Harris County Ends EpicCare Medical Records Contract with Harris Health

Harris County Public Health Services ended its contract with Harris Health System for EpicCare electronic medical records access. This mutual agreement affects how county health programs share medical information with the hospital system. EpicCare is a digital system that stores patient health records, test results, and treatment history. When health systems share these records, patients get better coordinated care. The termination means county health services and Harris Health will use separate systems going forward. This change could impact residents who receive care from both county health clinics and Harris Health hospitals. You might need to provide your medical history separately to each provider. Patients should ask their doctors how this affects their care coordination. The contract ended through Harris County Commissioners Court, our local government body that makes major county decisions. Commissioners Court meets regularly to vote on contracts, budgets, and services that affect all Harris County residents. You can attend these meetings or watch online to see how decisions get made. Contact Mary.Cesar@harriscountytx.gov for questions about this specific contract change. To stay informed about county health services, follow Harris County Public Health announcements. Your voice matters in local government - contact your county commissioner to share concerns about healthcare coordination in our community.

If you get care from both county health clinics and Harris Health hospitals, your doctors may not easily share your medical records anymore. This could affect how well your care teams work together and you might need to repeat your medical history.