Just Kidding

In a move that surprised both the healthcare and aerospace industries, Epic is venturing into rocket science.  

Epic staff member and rocketry expert Chris Duffy gave his perspective on the shift.  

“Health IT is more complex than rocket science,” Duffy said. “Building rockets is straightforward. You just need to follow the laws of physics. But health IT? You have to think through all of the twists and turns that someone’s health can take. No two patients are the same. There are a lot of unknowns.”  

Developers on the Cogito analytics team are applying their data expertise to this new challenge, designing guidance and navigation systems to ensure precise orbital insertion and reliable payload delivery.  

“If we can handle the data demands of a major hospital system, we can certainly manage to construct a rocket,” said software-developer-turned-rocket-scientist Drew McCombs. 

The new division, called Epic Aerospace, is also drawing on the experience of implementers who help health systems prepare for the launch of Epic software. Their next objective is to run a series of tests with the technology demonstrator—a small-scale prototype that will validate the propulsion, avionics, and structural integrity ahead of launching the full-scale rocket.  

The first rocket designed by Epic Aerospace is set to launch next year, on April 1, 2026. Viewers can livestream the event on launch.epic.com.  

ABC is teaming up with Epic to create a new series, America’s Funniest Video Visits, which features mishaps and outtakes from telehealth appointments.  

The first official trailer was released on ABC’s YouTube channel. In one clip, a patient is being seen for a routine checkup for high cholesterol. His doctor tells him that she’s concerned about his still-high LDL level. He says that he’s been following his prescribed diet and exercise regimen when his parrot chirps from its perch behind him, “Two Big Macs with fries and a Diet Coke!” An awkward pause follows. 

ABC and Epic are seeking clips of telehealth bloopers to feature in season two of the show. All clips require the patient’s authorization to release the video. To submit a video, visit AFVV.epic.com.  

America’s Funniest Video Visits premieres on ABC on Tuesday, April 1, at 7 PM Central and will be available to stream the next day on Hulu.  

A new feature in Epic will allow clinicians to record short-form video notes instead of traditional text-based documentation. TikDoc, fully integrated into Haiku, Canto, and Rover, ensures that doctors and nurses can film, edit, and post patient updates from any device. 

With TikDoc, clinicians can document key patient information in dynamic video format, complete with background music, auto-generated captions, and optional face filters.  

The May 2025 release of Epic will include additional enhancements, including: 

• “Get Ready (for Rounds) With Me” (#GRRWM)—Clinicians showcase their pre-rounding routine 
• Duets that allow clinicians to interact with each other on a split-screen view 
• Hashtag diagnosis challenges (e.g., #PneumoniaOrFlu) 
• AI-powered filters that can transform blurry night-shift videos into high-quality documentation 

“Now I look forward to editing my notes,” said Mark Mabus, MD. “It’s a creative outlet for me—adding trending audio, stitching my colleagues’ notes, and watching views when a really good note goes viral. Charting has become fun.” 

Others are less thrilled. “I did not go to medical school to lip sync lab results,” complained Howard Bregman, MD. “Do you know how hard it is to explain a cardiac catheterization in under 30 seconds?” 

Watch Dr. Mabus’s #GRRWM music video or listen to the full original song.

Maintaining good lung function is important for everyone, but especially for patients who deal with chronic illnesses that can affect their breathing, such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, and COPD.   

With the new Care-oke feature in MyChart, patients can exercise and expand their lung capacity by singing along with their favorite songs. They can start out easy with a quiet ballad or a song with a smaller vocal range and then really challenge themselves with some Beyoncé or Aerosmith. 

The MyChart app uses the microphone on the patient’s device to record the frequency and duration of the exercise, in addition to rating each patient’s performance. If a patient hits too many wrong notes and doesn’t improve over time, MyChart can suggest a hearing test and offer available audiology appointments. 

In a future release, Epic plans to add duet mode, in which patients can join a video visit to practice and receive coaching from their healthcare providers.