Inside Epic’s Deep Space Auditorium: Highlights from UGM 2024

The Epic Systems Users Group Meeting (UGM) 2024 was nothing short of spectacular, with CEO Judy Faulkner making a grand entrance dressed as a swan, feathers and all. The event, held in an underground auditorium packed with health-care executives, showcased Epic’s latest innovations and initiatives, with a focus on how new artificial intelligence features can revolutionize healthcare for doctors and patients alike.

Epic, a health-care software giant, is known for its cutting-edge technology used in thousands of hospitals and clinics across the U.S. The company’s annual UGM is a highly anticipated event, drawing thousands of attendees to Epic’s whimsical headquarters in Verona, Wisconsin, complete with farm animals, statues of wizards, and buildings themed after beloved children’s books.

This year’s conference, themed “storytime,” featured Faulkner and other Epic executives dressed as characters from various children’s books, delivering updates on the company’s major products like MyChart and Cosmos. The highlight of the event was Epic’s integration of artificial intelligence into its products, with over 100 AI features in development to streamline processes for healthcare providers.

From generative AI to automate message responses to AI tools for streamlining insurance claims submissions, Epic’s AI initiatives aim to enhance efficiency and improve patient care. The company also unveiled a new staff scheduling application called “Teamwork” and teased the possibility of facilitating claims submissions directly through its software, potentially revolutionizing the healthcare industry.

The future of healthcare technology looks promising, as demonstrated by a captivating demo at the event where Seth Hain, Epic’s senior vice president of research and development, interacted with an AI agent through the MyChart app to assess his recovery after wrist surgery. The real-time demo showcased the potential of AI in healthcare, providing personalized insights and recommendations based on patient data.

While these advancements are still in the early stages of development, Epic’s vision for the future of healthcare technology is both ambitious and promising. As the company continues to innovate and push boundaries, the possibilities for improving patient care and streamlining healthcare processes are endless. Epic’s UGM 2024 was a glimpse into the future of healthcare technology, and it’s clear that the future is bright with possibilities.