[BlindTlk] MyCart users

[Marci Carpenter]

Resolution 2018-04
Regarding the Inaccessibility of Epic Corporation Systems Software

WHEREAS, Epic Systems Corporation (Epic) is a leader in the electronic health records (EHR) industry and has developed a suite of health information software used nationwide by more than three hundred hospital and health clinic customers; and

WHEREAS, Epic has failed to conform the employee-facing side of its software to industry standard Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA, despite Epic’s proven ability to incorporate accessibility features in its patient-facing software; and

WHEREAS, blind professionals working in the healthcare field who are otherwise qualified for the work they have been hired to perform are unable to engage in basic functions of their jobs because of Epic’s inaccessible software design and have suffered from this lack of access, including the likelihood of being overlooked for promotions and raises or terminated from their positions entirely; and

WHEREAS, blind healthcare professionals are now forced to advocate for their protections under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and must engage in interactive dialogue with their employers to request accommodations that will give them access to Epic’s software; and

WHEREAS, Epic’s practice of selling software that it knows to be inaccessible has put its customer base at risk of violating federal law and has forced healthcare employers to rely on code scripting solutions that work only until a platform is updated, at which point the scripts break and must be rewritten; and

WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind has insisted that Epic remediate its employee-facing software and legal action has been filed against Epic demanding that it do so; and

WHEREAS, despite these actions, Epic has failed to commit publicly to including accessibility features in all facets of its healthcare software: Now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention assembled this seventh day of July, 2018, in the City of Orlando, Florida, that this organization condemn and deplore Epic for incorporating gratuitous accessibility barriers in its health information software, for failing to commit to resolving these access barriers, and for perpetuating discrimination against blind healthcare employees; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization demand that Epic take immediate action to remediate access barriers within its health information software so that it conforms with WCAG 2.1 AA and is fully and equally accessible to blind healthcare employees, removing this fundamental barrier to employment for the blind in the healthcare field.


> On Sep 28, 2018, at 6:51 PM, Lloyd Rasmussen via BlindTlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> I think that we have either a complaint, a lawsuit or a resolution against Epic, . It says that their patient-facing software is not the problem. But if you are trying to be employed in an office or hospital that uses Epic's electronic medical records systems, that part of the system was inaccessible.
> I access MyChart through a web page and not an app; it is rather verbose, but I can't complain about its accessibility.
> 
> 
> 
> Lloyd Rasmussen, Kensington, MD
> http://lras.home.sprynet.com
> -----Original Message----- From: Ericka via BlindTlk
> Sent: Friday, September 28, 2018 5:01 PM
> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
> Cc: Ericka
> Subject: [BlindTlk] MyCart users
> 
> Hey usually we’re complaining here but I wanted to tell you about an app which actually works and is made by the electronic medical records software company EPIC.
> 
> UW Madison hospitals and clinics uses a charting system called MyChart. For any blind individual working in the other areas rather than patient oriented I do not know if they are as accessible. As a patient however, once I figured out how to download and get my password into the app everything is 100% accessible. I can find out what kind of medical records they have on me, connect with doctors through email and be reminded of appointments to just to name a few things. It’s been a blessing because I’ve forgotten a lot of things well planning a wedding and it has saved me. I can also say I have gotten some questions answered rather than needing to go into the doctors office to ask them. And this is great because you never rember all your questions when you go in there do you?
> 
> In the world of battles with technology, epic got it right and I think them.
> 
> Ericka Short
> 
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