Dear Colleagues,
We are writing to provide you with an update on UPMC’s implementation of the Bridges Epic system-wide EHR rollout and how it affects your research. UPMC will be implementing Epic on the Oakland and western Pennsylvania campuses on October 3, 2026.
Key points:
Which research does this affect?
- Any research study that uses any UPMC service (laboratory tests, diagnostic tests, Investigational Pharmacy orders, etc.) or any Pitt CTRC must be included and validated in Epic’s Research Module. Studies that are not included in Epic as of the October go live will not be able to use UPMC services or the CTRCs.
Why must studies be included in the Research Module?
- The Research Module will be the only method to order any UPMC service in a research protocol.
- The CTRCs will be using Epic to manage all protocols.
What needs to be done now to continue your research after Epic goes live?
These steps are necessary for your study to use any UPMC services or any CTRC:
- You or your coordinator/designee will be sent a spreadsheet by UPMC that will be used to collect information about each one of your research protocols. You may have completed this already. You will also need to complete a separate spreadsheet for each new study. This will be used by the UPMC Epic team to enter your study in the Research Module.
- After UPMC enters your study in the Research Module, you will be asked to validate your study to confirm that all entered information is accurate. Please note that you will need early access to Epic to complete this step. If you have not already received early access, please request this by sending an email to: BridgesImplementationResearch@upmc.edu
We anticipate further instructions from UPMC later this week that will be shared on the Epic Research Briefs site.
Please send any questions that you have about this process to the Bridges Epic Research Module Questions portal. We will direct your questions to UPMC and other groups (e.g., IRB) for answers, as appropriate. We will post all responses on the Epic Research Briefs site.
Sincerely,
Steven Reis, MD - Vice Chancellor for Multidisciplinary Innovations, Health Sciences
Uduak Ndoh, MBA - Vice Chancellor for Information Technology,
Health Sciences and Deputy CIO,
Vice Dean for Information Technology, School of Medicine
Laurel Yasko, RN, MPPM - Executive Director, Operations
Clinical and Translational Science Institute
