COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus City Council passed an ordinance Monday evening that would authorize the Board of Health to partner with the Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center to implement a new electronic medical record system.

What You Need To Know

  • Columbus City Council passed an ordinance to implement the electronic medical records system, EPIC, to Columbus public health entities 

  • The Board of Health will partner with the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center for this implementation 

  • It will cost over $1 million to implement and is projected to be implemented by spring 2026

According to council, the new electronic medical record system, also known as EMR, would improve patient care and make health records more accessible. 

“I think this is one thing that points to the city of Columbus, our commitment to innovation and trying to keep up to pace and use as many tools as we have in the toolbox to more effectively serve our residents,” said Columbus City Council member Melissa Green. 

The electronic medical record system is called EPIC. Hospitals around the state, including Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, use this system, but it’s never been used for public health entities. Green, who is also the chair of the health, human services and equity committee, is sponsoring this ordinance because she believes this partnership and implementation is more pertinent now than ever. 

“At a time when you see federal funding challenges and state funding challenges for our continuum of care and for human services work generally being able to increase efficiencies using the most cutting-edge technology that we have available to us is really, really important,” said Green. 

Andy Thomas, the chief clinical officer for Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, said this record system keeps everyone connected. Especially because all four major hospitals in Columbus use EPIC.

“EPIC is by far the kind of best of breed electronic medical records that's out there. But it is a big system. It's complex, and it's generally expensive,” said Thomas.  

The city will invest over $1 million from the health department grant fund for the record system and Green said it’s worth every penny. 

“We know that, you know, people are not one dimensional, right? And these challenges people are experiencing don't occur in a vacuum. And so to be able to have one system that multiple providers are able to collaborate, to be able to help address the needs of whole people,” said Green.   

Now that the ordinance is passed, Green said the launch of the record system is this spring and then implementation is projected to be spring 2026.