June 2023 Blog
Lisa Cooke, Chief Clinical Information Officer at QEHKL
The Essential Need for an EPR in our Acute Hospitals
In today's fast-paced healthcare environment, efficient information management is crucial for the delivery of high-quality care. As a clinical and laboratory district general haematologist, I experience first-hand the impact of not having an Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system in terms of my workload. This blog post aims to shed light on some of the day-to-day challenges I face whilst emphasising the critical role an EPR system plays in improving workload and enhancing patient care quality. Through an exploration of various scenarios, we will discover how an EPR system can address these challenges and revolutionize the healthcare experience for patients in Norfolk and Waveney.
Referrals to Clinical Haematology
One of the primary issues arising from the lack of an EPR system is the inefficient exchange of patient information. Letters requesting additional tests and suggesting lines of investigation often result in delays and back-and-forth communication. With an EPR system, haematologists would have immediate access to patient information, streamlining the referral process and enabling more informed decision-making.
Outpatient Clinic Workload
In outpatient clinics, the absence of patient notes and delayed availability of results from specialist laboratory services creates significant challenge. Administration staff spend considerable time chasing results, and patients are often asked to return for follow-up appointments, causing inconvenience and delays in clinical decision-making. Implementing an EPR system would alleviate these issues by providing real-time access to patient information and test results which help facilitate timely and accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.
Inpatient Workload
Completing numerous forms and checklists for different conditions becomes a time-consuming task in the absence of an EPR system. Staff members spend time searching for the required forms across various clinical areas. Implementing an EPR would simplify this process by providing a centralised platform for all necessary documentation, eliminating the need for physical searching and saving valuable time.
Continuous Learning and Access to Information
Accessing up-to-date information and evidence-based best practices is critical for delivering quality care. However, without an EPR, it becomes challenging for health and care staff to stay abreast of the latest medical advancements. An EPR would provide a central platform for accessing current information and enable continuous learning which in turn, helps to improve the quality of patient care.
On-call Service Provision
Having access to patient records outside regular hours would greatly benefit on-call healthcare professionals. With an EPR in place, they could provide advice to colleagues in the community who may be unfamiliar with the patient's case. This proactive approach could prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and ensure safe clinical care is delivered even outside normal working hours.
Overall, an EPR has the potential to transform healthcare by preventing hospital admissions through virtual clinics or improved communication and better accessibility of patient records. By breaking down silos within the system, the EPR would promote a holistic approach to patient care, allowing staff to consider their comprehensive needs.
Time is a scarce resource in healthcare. Eliminating tasks such as searching for lost paper documents or manually completing and filing forms, would significantly save time for staff at all levels. An EPR would optimise workflows and enable a more streamlined and efficient healthcare delivery process.
I’m excited for our EPR programme in Norfolk and Waveney and can clearly envision how it will enhance communication, improve patient outcomes, streamline workflows, and enable continuous learning.
The question we should be asking is not what the benefits of an EPR are, but rather why we should even consider not providing this essential tool to our patients? It's time to embrace the future of healthcare and prioritise the implementation of an EPR for the betterment of all.