strength as key selection drivers. 2026 is expected to be a pivotal year for Oracle Health to restore customer confidence.
Sources: Healthcare IT News
UnitedHealth Tracks AI Use Among Some Staff: Report
UnitedHealth Group is monitoring whether Optum employees query AI tools such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot at least once daily, according to a Bloomberg report. An internal engagement dashboard tracks usage and flags adoption gaps. Company training documents show AI applications have helped avert more than 15 million calls and handle more than 600 million claims, with 1,000 active use cases delivering $2 billion in value in 2025. UnitedHealth is spending $1.5 billion on AI this year and running hands-on programs including AI Dojo. A company spokesperson described the initiative as a move to “fundamentally transform how we organize, operate and work as a company.”
Sources: Becker’s Hospital Review
Submissions Due May 20 for Phase 1 of HHS’ EHIgnite Challenge
HHS’ Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology has opened submissions for Phase 1 of the EHIgnite Challenge, with entries due May 20. Launched in February, the competition aims to spur development of tools that transform raw electronic health information exports into usable, actionable data for clinicians and patients. ONC will award nine prizes of $10,000 each to Phase 1 winners; finalists then advance to compete for top prizes of $250,000, $100,000 and $50,000. The challenge targets developers, startups and health IT teams capable of building platforms or workflows that convert single-patient EHI exports into readable clinical and patient-facing intelligence.
Sources: Becker’s Hospital Review
Virtual Platform Offers a Valuable Lifeline for Rural Primary Care Patients
A 24/7 asynchronous telemedicine platform is bringing accessible primary care to rural Midwest communities underserved by traditional urgent care infrastructure. ChatRx, developed by Dr. Tod Stillson after more than three decades observing care gaps in rural Indiana, treats common conditions such as ear infections, sinus infections and UTIs entirely through a digital intake process. The full cycle from symptom entry to transmitted prescription takes six to ten minutes around the clock. The platform has completed more than 5,000 clinical assessments and is expanding through partnerships with pharmacy networks, employers and rural health systems, designed specifically for shift workers without urgent care access within 45 minutes of home.
Sources: Healthcare IT News
Medicare Members Lack Digital Health Literacy, CVS Study Finds
A CVS Health study released May 18 found that while 86% of Medicare-eligible Americans are open to using digital health tools, 85% report difficulty navigating the platforms. The research — which included ethnographic studies, interviews and surveys of older adults — found that 71% of Medicare-eligible consumers want to engage more with digital health tools but lack the literacy to do so confidently. Most strikingly, 58% say their low digital health literacy is negatively affecting how they manage their health. CVS used the findings to call for greater investment in patient education and more accessible digital design across health plans, pharmacy platforms and provider portals.
Sources: Becker’s Hospital Review
Iowa Community Hospital to Roll Out Epic
Lakes Regional Healthcare, a community hospital in Spirit Lake, Iowa, with more than 300 employees, will implement Epic EHR on May 30. The new platform is expected to help clinical teams more efficiently review medications, allergies, test results and care plans while reducing duplicate services and communication delays, according to a May 15 news release from the organization. The hospital did not disclose which EHR system it is transitioning away from. The go-live adds Lakes Regional to a growing list of smaller and rural health systems selecting Epic as their long-term clinical platform amid broader consolidation of the acute care EHR market.
Sources: Becker’s Hospital Review
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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