Sutter Health integrates OpenEvidence AI clinical decision support into Epic EHR workflows

Physicians at Sutter Health needed faster access to up-to-date clinical evidence, care guidelines, and studies at the point of care. Existing workflows made it difficult to surface the most current and relevant evidence during clinical decision-making without disrupting care delivery.

Sutter Health deployed OpenEvidence, an AI-powered medical search and decision support platform, directly within its Epic EHR. Physicians can use natural language queries to quickly retrieve updated clinical data, research, and care guidelines while maintaining quality and safety standards.

The platform launched within Sutter Health's Epic EHR as of February 2026. The health system's chief AI officer noted that patients benefit when providers have the most current evidence incorporated into clinical decision-making, though no specific quantitative outcomes were reported at launch.

• Embedding AI decision support natively in the EHR (Epic) removes friction and encourages adoption by meeting clinicians in their existing workflow.
• Natural language search lowers the barrier for physicians to access evidence-based guidance at the point of care.
• Sutter Health's multi-year AI strategy (previously Abridge for documentation, now OpenEvidence for decision support) reflects a layered approach to reducing clinician burden.