One System, One Record: Vail Health Transitions to Epic’s MyChart

If you’ve ever logged into one patient portal only to realize the records you need to access live elsewhere, you’re not alone. For years, patients navigating care across Vail Health, Colorado Mountain Medical and Howard Head Sports Medicine have had to juggle multiple systems and gather records from numerous places. It’s been a common frustration, one that Vail Health is working to fix.  

Beginning on Oct. 3, 2026, Vail Health will transition its electronic medical record system to Epic, bringing everything together under one digital roof, including the patient portal feature known as MyChart. The goal is simple: one system, one record. This continuity of care provides a smoother healthcare experience for patients and providers.  

What is Epic?  

Being launched in partnership with UCHealth, Epic is widely considered the gold standard in electronic medical record (EMR) systems. Used by many of the nation’s leading hospitals, the platform allows healthcare providers to securely store, access and share patient information across a connected network.  

“Epic is the best-in-class electronic medical record software,” explains Julie Jackson, chief information officer at Vail Health. “It will allow us to better connect within the organization and with other hospitals.”  

With a single unifying system, patient records will carry over across multiple entities under the Vail Health umbrella. In the past, if a patient checked in at Colorado Mountain Medical and needed to be transferred to the emergency department, they had to start the check-in process again and have their records transferred. Now, an integrated system increases efficiency, reduces paperwork and improves patient care. 

That connectivity is especially important in a mountain community like the Vail Valley. As a year-round destination and a regional healthcare hub, in addition to serving the local community, Vail Health also regularly treats visitors whose medical histories originate elsewhere.  

“As a remote mountain destination, there are a lot of people coming to town, so there will be a higher chance of being able to access their records and understand their health history,” explains Marshall Davis, chief medical information officer at Vail Health. “With Epic, we will have access to those records immediately rather than waiting to have records sent over.” 

Just as importantly, the system works both ways. When residents travel or seek specialty care outside of the Valley, their records can follow them more easily, allowing the providers at other entities with the Epic system to conveniently view a patient’s records. 

“This will support the continuity of care for our community,” Jackson says. “But it also supports those who come to Vail Health for destination health services. It’s not just better care for our community, but for those who seek out Vail Health by chance or by choice.” 

MyChart Patient Portal 

One component and feature of Epic is MyChart, a secure online patient portal and mobile app that gives you direct access to your personal health information and care team across all Vail Health service offerings. It also allows for online scheduling of appointments.  

“MyChart is the patient-facing side of this new electronic medical record system and will allow patients to view all their medications, medical records, test results, upcoming appointments, medical bills, and more from all our different service lines in one convenient place,” said Chad Milam, Vail Health director of digital strategy and experience. “A good example of how this will come to life is if you go to your primary care physician at Colorado Mountain Medical and they refer you to Shaw Cancer Center for additional care, the staff and providers at Shaw will be able to view your records from CMM and you’ll be able to see the records from both entities in one location.” 

Why Vail Health is Making the Switch 

“This is a major undertaking,” Jackson says. “It’s also a commitment to Vail Health’s care close to home.” 

Switching an entire health system to a new digital platform is no small task. The transition has taken years of planning, training and coordination across departments. But as Vail Health has grown, leadership recognized the need for a unified system to support their expansion. 

“We can’t continue to do business without supporting enhanced care and having better communication throughout the system,” Sara Dembeck, associate chief nursing officer at Vail Health, explains. A unified system allows healthcare teams to collaborate more effectively and, ultimately, provide better care.  

Benefits of Using A System-wide EMR 

Patients and providers will notice several key improvements once Epic and the MyChart patient portal are in place: 

• A Seamless Patient Experience: Epic integrates health records into a single, secure platform. Patients can view their medical information in one place in real time. This creates continuity of care between the Vail Health service lines and entities. Patients can view Colorado Mountain Medical, Shaw Cancer Center, Howard Head Sports Medicine, Vail Health Behavioral Health, Vail Health Clinics, and Vail Health Hospital records in one single place.  

• More Tools at Your Fingertips: The system expands digital features designed to make managing healthcare easier, including online scheduling, provider messaging, test result viewing, preregistration and check-in. It also consolidates all online bill pay in one secure location and reduces the need for multiple online bill pay sites.  

• Better Coordinated Care: Because Epic connects with other hospitals and health systems that use the platform, providers can access patient records instantly. With over 300 million patient records connected through Epic nationwide, there is a better chance that doctors can connect to your health information to make decisions quickly and with a fuller picture of your overall health and health history.  

• Improved Efficiencies: Epic streamlines internal workflows for healthcare providers by enhancing interfaces and automating tasks. 

• Data Insights: Another powerful tool within Epic is the ability to analyze large amounts of healthcare data to identify emerging health trends in the community. “For example, if we start to see an increase in depression or hospitalizations, we can identify that trend early and allocate resources to it,” explains Davis. 

What To Expect During the Rollout 

While Epic and the MyChart patient portal promises long-term improvements, Vail Health leaders emphasize that the transition will take time.  

“Getting it live is the first base,” says Jackson. “It’s going to take us some time to get through everything to hit a home run.”  

On October 3, 2026, the new system will launch. Patients will begin accessing their health information through MyChart, the new patient portal, and providers will start using the system for medical records and coordinated care. Behind the scenes, the team at Vail Health will continually review the system to make improvements.  

For patients, the biggest change is a more streamlined digital experience.  

Elevating Care for the Mountain Community 

At its core, the transition to Epic and MyChart is about more than technology. It’s about improving how healthcare works for the people who rely on it. 

Vail Health’s mission to elevate health and the move to Epic and MyChart represents a major step in that direction. By creating a single, connected medical records system, the organization is making it easier for patients to manage their health and for providers to deliver continuity of care, thereby improving patient outcomes. 

Vail Health will be providing more information regarding how to set up your MyChart account as the October 3 launch date approaches.