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Implementing an Electronic Patient Record for RDaSH

Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) covers a wide geographical area, providing a range of services including community health services, children’s services and adult in patient and mental health services to support patients with complex medical conditions.

Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) covers a wide geographical area, providing a range of services including community health services, children’s services and adult in patient and mental health services to support patients with complex medical conditions.

What challenges did we face?

The Trust had been using two different clinical systems which was identified as a clinical risk. As a key element of the process to implement whole person care, RDaSH wanted to implement an EPR that would enable clinicians in clinic and community settings to access consistent, reliable and up to date information about patients, with the ability to share appropriate clinical information with GPs. In addition, RDaSH recognised the benefits of implementing Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (EPMA) as an extension to the EPR.

The Trust appointed Channel 3 Consulting to support them in developing a business case for EPR and EPMA, procuring the best solution and implementing the new technology and associated work practices.

What was our approach?

We approached the task as a business change project from the outset, with appropriate preparation, engagement and training support throughout. We created a project team incorporating experts in technology, clinical engagement, governance and system implementation. Integration of Trust resources to create an integrated Project Team was key from the start.

Channel 3 was responsible for developing the Outline Business Case (OBC). Drawing on best practice, the OBC assessed five options, resulting in an EPR+ model being adopted which would:

Following a robust procurement process, RDaSH selected TPP’s SystmOne to provide the EPR solution. SystmOne was already being used in Community Health Services across the Trust and by a majority of GPs in the geographies serviced by the Trust.

Our SystmOne specialists worked with RDaSH and TPP to configure the EPR, creating templates that would support care plans aligned to the way the Trust works. We ensured that the Trust’s Clinical Systems Team was fully involved to ensure efficient and effective transfer of knowledge during the development and as a key part of the handover to Business As Usual (BAU). 

How did we engage?

Consultation was embedded throughout the project:

This comprehensive approach to team engagement ensured EPR implementation was a clinically-focused business change project, not an IT project. It was appropriately designed to support the Trust and ensure processes and systems were developed in response to clinical requirements and ultimately patient needs.

What impact did we have?

By implementing standardised processes, RDaSH has been able to make more time for care. Configuration of the EPR is consistent and manual processes and work arounds have been eliminated, especially in Mental Health Services. They have also realised:

  • More time for care through more efficient and consistent ways of working
  • Faster clinical decision making
  • Improved service user outcome and experience
  • Reduced elapsed time between request for tests and/or referrals
  • Reduced Adverse Drug Events (ADEs) and Adverse Care Events (ACEs)
  • Better co-ordination of care between care providers
  • Improved access to business information/intelligence

Channel 3 Consulting helped us understand the scale of the task facing us in switching to a single Electronic Patient Record and plan accordingly. As a result, we’ve been able to successfully engage with our teams and ensure those delivering care to patients have access to the information they need in a format that is easy to use, reliable and secure. Channel 3’s expertise in EPR procurement and implementation ensured the smooth-running of this project which is already delivering the outcomes we intended.

Richard Banks, Director of Health Informatics
Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber Trust

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