Call for acute clinicians to answer NHSX EPR usability survey

Are you a clinician working in an acute setting in the NHS? NHSX wants to hear about your experience using electronic patient records.

NHSX in August launched a survey to better understand how electronic patient records (EPRs) are performing across the country.

The survey also aims to gather information on how EPRs are used by clinicians and other end users.

It was first rolled-out to community health, mental health, and ambulance trusts, and has now in its second phase has been extended to the acute sector.

Today we’re launching the next phase of our electronic patient record usability survey, this time asking clinicians in acute settings to share their experiences. Please support and help us put user perspective at the heart of EPR development. https://t.co/pGNcOXosG4#MyEPR pic.twitter.com/JZ9MShjPDS

— Transforming health and care (@NHSTransform) October 27, 2021

Through gaining a better understanding of where EPRs are performing well, and where they can be improved, NHSX hopes to develop their useability and adoption throughout the health service.

The survey will contribute to the first part of evidence being gathered to support the What Good Looks Like framework, NHSX’s common vision for good digital practice published in August.

NHSX has contracted US research organisation KLAS Research to conduct the survey.

The UK EPR market

The EPR market in the UK includes a mix of US tech firms such as Epic and Cerner, as well as UK firms like System C.

Cerner has recently won a number of NHS contracts, including an EPR project at The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust.

It was also named the ‘preferred supplier’ of Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals’ £25m EPR.

Epic has also secured a number of big contracts, including with Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust which plans to go live with a £175m EPR from the supplier in April 2023.

Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust went live with a new EPR from Epic in October 2020, following on from Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust’s £108 million contract with Epic in August 2020.

Earlier in 2020 the supplier also won a £181m contract to provide and EPR for Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and a £275m deal with Northern Ireland.

While Epic and Cerner have securing some big-billed contracts, there has been movement among UK suppliers as well.

Last year Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust went live with an electronic patient record powered by System C – replacing its contract with DXC Lorenzo (now owned by Dedalus).

Clinicians wanting to take part in the survey can do so here.

The Digital Health news team recently explored speculation of a national Epic procurement in England on an episode of Digital Health Unplugged. You can listen to the episode here, or on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and the usual podcast channels.