The initiative, which launches on November 8, aims to improve patient safety, cutting down errors, and free up clinician time to focus on their patients by reducing form filling.
This move makes Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRUT) the last acute London trust to ditch paper records.
BHRUT said the introduction of the EPR will allow all relevant patient information, such as medications, test results, and allergies, to be stored in one secure digital medical record.
This will be available to all healthcare staff involved in the patient’s care.
Matthew Trainer, chief executive, said: “Rolling out electronic patient records at our trust will improve safety and patient experience.
“Our clinicians will be able to see a patient’s notes, scan, and test results in one place, including when they have been seen in different hospitals in north east London.
“This will reduce errors and should mean patients don’t have to repeat themselves as often.”
However, he cautioned that the transition from paper to digital may be “bumpy” and patients may experience delays initially.
He also requested patience from visitors to the trust’s hospitals in the weeks following the EPR launch, as checking in for appointments or clinicians finding information may take longer than usual.
The trust will be supported in this transition by Barts Health, which has already adopted the EPR system.
Their clinicians will also have access to the records.
