Devon and Exeter looks for tactical EPR

Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust has gone out to tender for the “first elements of a tactical electronic patient record” with the vision of implementing a full EPR by 2014.

The trust told E-Health Insider that it has prioritised the components of an EPR based on local requirements, while ensuring ongoing national compliance with national standards, hardware and software. 

It is initially tendering for an integrated order communications and electronic prescribing system.

The tender notice states: “The [trust] is currently seeking to implement an integrated electronic patient record by 2014, incorporating order communications system, electronic prescribing, patient administration system, coded clinical documentation, scheduling for beds, theatres and test through a common patient view.”

However, the trust said that it had gone out to tender for specific components in order to deliver key clinical and financial objectives within a known timeframe.

The order communications system will provide electronic access to place, order and review results for clinical and patient services including pathology, radiology, cardiology, portering and health records aided by locally definable alerts and decision support to provide a full audit trail.

E-prescribing elements will provide electronic ordering of prescriptions and decision support along with a robust audit trail for the medications process.

Royal Devon and Exeter is currently in the tender evaluation process, but intends to have signed a contract with a preferred supplier by the end of April.

Implementation in pilot locations is to start within two months and the trust aims to roll out order communications and diagnostic tests trust wide by October.

Although the tender notice says the contract is for a minimum of seven years with the option to extend for a further two, the trust says it remains committed to the National Programme for IT in the NHS.

Wendy Ware, deputy director of IM&T at the trust, told EHI: “The trust has fully supported the National Programme for IT and will continue to do so by adhering to national standards.

“The trust must achieve technical and functional compliance with the hardware and software provided under NPfIT.

"This has already been achieved with spine compliance to support the Choose and Book application through the trust’s patient administration system and work planned for the Electronic Staff Record. Any new systems have been procured on the basis that they must conform to these requirements.”

Link: Tender notice