Epic EHR at 22-Bed Critical Access Hospital Cuts Duplicate Testing, Aids Recruitment
Madison Regional Health System, a 22-bed critical access hospital in eastern South Dakota, has reduced duplicate testing, eliminated dictation services, and strengthened clinician recruitment since its 2025 Epic EHR go-live, according to Epic Systems. Physician Laura Hoefert said the EHR cut time spent hunting for patient records and helped coordinate care for complex cases, including arranging a timely transfer for a patient with preeclampsia.
The vendor highlighted the rural, independent hospital's use of Epic in an August 4, 2026, post, citing coverage in Health Data Management. The story frames the EHR as a tool for keeping rural patients closer to home by speeding care coordination and reducing unnecessary testing.
Epic's account did not provide specific figures on cost savings or recruitment metrics, and the claims are based on the vendor's own report and Hoefert's comments as relayed by Epic.