Overview: A Bold Dual Implementation
Health systems across the United States are racing to modernize their digital infrastructure. Yet few take on two enterprise-wide platform overhauls at once. Springfield, Missouri-based CoxHealth did exactly that — and pulled it off.
The six-hospital, not-for-profit health system launched both Workday, its new enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform, and Epic, its new electronic health record (EHR) system, within just five months of each other. Workday went live on October 1, 2025, followed by Epic on March 1, 2026. Together, these deployments represent what CoxHealth leaders describe as one of the largest technology upgrades in the organization’s history.
Why CoxHealth Chose Epic and Workday
Moving Away From Cerner
For years, CoxHealth operated on Cerner — a platform later acquired by Oracle Health. However, as the health system grew and its clinical needs evolved, leadership began evaluating alternatives. After a rigorous selection process involving hundreds of providers and staff members, CoxHealth announced in December 2023 that it would transition to Epic.
Chief Technology Officer Patrick Murfee called the decision a defining moment. “The move to Epic represents a monumental step forward for CoxHealth,” he said. “This decision signifies our unwavering dedication to delivering the highest standard of care while embracing technology to enhance patient outcomes.”
President and CEO Max Buetow echoed the sentiment. He noted that Epic equips clinical teams with best-practice tools that support better patient safety, quality of care, and operational efficiency.
The Case for Workday ERP
Alongside the EHR transition, CoxHealth also moved to Workday for enterprise resource planning. While EHR systems manage clinical workflows and patient data, ERP platforms govern the administrative and financial backbone of a health system — including human resources, payroll, and supply chain operations. Implementing both platforms in close succession demanded careful coordination between clinical, financial, and IT teams.
How the Rollout Unfolded
Workday Goes Live First
CoxHealth chose to sequence the rollout strategically. Workday launched first, on October 1, 2025. By going live with the ERP system before the EHR, the health system allowed administrative teams to stabilize on the new platform before clinical staff tackled the more complex Epic transition.
Epic Launch on March 1
After a two-year implementation effort, Epic went live across all six CoxHealth hospitals on March 1, 2026. The EHR overhaul touched virtually every corner of the organization. Moreover, CoxHealth simultaneously introduced MyChart — Epic’s industry-leading patient portal — enabling patients to schedule appointments, access health information, and communicate with care teams online.
Preparing Staff and Patients for the Switch
Building a Bigger IT Team
Executing a dual-platform rollout of this scale required significant workforce investment. CoxHealth grew its IT team headcount and insourced several functions that it had previously outsourced. This move gave the organization tighter control over the implementation timeline and allowed for faster troubleshooting as issues emerged.
Pausing Features During Transition
To protect data integrity and reduce confusion, CoxHealth suspended certain online services in the days leading up to the Epic launch. Specifically, online self-scheduling paused on February 16, and patient portal messaging along with refill requests paused on February 22. Meanwhile, MyChart enrollments opened on February 16, giving patients a head start on the new platform.
Heather Swearengin, Vice President of Consumer Experience, acknowledged the adjustment period. “Although it’s going to take us a few days to get comfortable with what we’re doing, it’s really in their best interest at heart,” she said, urging patients to remain patient with staff during the early days of the transition.
Challenges and Early Lessons
Not every aspect of the go-live was smooth. Some patients reported delays and disruptions in the first week after Epic launched. One patient recounted that a visit to a CoxHealth emergency room lasted 13 hours, with staff repeatedly citing the new Epic system as a factor in the extended wait.
Swearengin confirmed that the health system spent two full years preparing for the transition. Staff support resources were made available throughout the go-live period. Still, the initial days revealed the inherent difficulty of switching a live clinical environment to an entirely new platform, even with thorough preparation.
Chief Operating Officer Amanda Hedgpeth emphasized that the long-term benefits outweigh the early friction. “Patients are at the center of our health care model, and Epic EHR empowers them with increased access to their health information,” she said.
What This Means for Healthcare IT
CoxHealth’s approach offers an important case study for other health systems weighing similar technology transitions. Several takeaways stand out.
First, sequencing matters. By launching Workday before Epic, CoxHealth avoided overwhelming staff with simultaneous changes across both administrative and clinical workflows. Second, workforce investment is non-negotiable. Growing the IT team and insourcing key functions gave CoxHealth the internal capacity to manage a complex, multi-platform rollout. Third, patient communication is critical. Proactively pausing online features and opening MyChart enrollment early helped manage expectations and smooth the changeover.
Furthermore, the fact that most new medical residents already train on Epic made adoption easier for incoming clinical staff — a growing competitive consideration for health systems building their workforce pipelines.
As health systems continue to standardize on dominant platforms like Epic and Workday, CoxHealth’s dual deployment demonstrates that an aggressive timeline is achievable — provided leadership commits the right resources, plans the sequence carefully, and communicates transparently with both staff and patients.
