Dive Brief:
- Sumit Rana, president of the nation’s largest electronic health record vendor Epic, plans to step down from the post this summer after nearly 30 years at the major healthcare IT and technology firm.
- Rana is leaving to spend more time with his family after his father passed away in November. His last day will be Aug. 14, he wrote in an email to Epic employees Friday. “My mother lives in India, and this change will allow me to be present for her and help her navigate this tender chapter,” Rana wrote. “It will also let me devote more of my time and my whole heart to my wife and kids.”
- His departure could be a significant leadership shakeup for the major EHR firm, as Rana was viewed as a leading candidate to eventually replace 82-year-old CEO Judy Faulkner.
Dive Insight:
Rana began working at Epic in late 1998, shortly after graduating from Delhi College of Engineering, according to his LinkedIn. He rose through the ranks at the EHR vendor, and was appointed as president nearly two years ago.
Rana was one of the original developers of MyChart, Epic’s patient portal. In a recent interview with Healthcare IT Today, Rana said he was also proud of the EHR company’s move to build artificial intelligence tools and to improve health data sharing.
A small group of leaders and other workers that Rana mentored will step up to take on additional leadership responsibilities after he leaves, an Epic spokesperson said in a statement.
The group includes Seth Howard, executive vice president of research and development at Epic, as well as Mark Lipsky, Erv Walter and Garrett Adams, who each serve as a senior vice president of research and development, according to an email sent Tuesday to employees by Faulkner.
“For almost 50 years, our culture has been, and continues to be, one of growing new leaders who are capable of strong contributions to our future,” the spokesperson said in a statement Monday.
The hospital EHR market has become increasingly consolidated over the past two decades — with Epic in the market-leading position. The EHR vendor controlled nearly 44% of acute care hospitals last year, according to a report published in May by Klas Research.
The company has also been doubling down on AI tools. Earlier this year, Epic rolled out its highly anticipated AI charting product, which listens during providers’ appointments with patients and can suggest orders for care based on the conversation.
The tool is part of Art, Epic’s AI product geared towards clinicians. The company also offers Penny, AI tools for revenue cycle and operations, as well as Emmy, AI products geared towards patients.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include additional details on the employees taking on additional job duties following Rana’s departure.
