Epic Systems’ annual user group meeting will bring thousands of people next week to the small city of Verona, Wisconsin, and the electronic health record company's sprawling, whimsical headquarters campus.
Around 7,000 attendees, primarily from hospitals and health systems, are expected to descend on Verona, population 14,000.
Related: How Epic is courting customers outside of hospitals
Here is what to know about the annual event, which runs Monday through Thursday.
What is UGM?
Epic has hosted user group meetings since the company's early days. It has used the events to open up its 1,670-acre campus, which includes a working farm, an 18,000-seat auditorium and themed buildings, to customers and media. The event's goal is to allow Epic's customers to share ideas and for the company to showcase new tools within its EHR.
Who is up on stage?
Epic CEO Judy Faulkner, as well as senior executives including President Carl Dvorak and Senior Vice President Sumit Rana are expected to introduce new tools and functionality on Tuesday.
Faulkner’s executive address routinely includes a skit during which employees dress up in costumes reflecting the event’s theme. This year’s happening, entitled "storytime," is expected to focus on Epic's vision and development map for both short- and longer-term projects. Last year, executives donned floral shirts and grass skirts for a castaway theme.
At last year's meeting, the company unveiled a series of vendor relationship programs called Showroom, which replaced its app market and created different partnership levels for companies.
How big is AI for Epic?
Much of Epic’s work this year has focused on artificial intelligence and interoperability. The company launched an open-source tool in May that allows healthcare providers to test and validate AI models.
Earlier this month, the company highlighted tools that enable users to more easily share medical records with third-party applications that use the Health and Human Services Department's Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement.
How is Epic doing?
The gathering occurs as Epic continues to gain influence and market share.
Earlier this month, the Roseville, California-based health system Adventist Health announced it signed a contract to use Epic's EHR across its 28 hospitals and 440 clinics.
Epic added beds and customers last year, increasing its market share to 39% of acute-care hospitals and 52% of acute-care beds, according to a May report. In 2022, Epic had 36% of acute-care hospitals and 48% of acute-care beds as clients. In recent years, the company has worked to expand its customer base beyond health systems, with a focus on payers, telehealth companies and life science companies.
