The Epic Go-Live Staffing Checklist Most Health Systems Miss
Most Epic go-live retrospectives focus on build quality and workflow design. Fewer examine staffing logistics — yet under-resourced at-the-elbow support is one of the most common drivers of post-live help desk surges.
Start with a wave-by-wave staffing ratio based on unit acuity, not a flat per-site number. ICU and ED units require denser at-the-elbow coverage than low-complexity ambulatory clinics.
Credential and badge every support resource at least two weeks before go-live week, not the week of. Badge access delays are a recurring, avoidable cause of lost coverage hours during the first 72 hours.
Build a real-time swap desk for command center week. Support staff attrition and fatigue during a multi-day go-live is normal — plan for it rather than reacting to it.
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