Your electronic patient record

Upgrading Electronic Patient Records at gesh

There are currently multiple Electronic Patient Records (EPR) systems in place across St George’s, Epsom and St Helier which do not talk to each other. In May this will change, with the launch of a new group wide EPR, iClipPRO.

iClipPRO is a digital platform that brings all patient information – from medical history to results of investigations and medications prescribed – together in one place.

The introduction will mean clinicians will have more information at their fingertips, meaning they can make more informed effective decisions on patient care. It will also streamline admin tasks, minimise duplication and give clinical teams more time to care for patients.

While Epsom and St Helier will transfer over to the new platform, the current iClip system at St George’s will be upgraded, so all hospitals will be using the same system.

What does EPR mean for patients

The new EPR will provide many benefits for our patients, including:

Fewer delays as clinicians will have the right information at their fingertips, with less time waiting for prescriptions or discharge information
Less duplication in terms of repeating their medical histories, as those involved in the patient’s care will be able to easily see what has been said before
It will also help to keep our patients safe and their data secure.

Next steps

Our primary goal is to help ensure that our patients continue to have the best possible experience while we undertake this transfer.

Teams across our hospitals are pulling out all the stops to make sure the switchover to the new system is as smooth as possible. And an extensive programme of testing the new system and training staff is currently underway.

Nevertheless, a change of this scale will inevitably have an impact on our teams, which is why we will be communicating extensively with our patients and communities to let them know what we are doing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will it link up with other local trusts and healthcare providers?

Staff at St Georges, Epsom and St Helier will be able to access your health records, including and diagnosis, treatment and care received across all hospitals.

How secure is the EPR?

Access to records is only available to authorised staff and there is a strict governance policy around this. The information is stored off site and the data is therefore less vulnerable to cyber-attack or to outside agencies. All patient data is stored in the UK.

How will the EPR help us to make patient care safer?

One of the biggest benefits is our clinicians can see what’s happening with your treatment from any of our hospitals.

Computers can never replace the knowledge and good judgement of a clinician. However, they can support care, alert us to things we should look out for such as allergies.

EPR will reduce the likelihood of human error, removing the need to decipher people’s handwriting or find crucial information that’s been recorded on the right piece of paper.

What will happen to paper records?

Over time, paper records will gradually become less relevant and the need to access and store them will reduce. Paper records that need to be accessible on the new EPR system can be scanned in.

Can I opt out of having an EPR?

Your electronic patient record is key in ensuring we provide the best care possible and can continue to improve the way we work, so you can’t opt out. There will not be alternative record keeping systems.

What happens if the system goes down and you can't access my record?

There are a number of contingency plans in place, including a back-up system which will give access to essential information.

This EPR is used widely across the UK and in other countries and the general experience is that down-time is infrequent and only ever lasts for a short amount of time.

Your electronic patient record

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