Epic EHR’s Big Year: What International Nurses Need to Know Before Coming to the U.S.

For international nurses looking to work in the United States, understanding the electronic health record (EHR) landscape is no longer optional it’s essential. Epic, the nation’s dominant EHR platform, continues to shape how nurses document care, communicate with providers, and interact with patients every day.

As a digital marketplace that connects international nurses with U.S. employers, NurseContact keeps a close eye on trends that will directly affect your daily practice, onboarding, and long‑term career growth. Epic’s recent moves from major new hospital rollouts to AI integration and even legal scrutiny are reshaping nursing workflows across the U.S.

Here’s a nurse‑focused breakdown of what’s happening with Epic, why it matters if you’re planning to work in the U.S., and how NurseContact can help you navigate this changing landscape.

Epic Adoption Is Accelerating Across Major U.S. Health Systems

Many of the largest health systems in the United States either already use Epic or are actively transitioning to it. For international nurses, this means that Epic experience is becoming an increasingly valuable skill and in some organizations, an expectation.

New Systems Moving to Epic

Several health systems recently announced new Epic implementations or upgrades, which will influence hiring needs and training programs for nurses:

• Saint Peter’s Healthcare System – New Jersey
  Saint Peter’s Healthcare System in New Brunswick, N.J., has selected Epic as its new centralized EHR. For nurses, this means a shift toward standardized clinical documentation, medication administration workflows, and interoperability across its network. New hires especially international nurses can expect robust training around Epic during onboarding.
• Riverview Health & Parkview Health – Indiana
  Noblesville-based Riverview Health is upgrading its EHR and entering a broader management agreement with Parkview Health. As part of this partnership, Riverview will move to Parkview’s Epic instance in February 2026 through the Epic Community Connect program.
  For nurses, Community Connect often means:
• Shared access to patient records across affiliated sites
• Better continuity of care
• Unified workflows across organizations
• Prime Healthcare & Central Maine Healthcare – Maine
  After receiving state approval to acquire Central Maine Healthcare, the Prime Healthcare Foundation has identified an Epic EHR rollout as an early priority. This will modernize documentation and care coordination across the system and may increase demand for nurses comfortable with Epic-based workflows.
• Children’s National Hospital – Washington, D.C.
  Children’s National Hospital plans to go live with Epic in 2027. Leaders expect the new platform to strengthen revenue cycle functions and the patient experience, including improved scheduling, communication, and pediatric‑specific workflows. Pediatric nurses and international nurses aspiring to work in children’s hospitals will benefit from Epic experience.
• UT Health Austin – Texas
  UT Health Austin is planning to launch a new inpatient Epic EHR on the same day it opens a multibillion‑dollar academic medical center. This pairing of a brand-new hospital with a fresh Epic system creates a unique opportunity for nurses to join from day one and shape workflows, documentation templates, and unit culture around the EHR.

Mega-Rollouts: Large Single-Instance Epic Systems

Some of the largest health systems in the country are investing hundreds of millions of dollars to run all hospitals on a single instance of Epic. That matters for international nurses because it affects how you access records, transfer between facilities, and participate in system‑wide initiatives.

• Trinity Health – 92 Hospitals, Single Epic Instance
  Trinity Health, a 92-hospital system headquartered in Livonia, Mich., is nearing completion of an approximately $800 million Epic rollout. Leadership expects Trinity to become the largest single‑instance Epic user in the U.S. next year.
  For nurses:
• A single instance means one login for multiple hospitals
• Standardized order sets and care pathways
• Easier transfers and orientation if you move between Trinity facilities
• Orlando Health – Consolidating to One Epic Platform
  Orlando Health is working to consolidate its mainland U.S. hospitals onto one Epic instance to capture “economies of scale.” For bedside nurses, that’s likely to translate into:
• More consistent documentation standards
• Fewer EHR-related workarounds between sites
• Shared training and support resources
• Intermountain Health – 33 Hospitals, One Epic System
  Intermountain Health, based in Salt Lake City, recently completed a systemwide Epic transition, consolidating eight different EHRs into one. Three months in, leaders report stabilization and improved operational and revenue cycle performance.
  Nurses benefit from:
• A single, unified chart across 33 hospitals
• Reduced duplicate documentation
• More reliable decision support and clinical alerts
• Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare – Tennessee
  Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare in Memphis completed a systemwide Epic go-live in October 2024. Early results show gains in revenue cycle efficiency and automation, supported by a partnership with Ensemble Health Partners and a Workday implementation.
  For nurses, improved revenue cycle and workflow integration can mean:
• Cleaner orders and reduced billing-related documentation issues
• More streamlined discharge and preauthorization processes
• Less time spent resolving documentation questions after the fact

Epic, AI, and the Future of Nursing Workflows

Epic has signaled a major push into artificial intelligence (AI) starting in 2026, with an emphasis on embedding AI throughout the EHR in clinical, administrative, and patient-facing tools.

What this means for international nurses:

• Smarter Clinical Decision Support
  AI could help flag potential medication interactions, early signs of deterioration, or missing documentation supporting safer patient care when used appropriately.
• Reduced Administrative Burden
  Expect more tools aimed at easing charting, summarizing notes, auto‑suggesting documentation, and streamlining communication. Done well, this can give you more time at the bedside.
• Patient-Facing Tools and MyChart
  AI‑enhanced patient portals may help patients better understand their conditions and care plans. That changes how nurses educate patients and families and how they respond to MyChart messages.

For international nurses entering the U.S. market, familiarity with AI concepts in health IT and comfort working alongside these tools will become increasingly attractive to employers.

Interoperability and TEFCA: Easier Access to Patient Records

An important part of Epic’s strategy is more seamless data sharing between organizations. In December, Epic shared that 17 healthcare organizations using its software connected to the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) in November alone. Overall, more than 1,000 hospitals and health systems using Epic are now connected to TEFCA.

Why this matters for nursing practice:

• More Complete Patient Histories
  When a patient has received care at different hospitals or clinics, TEFCA helps centralize access to those records. Nurses can more easily review prior diagnoses, allergies, and medication histories.
• Better Continuity of Care
  Interoperability reduces the need to depend solely on patient recall or paper records, supporting safer handoffs and clearer clinical pictures especially critical in emergency and critical care settings.
• Streamlined Transfers and Referrals
  As more Epic organizations connect through TEFCA, cross-facility transfers including between competing systems become smoother for both patients and staff.

MyChart and Organ Donation: A New Role for Patient Portals

Epic’s MyChart patient portal continues to evolve, not just as a messaging and scheduling tool but as a platform with broader public health implications.

Donate Life America recently awarded Epic the 2025 James S. Wolf, MD, Courage Award for a new MyChart feature that lets patients register as organ donors directly inside the portal.

For nurses, this highlights:

• The growing role of patient portals in health advocacy and patient engagement
• The importance of being comfortable teaching patients how to use MyChart and similar tools
• Opportunities to integrate organ donation and other public health education into routine care

Legal Scrutiny: Monopoly Concerns and Privacy Issues

Not all recent news has been positive for Epic. On Dec. 10, the Texas Attorney General filed a lawsuit accusing Epic of monopolizing the EHR market and restricting parents’ access to their minor children’s medical records. Epic called the lawsuit flawed and misguided.

While this legal case targets corporate and regulatory questions rather than bedside practice, international nurses should be aware that:

• EHR vendors are under increasing scrutiny regarding data privacy, access control, and competition
• Policy decisions and legal outcomes can eventually shape how nurses interact with charts, what information is visible, and how consent is managed

Understanding these dynamics can help you stay informed and adaptable in a constantly evolving digital health environment.

Leadership, Governance, and Epic’s Long-Term Direction

Epic’s founder and CEO, Judy Faulkner, has shared details of her succession plan. She has designated three unnamed health system CEOs as trust protectors, tasked with enforcing voting rules to keep Epic privately held and prevent acquisition after her departure.

For international nurses, the governance structure may seem distant, but it matters because:

• A stable, privately held Epic may take a longer-term, less purely profit-driven approach than a publicly traded company might.
• Consistency in how Epic develops and supports its platform affects training materials, user interfaces, and nursing tools across thousands of facilities.

What This Means for International Nurses Coming to the U.S.

If you’re an international nurse exploring U.S. opportunities through NurseContact, here’s how this evolving Epic landscape directly affects you:

1. Epic Experience is a Competitive Advantage

Many U.S. hospitals using Epic prefer or highly value nurses who:

• Have prior exposure to Epic or similar EHRs
• Are comfortable with digital documentation, decision support, and patient portals
• Can adapt quickly to standardized workflows and order sets

Even if you’ve never used Epic, experience with any modern EHR (Cerner, Meditech, Allscripts, etc.) helps demonstrate your readiness.

2. Training and Onboarding Are Critical

Large systems rolling out Epic such as Trinity Health, Intermountain Health, Orlando Health, and Methodist Le Bonheur invest heavily in training:

• Simulated charting environments
• Super-user support on the units
• Structured onboarding pathways for international nurses

NurseContact works with U.S. employers who understand the needs of international nurses and often provide tailored EHR training and support.

3. Workflow Standardization Can Support Safer Practice

Single-instance Epic systems and TEFCA connectivity support:

• Consistent pathways for managing common conditions
• Standard nursing documentation templates
• Clearer expectations for charting and communication

This can make it easier for international nurses to integrate into the care team and understand expectations, regardless of which hospital or unit they join within a large system.

4. AI & Automation Will Change (But Not Replace) Nursing

As Epic integrates AI into its EHR:

• Expect more support with charting, alerts, and task prioritization
• Human oversight and clinical judgment will remain essential
• Nurses who can use technology wisely without over‑relying on it will stand out

NurseContact encourages international nurses to develop both clinical excellence and digital literacy to thrive in this environment.

How NurseContact Supports International Nurses in an Epic-Driven Market

NurseContact is more than just a job-matching platform. We help international nurses succeed in a U.S. healthcare system increasingly powered by Epic and advanced digital tools.

Through our marketplace, you can:

• Match with U.S. employers that use Epic and value international nursing talent
• Benefit from a streamlined hiring process designed for cross-border recruitment
• Prepare for U.S. practice with guidance on:
• EHR expectations and onboarding
• Digital health literacy
• Working in large, multi-hospital Epic environments

As Epic expands its footprint, AI capabilities, TEFCA connectivity, and patient-facing tools, the demand for tech-savvy, adaptable nurses will only grow. International nurses who understand this landscape and partner with platforms like NurseContact are well positioned to build rewarding, future-ready careers in the United States.

If you’re an international nurse ready to explore U.S. opportunities at Epic-enabled hospitals, NurseContact can help you take the next step with confidence.