EPR causing errors and delays two years after go-live

A trust is experiencing severe problems with its electronic patient record system two years after it was installed, HSJ research has revealed.

A “preliminary review” into the Oracle Cerner electronic patient record – called Surrey Safe Care – at Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals (ASPH) Foundation Trust in Surrey found the emergency department was still spending “significant time” using the system, an electronic bed board was not updated in real-time, and there were booking and workflow errors in clinics.

The review, which was released to HSJ after a Freedom of Information Act request and carried out in recent months, found problems stemming from limited system training, configuration issues and insufficient technology available on wards and in clinics. The EPR went live in May 2022.

The trust also had “insufficient analysts” to provide comprehensive management information. Also, performance, utilisation and management information were described as still being “under construction.”

In a statement, ASPH said, “Annual reviews will be carried out to monitor the continual progress of this project. A new working group of clinical, operational, and digital staff will agree how we use existing resources to improve staff training, add extra functionality to the EPR, invest in appropriate technology and additional analysts.”

Read full story (paywalled)

Source: HSJ, 15 May 2024