California-based Sutter Health is deploying proprietary medical devices with a direct data link to Epic’s EHR, to help patients proactively manage their chronic health conditions.

The nonprofit health system’s proprietary blood pressure cuff, scale and glucometer are designed to offer patients an easy, secure way to automatically transmit data — without the need to download a device-specific app. Data flows in real time from the device to the Epic MyChart app on their phone or tablet, and then to their health record in Epic.  

As part of the Sutter Sync digital care program, the new Sutter devices will support patients managing high blood pressure, with a pregnancy pilot also launching for a small cohort of patients and referring providers. At the same time, the program is expanding this fall to support eligible Medicare patients with high cholesterol, with Type 2 diabetes support planned for early 2026. Eligible patients are referred to the program through their physicians.”

The technology will allow care teams to see measurements that patients take at home and understand how a patient’s condition changes between office visits. The concept is that the additional data will help providers make better-informed treatment decisions or suggest timely medication adjustments remotely, which can be especially impactful for those with chronic conditions.

"Sutter Sync takes emerging technology and applies it to real-world problems — helping patients better manage their health outside of the hospital, and ultimately helping to improve outcomes," said Taylor Seale, telehealth & RPM product lead at Epic, in a statement.

“Sutter Sync reflects the future of care: connected, convenient and personalized, which are essential elements to help patients achieve and sustain their best health outcomes over time,” said Richard Milani, M.D., chief clinical innovation officer for Sutter Health, in a statement. “Few programs address multiple chronic conditions in one integrated model, which collectively can reduce the burden on patients while producing a tremendous impact on overall health.”  

Beginning in October, eligible Medicare-enrolled patients can be referred to the program by their physician for Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.  The pregnancy program is also launching in October as a pilot, starting with a small cohort of patients and referring providers.