21.03.11
EPR system causes patient delays
The implementation of an Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system has caused delays in treating patients at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, it has emerged.
The trust introduced the system on December 3, 2011 as part of the National Programme for IT to improve patient care and safety, and drive efficiency. However the new processes took longer than expected and the backlog of work created consequent delays in responding to patients.
The Oxford Mail reported that patient complaints doubled from 52 in December 2011 to 102 in January 2012. Additionally, some data quality issues arose due to the training and understanding of new workflows, a report of the trust’s board meeting showed.
Additional resources have since been introduced to help reduce the backlog and supplementary training is being provided to improve the EPR system.
New clinical functionality will also be implemented, including the electronic requesting and reporting of diagnostic tests and improved clinical documentation and communication. An ‘exemplar area’ in respiratory medicine which will be launched in early May and followed by a roll out across the whole trust over the following 12 months.
An integrated clinical theatre system is also planned to support scheduling of cases and better delivery of clinical information, as well as supplying an integrated clinical record.
The board stated that a detailed timetable for the next phases of the project is being drawn up and will be accompanied by tracking of the project's benefits realisation plan.
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