Epic System Failure: Pain at Plainsboro Medical Center

Abstract

This case describes an information system failure at a large hospital. The case highlights that information systems are much more than just the technology. Each of the three dimensions of information systems: people, organization, and technology played a critical role in building a robust, reliable, yet ultimately ineffective system. Plainsboro was fortunate that the Epic connection failure did not result in patient deaths. However, it became clear that a major overhaul of its backup and contingency information systems (EMR) was urgently needed.