West Herts Hospitals to go live with new electronic patient record (EPR)
Posted: 26 November 2021
West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust is moving away from paper records to an electronic patient record (EPR). This means that WHHT staff caring for patients can always access the information they need so the patient gets the best possible care.
These are important changes to the way the trust manages and handles patient records and the way in which they hold and relate to patients’ health data.
This change has been planned for a long time and staff have been trained; however, the move from one system to another may mean that things will take a little longer while staff at the trust get used to the EPR.
EPR is a single electronic patient record which will replace the majority of the trust’s paper medical records. This will mean that clinical teams will have instant access to the data they need to care for patients.
There are many benefits to moving to EPR:
- all patients’ information will be in one place and can be accessed from anywhere by staff who are involved in the patient’s care
- information about the patient’s care will be entered into their record immediately, from their bedside if they are an inpatient or instantly during a clinic or phone or online appointment
- patients are less likely to need to repeat their details – the EPR will be easy for staff to use to see key information about patients without needing to ask the patient
- results from tests will be automatically uploaded to the patient’s record
- the security around who can access patient’s record is very robust
- clinics will no longer be cancelled because paper records can't be found
Ends
- For more information, please contact the communications team on: 01923 436280 or email: westherts.communications@nhs.uk. Out of hours, please call the Watford General Hospital switchboard on 01923 244366 and ask for the on call communications manager.
- West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust serves people from across Hertfordshire, north London and further afield. It operates from three hospitals; Watford General, St Albans City and Hemel Hempstead. The trust has a catchment area of over 500,000 people and is one of the largest employers locally, with around 5,000 staff and volunteers.
- For more information about our hospitals, visit www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk. You can also join our followers on Twitter (twitter.com/westhertsNHS) and find us on Facebook (facebook.com/westhertsNHS)
