Corewell Health Community Connect

Yes. Clinical data is integrated into a secure, centralized Epic database, allowing clinicians to access and share patient information across care settings. Community Connect uses the same Epic platform, templates, and workflows as Corewell Health, with flexibility for local customization. Corewell Health is a Connect Accredited Site, recognized for strong Epic adoption and best practice implementation.

Yes. Corewell Health Community Connect uses Epic, a certified EHR system compliant with the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) standards. This ensures eligibility for participation in Quality Payment Programs and other regulatory initiatives.

Community Connect Practices are built with unique practice service areas in Epic. By doing so, your practice’s financial and billing data are kept separate from Corewell Health proper in a private and secure way. Your data is owned by your practice and protected by strict contractual and technical safeguards.

Corewell Health employs robust cybersecurity measures, including physical, electronic, and administrative safeguards. Your data is hosted in a secure, local data center with regular backups and 24/7 monitoring. We also provide third-party risk management tools to help protect your practice from cyber threats.

Yes. Epic is a certified EHR that supports documentation and reporting for Quality Payment Programs. While your practice is responsible for submitting data, Epic provides built-in reports and tools to assist with compliance and performance tracking.

The system offers intuitive, customizable workflows for collecting patient demographics, insurance, and guarantor information. If a patient has been seen at a Corewell Health facility, much of their information can pre-populate automatically. Optional modules also verify insurance eligibility in real time, reducing claim denials.

Community Connect includes a flexible, rules-based scheduling system that supports over 500 appointment types. Practices can customize templates, durations, and instructions. The system integrates seamlessly with registration and the EHR, making scheduling efficient and patient-friendly.

Epic’s billing module automates charge capture, claims processing, and collections. It includes built-in scrubbing tools to reduce denials and supports real-time revenue reporting. Charges are generated directly from clinical documentation, streamlining the billing process, and improving cash flow.

Understanding the difference between EpicCare Link and Community Connect is key when helping independent practices choose the right solution for their needs. Here's a breakdown of the nuances and use cases for each:

EpicCare Link

EpicCare Link is a web-based portal that provides view-only access to patient information within the Epic system. It’s designed for external providers and organizations that do not use Epic as their primary EHR, but need access to patient records for coordination of care.

Community Connect

Community Connect is a full Epic EHR implementation offered to independent practices. It includes clinical documentation, scheduling, billing, and practice management tools extended through the Epic version that is hosted and supported by Corewell Health.

When to choose which?

You only need to view patient records: Choose EpicCare Link

You want to document visits and manage billing: Choose Community Connect

You refer patients to Corewell Health: Choose EpicCare Link or Community Connect

You want full EHR functionality and support: Choose Community Connect

You’re a small practice with limited IT infrastructure: Choose EpicCare Link or Community Connect (with Corewell support)

You need to meet regulatory reporting requirements: Choose Community Connect

Yes. It is common for practices to work with third-party vendors. Corewell Health allows third-party access to Epic following a thorough vetting and approval process aligned with both Epic and Corewell Health standards.

Not all vendors are approved for access due to factors such as intellectual property considerations. In some cases, approved vendors may receive restricted access with limited functionality based on their role and need.

No, Corewell Health Community Connect does not provide access to users outside of the United States.

If a care team member travels internationally, access may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis depending on the country and duration of stay. Temporary or extended access may be granted if it meets security and compliance requirements.

Corewell Health does not support integrations or interfaces with certain external systems, including:

• External Electronic Health Record (EHR) vendors
• External lab vendors
• External data repositories
• PACS systems
• Generative AI functionality outside of Corewell Health's suite of offerings

Integration capabilities are limited to ensure data integrity, security, and alignment with Corewell Health and Epic standards.