What's Happening?
Sutter Health has partnered with Epic to introduce 'Sutter Sync,' a new initiative aimed at improving remote chronic care management. The program utilizes proprietary medical devices that connect directly to Epic's Electronic Health Record (EHR) system, allowing patients to manage chronic health conditions from home. Devices such as blood pressure cuffs, scales, and glucometers automatically transmit data to the Epic MyChart app, ensuring real-time data flow to the patient's health record. This initiative seeks to enhance patient care by providing healthcare teams with comprehensive data to make informed treatment decisions and timely medication adjustments. Initially launched in spring 2025, the program focuses on high blood pressure and plans to expand to include Medicare-enrolled patients with Type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol, as well as a pilot program for pregnant patients.
Why It's Important?
The launch of 'Sutter Sync' represents a significant advancement in digital health care, particularly for patients with chronic conditions. By enabling seamless data transmission from home-based devices to healthcare providers, the initiative aims to reduce hospital visits and improve patient outcomes. This approach not only enhances patient convenience but also supports healthcare providers in delivering more personalized and effective care. The expansion of the program to include additional chronic conditions and patient groups underscores its potential to transform chronic disease management, reduce healthcare costs, and improve overall public health.
What's Next?
Starting in October, 'Sutter Sync' will expand its services to include Medicare-enrolled patients with Type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol. Additionally, a pilot program for pregnant patients will be launched, involving a small cohort of patients and referring providers. The initiative aims to integrate multiple chronic conditions into one model, potentially reducing the burden on patients and improving health outcomes. As the program grows, it may set a precedent for other healthcare systems to adopt similar digital health solutions.
