Video Calls at UHealth/MSOM: Zoom vs. Epic Video Client

Jump to: Quick Decision Guide – Epic Video Client vs. Zoom for UM Enterprise – Support

This page clarifies when UHealth/MSOM employees must use Epic Video Client for HIPAA-compliant patient care and when Zoom may be used for non-clinical meetings.

Important

UHealth's Zoom for Healthcare is being retired in March 2026. All telehealth visits and any video interactions involving Protected Health Information (PHI) must use Epic Video Client within UChart.

Zoom remains available for UM enterprise use only and may not be used for patient care and/or HIPAA-compliant discussions.

 

Quick Decision Guide

Cards

Use Epic Video Client if:

  • The interaction involves a patient
  • You are discussing diagnosis, treatment, labs, imaging, or clinical decision-making
  • You are documenting a billable telehealth encounter
  • Protected Health Information (PHI) may be visible, spoken, or shared
  • The visit needs to be part of the medical record
Learn More About Epic

Use Zoom if:

  • The meeting is administrative only
  • No patient information is discussed
  • It is a team meeting, education session, research meeting without PHI
  • It is a non-clinical collaboration
Learn More About Zoom

Epic Video Client vs. Zoom for UM Enterprise

Category Epic Video Client
(Within UChart)		 Zoom
(UM Enterprise Account)
HIPAA-Compliant for Patient Care ✅ Yes — Approved for telehealth and PHI discussions ❌ No — Not permitted for patient care or PHI discussions 
Patient Telehealth Visits ✅ Yes — Required platform ❌ No — Not allowed
Clinical Documentation Integration ✅ Yes — Integrated directly into the Epic encounter ❌ No — Not integrated with the medical record
Billable Telehealth Support ✅ Yes — Supports compliant telehealth billing workflows ❌ No — Does not support telehealth billing workflows
Launch from Visit Navigator ✅ Yes — Launches from the UChart Visit Navigator ❌ No — Separate application
Multi Provider Schedule Status Indicator ✅ Yes — Camera icon shows whether the patient is connected ❌ No — No Epic schedule integration
Patient Waiting Room Control ⚠️ Limited — Once admitted, the patient cannot be placed back in a waiting room ✅ Yes — Zoom supports waiting rooms for non-clinical meetings; not permitted for patient interactions after March 2026
Interpreter Integration ✅ Yes — Interpreter request supported within workflow (English & Spanish audio/video) ❌ No — Manual coordination required
Invite Guest / Provider from Encounter ✅ Yes — Direct link options built in (patient, guest, provider) ✅ Yes — Invite via meeting link (non-clinical use)
Mobile Handoff ✅ Yes — Handoff to Haiku supported (if enabled) ✅ Yes — Zoom mobile app available (not Epic-integrated)
Screen Sharing ✅ Yes — Available within the clinical visit ✅ Yes — Available (non-clinical use)
Chat Functionality ✅ Yes — Available within the visit ✅ Yes — Available (non-clinical use)
Download Required ✅ No — No additional download required ✅ Yes — App or web client required
Use for Administrative Meetings ✅ Yes ✅ Yes
Use for Research (No PHI) ✅ Yes ✅ Yes
Use for Research (With PHI) ✅ Yes — Only when it meets clinical workflow/policy requirements ❌ No — Not permitted
Travel Within the U.S. ✅ Yes — Access UChart via Citrix as usual ✅ Yes
International Travel Access ✅ Yes — Requires GlobalProtect VPN on UM-issued device ✅ Yes (non-clinical use); ❌ not permitted for patient care after March 2026
Approved Downtime Alternative ⚠️ Use Doximity as the approved downtime alternative (if needed) ❌ No - Not approved as a downtime substitute
Permitted for Case Discussions with Identifiable PHI ✅ Yes ❌ No
Risk Exposure if Used for PHI ✅ Low — Meets clinical policy requirements ❌ High — Compliance and audit risk

Need Help?

For more information about Zoom, including a list of features and benefits, visit the Zoom service page. For answers to commonly asked questions, review the Zoom FAQs.

If you have any technical issues, please contact the IT Service Desk.

 

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