Every August, healthcare leaders converge on Epic’s Verona, Wisconsin, campus for the annual User Group Meeting (UGM). This year’s event drew nearly 10,000 health executives, clinicians, and innovators eager to see where healthcare technology is heading.
Artificial Intelligence dominated conversations as Epic revealed a new AI solution suite that had been speculated about extensively in the weeks leading up to the event. The offerings unveiled by Epic CEO Judy Faulkner included:
- Art: a clinician-facing AI colleague and scribe that can pull vitals, update family history, place orders, and draft notes in real time.
- Emmie: a patient-facing AI assistant embedded in MyChart, helping patients interpret labs, schedule care, and navigate health needs.
- Penny: a revenue cycle assistant that streamlines coding and insurance appeals.
- Cosmos AI: Epic’s foundation model trained on more than 300 million patient records and designed to predict readmissions and major health events.
With over 150 AI projects in play, Epic isn’t just layering AI on top of its EHR — it’s embedding intelligence across workflows, shaping what STAT dubbed as Epic’s “Doctor Strange moment” in envisioning possible patient futures.
Industry reaction was swift. Some CIOs celebrated the potential to ease documentation burdens and reduce administrative waste. Others raised eyebrows about how native Epic AI will reshape the competitive landscape. What’s undeniable is that the AI race in healthcare is accelerating, and hospitals are taking notice.
Market Reaction: Hype to Hope
In hallways and after-hours conversations, UGM attendees grappled with the implications of Epic’s moves. While many saw the announcements as proof that AI in healthcare is “no longer just hype,” others noted that health systems face budget pressure and remain cautious about new spending. Trade-in programs and real-world ROI will influence adoption.
The buzz underscored a critical reality: as hospitals explore AI, digital health, and virtual care, they want solutions that work today and are well positioned to keep up with what’s ahead. That’s where Caregility’s story resonated.
Embedded AI for Inpatient Virtual Care
Among the approximately 40 Toolbox exhibitors at UGM, Caregility’s solutions stood out in the Inpatient Virtual Care category by delivering what competitors could not:
- Live Epic integration, not native solution demos. Attendees saw firsthand how Caregility embeds AI-driven workflows directly inside Epic applications.
- Bedside TV integration without Epic intervention. Caregility is the first and only platform to implement Epic Bedside TV integration independently, recently deployed at Mobile Infirmary’s new Smart Unit.
- GPU-powered edge computing. Every multi-sensor Caregility Duo device includes a built-in GPU, enabling advanced computer vision at the bedside for real-time insights without reliance on cloud-only processing.
“Being one of the first live with Epic Bedside TV integration shows that we can deliver innovation without creating complexity,” said Caregility Product Manager Ben Cassidy.
Caregility Chief Innovation Officer, Bin Guan, elaborated, “Our integration with Epic is about giving hospitals practical innovation they can deploy today and build on tomorrow. By embedding AI directly in virtual care workflows within Epic, we’re reducing friction and creating value where clinicians work every day.”
Extending Epic’s Vision
Epic’s AI announcements highlight the power of predictive modeling. Actionable bedside data remains essential to success. Sensor-based technologies like those integrated into the Caregility Connected Care™ platform allow care teams to see, hear, and monitor at the point of care in real time. This unlocks tremendous potential for capturing data in the patient room, redefining what’s possible in care delivery. API-first design supports rapid integration with emerging technologies to enable next-generation care models.
“At Caregility, we’re committed to building on this momentum,” said Cassidy. “Our work with Epic isn’t just about integrating technology. It’s about helping hospitals deliver safer, smarter, more sustainable care — one room, one patient, one workflow at a time.”
During UGM, Epic released its annual Honor Roll list, spotlighting health systems pioneering digital health to improve patient care. 64 organizations were awarded for excellence in leveraging Epic’s EHR. We congratulate everyone recognized, including the many Caregility customers on the list! See the full list here.
Epic’s focus on AI and introduction of an Inpatient Virtual Care Toolbox category at the 2025 UGM confirmed that AI and virtual care are no longer side projects. They are strategic imperatives shaping the next era of healthcare.
See how Caregility + Epic can accelerate your inpatient virtual care strategy – contact us today!
