After almost two years of designing, building and testing we have an EPR system which works and we’ll be going live with – that’s a huge achievement in itself.
It’s also great that colleagues are making suggestions for future changes as they attend training and get first sight of the system.
However, at this stage, unless we know something in the system needs changing due to patient safety, compliance or funding, we are not in a position to make many changes until after our partners Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (BTHFT) go live.
That’s because we’re working together on this project, and they are using the same system as us. We’ve also built a training programme based on the current build, so to make changes now would be confusing all-round.
So how will we approach changes, maintenance and upgrades in EPR?
Changes to the EPR system will fall into three main categories: routine maintenance, emergency fixes and scheduled changes. We’re using the maintenance of a car to explain these different types of changes and when they’ll take place.
Routine maintenance
Adding petrol to the tank is a routine task that doesn’t take special preparation and can’t be put off. Some tasks in EPR are the same, like maintaining clinic templates. These changes will be done routinely after EPR is live, even before BTHFT is live.
Emergency fixes
Some critical repairs need to happen immediately, on the roadside, for safety reasons. Swapping a flat tyre for a spare is an emergency change. In EPR, anything that threatens patient safety, regulatory compliance, or our funding/payments might qualify for an emergency fix and may have to be done right away. These changes will be done as they arise after EPR is live, even before BTHFT is live.
Scheduled changes
Those of us who own cars know we need to service our cars regularly. But this is not well suited to the side of the road. These types of changes must be done in a controlled environment and take longer than swapping a dead battery. Most EPR changes fall into this category: they are complex and require planning and testing. They will take two to six weeks to implement on a regular basis. They will be completed to a schedule agreed by CHFT and BTHFT clinicians after EPR is live.
Each type of change requires close working between Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT), Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (BTHFT) and the EPR team/Health Informatics.
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Training update:
Almost 85% of CHFT colleagues are booked onto training (fab news), though around 600 nurses still need to book on.
If you still need to book your training please do it. The longer you leave it the less chance there will be of getting a spot on a course for your role and if you aren’t trained you won’t be on the system when we go live and that means that you might not be able to treat patients. Ashley Crowther and Mohammed Rahman (pictured) are booked onto their courses – are you?
Morning courses all start at 8am - so please turn up on time so you don't miss vital information at the start of your training.
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New Getting Ready for EPR newsletter
Our new weekly newletter (attached) will complement other communications about EPR - watch out for it each week.