News Release

FORT WAYNE — Parkview Health’s Community Connect program has been accredited for the second consecutive year while also earning the greater Accreditation Plus+ status from Epic Connect.

Community Connect is an online system that facilitates a single story of patient care between Parkview and other independent, non-Parkview providers and healthcare service organizations. This allows outside providers access to medical information maintained by Parkview as well as take advantage of tools and services provided within the Epic software. Parkview has utilized Epic as its electronic health record system since 2012.

“Parkview provides a wide range of medical services to our communities, but if patients choose to receive care with a Community Connect partner, Parkview keeps them connected to their health information,” said David Winn, vice president of Parkview Community Connect. “By sharing access and information with regional and statewide providers, Parkview ensures that our patients can build a single, comprehensive story of care and that their physicians are equipped with all the information they need to provide the highest quality care.”

Parkview is one of 102 providers globally to host a Community Connect program via Epic. Of those, only six programs have reached the Accreditation Plus+ level that Parkview earned.

To achieve Accreditation Plus+ status, Parkview had to demonstrate that its program meets Epic’s highest standards of activity and compliance; provides stable and high-performing access with reportable response times and analytics; demonstrates increased provider efficiency; facilitates high adoption and use of the MyChart patient portal; and accesses and uses data by Community Connect customers while maintaining appropriate segregation and privacy of information between users.

Parkview Community Connect has supported more than 400 providers since 2012, including hospitals such as Cameron Memorial Community Hospital in Angola, Adams Memorial Hospital in Decatur and Hillsdale Hospital in Hillsdale, Mich.; specialty providers such as Viking Psychiatry and the Breast Diagnostics Center; and charitable/low-cost providers including the Matthew 25 Health and Care clinic, St. Martin’s Healthcare and Alliance Health Centers.

Ohio-based Community Hospitals and Wellness Centers was a Community Connect member before choosing to affiliate with Parkview in fall 2023, joining as Parkview Bryan Hospital, Parkview Montpelier Hospital and Parkview Archbold outpatient center. Their participation in the program created an easier transition for their facilities, providers and co-workers when they joined Parkview.

“Healthcare technology is a rapidly advancing and evolving field, but here at Parkview we work hard to not just keep pace with technology but study and forecast where we’re heading next,” said Ron Double, chief information officer, Parkview Health. “Our Information Services team pushes to ensure we are utilizing our tools to their maximum effect, which increases efficiency, improves care and reduces cost. We’re proud to once again reach and exceed Epic’s highest standards and earn their prestigious Plus+ designation.”

Epic’s Community Connect accreditation is the latest of several major achievements for Parkview’s Information Services team. Parkview has been recognized as a Most Wired system by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives for 10 consecutive years; received the highest Stage 7 certification from the international Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society for its implementation and use of technology; and became one of only seven health systems globally to earn Magna Cum Laude status on the Epic Honor Roll for effective use of its health records platform. Chief Information Officer Ron Double was named a Becker’s Chief Information Officer to Know in both 2023 and 2024 and was selected as a Tech Exec of the Year by the Indianapolis Business Journal in fall 2023 for his leadership at Parkview.

To learn more about Parkview Community Connect, visit here.