Trust to roll out new electronic health record technology
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust will launch a new electronic health record in 2023, after funding was secured for the roll-out of the EPIC electronic patient record (EPR) system at the Trust.
Clinical, operational and information technology teams from across the Trust are currently developing plans for roll-out of the new EPIC system in October 2023. This will involve extensive engagement with staff, and King's patients.
The new system is designed to improve care for patients, and reduce the administrative burden on staff. It will also reduce the number of different IT systems in place at the Trust, so making it easier and quicker for staff to access a single source of information about each patient.
King's will also work with the providers of EPIC to deploy a patient portal, which will enable patients to access their medical records, as well as book appointments and more actively engage in their health in partnership with the clinicians managing their care.
The roll-out of EPIC at King's will also enable teams from the Trust to work more closely with colleagues at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, who are also introducing the EPIC software in April 2023 as part of the same deployment programme.
EPIC have years of experience in healthcare, and their electronic health record software is used in NHS hospitals across the country, as well as in America, Europe, Australia, and the Middle East.
Professor Clive Kay, Chief Executive of King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, welcomed the news:
"This is a really positive step forward for King's, our staff and patients, plus the communities we serve. Technology has the power to transform the way we provide care - and by harnessing it to its full potential, we will improve care for patients, and support our staff to deliver the high quality care they aspire to."
Beverley Bryant, Chief Digital Information Officer at King's College Hospital and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trusts, added:
"I am thrilled that our ambition to implement EPIC across King's and Guy's and St Thomas', including Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals, will now become a reality. This is a once in a generation opportunity to redesign our clinical workflows, and provide a vastly improved experience for our staff and patients. This programme will signify a major transformational change, and underpin our ambitions for high quality care for the patients that we serve."
