Why Reading to Kids Is an Important Health Intervention
March 3, 2026
Dr. Jackie Gerhart discusses why children's literacy is one of the strongest leading indicators of overall health—and how Epic helps clinicians make a difference.
On the Ed Talks podcast, Jackie Gerhart, a family medicine physician and Chief Medical Officer at Epic, discusses the connection between children’s literacy and lifelong health outcomes. Gerhart shares how something as simple as reading to a child can influence cognitive development, social connection, and long-term wellbeing.
She draws on her experience using the Reach Out and Read program in clinical practice, explaining why it works—not just for families, but for clinicians and health systems as well. The conversation focuses on prevention, community impact, and low-cost interventions that move the needle without another prescription or medication.
Epic community members can find more information about building Reach Out and Read into their providers’ workflows here.
Learn more about the Reach Out and Read program here.
More Epic in the News
Memorial Hermann Health System Clinicians Use Epic’s AI Tool to Help Patients Better Understand Test Results
September 8, 2026
Clinicians at Memorial Hermann Health System (MHHS) are using a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool built directly into Epic to help patients better understand their test results and to make informed decisions about next steps in their care journey.
AI Helps OLVG Clinicians Reduce Note-Writing Time By Over 30%
September 2, 2026
As Chart with Art—Epic’s native AI charting—handles documentation, clinicians report improved focus on the conversation in the room, fostering better visit experiences and work-life balance.
Patients of the rural health system can use Ask Emmie to receive answers that are grounded in their full health history, including past visits and test results.
