Clinicians increasingly work from phones and tablets, and in Epic organizations that usually means Haiku, Canto and Rover. These Epic-built apps put charts, messaging, photos and bedside tasks in clinicians’ hands. Vendors and health systems often ask how their own tools, devices and workflows can connect to this mobile layer. This guide explains what each app does, the realistic integration options and how to build complementary mobile tools safely. For broader Epic connectivity, see our Epic integration services. Planning a clinician mobile project? Request a free mobile integration review.
Epic’s Clinician Mobile Apps Explained
Epic offers several mobile apps for clinical staff, each designed for different roles and devices. Understanding their purpose helps vendors see where integration adds value and where Epic already covers the need, avoiding products that duplicate features clinicians already have.
Haiku for smartphones
Haiku gives physicians and other providers access to Epic on their phones. Typical uses include reviewing schedules, results and notes, responding to messages and capturing clinical photos. It supports quick, on-the-go tasks rather than long documentation sessions at a workstation.
Canto for tablets
Canto offers a tablet experience for providers, with more screen space for chart review, schedules and documentation tasks. Clinicians use it during rounds, in clinics and away from desktops. Its layout suits reading and reviewing information more comfortably than a smartphone screen.
Rover for nurses and bedside staff
Rover supports nurses and other bedside staff on mobile devices, helping with tasks such as barcode medication administration, documentation and specimen collection. It brings point-of-care workflows to the bedside, reducing trips to workstations and improving accuracy for time-critical tasks. Accuracy matters most for medication tasks.
Why these apps matter to vendors
Because clinicians already carry these apps, any mobile tool you offer competes for their attention. Integrations that complement Haiku, Canto and Rover, or connect data behind them, are more likely to be adopted than standalone apps requiring new logins and new habits.
Realistic Integration Options
Epic’s mobile apps are built and controlled by Epic, so vendors cannot modify them directly. Integration usually happens around them through data exchange, launch points configured by health systems or complementary apps that share context. Confirm specific capabilities with Epic and each health system.
Data that appears in the mobile apps
The simplest integration sends data into Epic through FHIR APIs or HL7 interfaces, so it appears wherever clinicians view the chart, including mobile apps. Device readings, external results and documents become available on Haiku, Canto or Rover without any mobile-specific development.
Launch points configured by health systems
Health systems can sometimes configure links or app launches from Epic workflows to external tools. Whether these work in mobile contexts depends on Epic capabilities and local configuration. Confirm with your target health system before designing features that rely on mobile launch points.
Complementary SMART on FHIR apps
Vendors can build SMART on FHIR apps that clinicians use alongside Epic’s mobile tools, sharing patient context where supported. These apps must offer clear value Epic does not provide. Our SMART on FHIR app development team builds these experiences for mobile use.
Device and peripheral integration
Bedside workflows often involve scanners, vital sign monitors, infusion pumps and other devices. Device data reaches Epic through device integration platforms and interfaces, then appears in Rover and other views. Our medical device integration hub work covers this connectivity. Validate patient association for every device.
Designing Complementary Clinician Mobile Tools
When a health system needs mobile capabilities Epic’s apps do not cover, custom clinician apps can fill specific gaps. These must integrate cleanly with Epic and fit into existing mobile habits. Design choices determine whether clinicians embrace the tool or ignore it after launch.
Start with a gap Epic does not fill
Identify a workflow Haiku, Canto or Rover cannot support well, such as specialty scoring tools, field team coordination or research workflows. Validate the gap with clinicians before building. Duplicating Epic features wastes budget and frustrates clinicians who already have a familiar tool.
Share context to avoid double entry
Clinicians will not retype patient details into a separate app. Use FHIR APIs and patient context to prefill data and write results back to Epic where approved. The less duplicate entry required, the higher adoption and accuracy you will achieve.
Design for interruptions and speed
Mobile clinical work happens in short bursts with frequent interruptions. Design screens for one-handed use, quick task completion and safe resumption after interruptions. Test in real environments such as hallways and patient rooms, not only in quiet offices. Observe clinicians during real shifts first.
Follow organizational mobile standards
Hospitals manage devices, app stores, authentication and security through mobile device management and identity platforms. Align your app with these standards early. Our mobile clinician workforce app development work follows hospital mobility requirements from the start. Early alignment avoids late security rework.
Security and Compliance for Clinician Mobile Apps
Mobile devices travel, get lost and connect to many networks, which makes security essential for any app handling PHI. Clinician mobile tools must meet hospital security requirements and HIPAA safeguards without slowing clinicians down during busy shifts.
Device management and app distribution
Most hospitals distribute clinical apps through mobile device management platforms that enforce encryption, passcodes and remote wipe. Design your app to work within these controls, supporting managed configuration and app protection policies required by hospital IT and security teams. Confirm requirements with hospital IT early.
Authentication and single sign-on
Clinicians expect fast access without repeated logins. Integrate with the hospital’s identity platform for single sign-on and support strong authentication methods. Our healthcare identity and access management work helps balance security with clinician convenience. Test login speed with clinicians, because slow access drives workarounds.
Minimizing data on devices
Store as little PHI on devices as possible, cache only what workflows require and clear data on logout or timeout. Encrypt any local storage. Limiting stored data reduces risk significantly if a device is lost, stolen or compromised. Review caching rules during security testing.
Audit logging and monitoring
Log user access to patient data, actions taken and data written back to Epic. Send logs to central monitoring platforms for review. Clear audit trails support HIPAA requirements, investigations and access reviews conducted by hospital privacy and compliance teams. Retain logs according to hospital policy.
Steps to Launch a Clinician Mobile Integration
The steps below reflect how we deliver clinician mobile projects connected to Epic. They emphasize clinician validation, security alignment and phased rollout, which matter as much as technical integration for a successful launch in busy hospital environments.
Step 1: Validate the workflow gap
Interview and observe clinicians to confirm the need and how Epic’s mobile apps fall short. Define success measures, such as time saved or errors reduced. Clear evidence secures clinical sponsorship and keeps the project focused on real problems. Document findings for leadership review.
Step 2: Confirm integration capabilities
Work with the health system’s Epic and mobility teams to confirm available APIs, launch options, device policies and identity platforms. Document what is possible before designing features, avoiding rework caused by assumptions about mobile capabilities. Record decisions in a shared document so every team works from the same assumptions.
Step 3: Design and prototype with clinicians
Build clickable prototypes and test them with clinicians in realistic settings. Refine layouts, flows and terminology based on feedback. Early iteration costs far less than changing a finished app and dramatically improves adoption at launch. Repeat testing until clinicians complete core tasks quickly and confidently.
Step 4: Build, secure and test
Develop the app with FHIR integration, single sign-on and security controls. Test with synthetic data, then in hospital test environments using managed devices. Complete security review before any clinician uses the app with real patient information. Fix every finding before the pilot begins.
Step 5: Pilot and scale
Launch with one unit or department, measure adoption and outcomes, and gather feedback. Fix issues quickly, then expand gradually. Share pilot results with leadership to secure support for wider rollout across the organization. Keep a feedback channel open after launch so clinicians can report issues and suggest improvements easily.
How Taction Helps With Epic Mobile Integration
Taction has delivered 200+ healthcare projects, including clinician mobile apps, SMART on FHIR tools and Epic integrations. We help health systems and vendors connect data to Epic’s mobile experience and build complementary apps clinicians actually use.
Free mobile integration review
Share your mobile workflow goals and environment. We review Epic capabilities, device policies and integration options, then recommend an approach and estimate effort. You get a clear, practical plan. Request your free review. We also highlight quick wins that improve clinician mobile experience without new development.
Clinician app development
We design and build iOS and Android apps for clinicians that integrate with Epic and follow hospital mobility standards. Our healthcare mobile app development services cover design, development, security and ongoing support for clinical teams. Every app is tested with clinicians on managed devices before launch.
Device and data integration
We connect devices, external results and partner systems to Epic so data appears wherever clinicians work, including mobile apps. Every integration includes mapping, validation and monitoring, ensuring reliable data reaches Haiku, Canto and Rover users without manual steps. Errors trigger alerts for fast resolution.
Mobile developers on demand
Need extra mobile expertise? Hire healthcare iOS developers who understand clinical workflows, FHIR integration and hospital security requirements. They join your team quickly and document everything for long-term maintainability. Engagements scale with your roadmap, and they can also support Android and backend integration work.
Frequently Asked Questions
These answers cover common questions about integrating with Epic’s clinician mobile apps. Because capabilities depend on Epic versions and each health system’s configuration, a review of your specific environment gives the most reliable guidance.
What are Epic Haiku, Canto and Rover?
They are Epic’s mobile apps for clinical staff. Haiku serves providers on smartphones, Canto serves providers on tablets, and Rover supports nurses and bedside staff with tasks such as medication administration, documentation and specimen collection at the point of care.
Can vendors integrate directly into Haiku or Rover?
Vendors cannot modify Epic’s mobile apps. Integration usually means sending data into Epic so it appears in these apps, or using launch points health systems configure where supported. Confirm specific capabilities with Epic and each health system before designing features.
How does device data reach Rover?
Device data typically flows through device integration platforms and interfaces into Epic, where it becomes available in Rover and other views. Accurate patient association, validation and monitoring are essential, especially for vital signs and medication-related devices. Test these flows thoroughly before go-live.
Should we build our own clinician mobile app?
Only for workflows Epic’s mobile apps do not support well. Validate the gap with clinicians, share patient context to avoid duplicate entry, and follow hospital mobility and security standards. Duplicating existing Epic features rarely achieves strong adoption. Start with a focused pilot instead.
How do clinician mobile apps stay HIPAA compliant?
Use mobile device management, strong authentication, encryption, minimal local data storage and audit logging. Align with hospital security policies and complete security review before launch. Compliance depends on both app design and how devices are managed. Review controls regularly as devices and policies change.