North Memorial Health Announces New Technology to Show Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination Digitally
North Memorial Health today announced the availability of a new technology from Epic, a healthcare software company, that allows customers to more easily show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or lab testing results in a digital format, reducing the need to rely on a printed vaccine card which can be easily lost or damaged. North Memorial Health was the first health system in Minnesota to offer this technology to its customers. The technology will be integrated into customers’ MyChart and meets the national SMART Health Card standard. The digital verification can be read by the human eye and is machine readable. The technology was implemented on September 2, 2021 and is effective immediately.
To use the new vaccine credential technology, North Memorial Health customers can log in to their MyChart portal through their internet browser or MyChart mobile app and then can click the COVID-19 tab which will produce a QR code with their vaccine or testing status. Customers also will have the option to download a pdf version, along with email access.
“As the communities across the state battle the surge related the delta variant, demand is growing for more tools to reduce the spread of COVID-19,” said Brad Newton, Chief Information Officer at North Memorial Health. “We’re excited to offer this digital credential to our customers as an easy way to share their vaccine status when traveling and for day-to-day use with employers, businesses and others.”
This is an interoperable tool built to a national standard. A machine reader with the SMART Health Card specifications will be able to read any COVID-related credential built to the SMART Health Card specifications, including Epic’s. This will make it easier for patients to travel across the country, especially those who are visiting locations with vaccination requirements in place such as New York and California.
“This technology provides a real-time data exchange with other COVID-19-related credentials built into the SMART Health Card standard, including almost all state credentialing systems,” said Nick Frenzer, Implementation Executive at Epic. “Currently approximately 82 million Americans have access to the credential through their MyChart, with 100 million estimated to have access in a few months. We expect use of the credential to grow as business and government vaccination requirements increase throughout the country.”
For more information, visit mychart.com/covid
About North Memorial Health
At North Memorial Health, we are on a mission to change healthcare. We’re delivering unmatched customer service and empowering our customers throughout the Twin Cities to achieve their best health. North Memorial Health provides access to high-quality, low-cost care throughout the Twin Cities through its medical transportation services and two hospitals – North Memorial Health Hospital and Maple Grove Hospital. North Memorial Health Clinics which include primary care, specialty care and hospice are part of a joint venture with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota that is transforming the healthcare experience for consumers. Across the North Memorial Health system, 900+ doctors and 5,000+ team members are dedicated to delivering a more connected experience for our customers.