The electronic patient record (EPR) system was initially installed in the urology and surgical units, and is now being rolled out across all wards and departments at Derbyshire Royal Infirmary and the new Derby City General Hospital.
iSoft has installed its i.CM clinical application for order communications and results reporting, ORMIS for theatres and EDIS for A&E. All of these are fully integrated with Derby’s existing Totalcare patient administration system from McKesson.
Soon, every test and x-ray will be ordered online with results and digital images available anywhere across the two hospitals, including wards, theatres, emergency departments and doctors’ offices.
David Pearson, head of IT projects and services at Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, commented, faster turnaround of test and x-ray results improves patient care naturally, but will also speed up discharges and will help to free beds earlier. The system is also eliminating duplicate tests so saves money and wasted time.
The full roll-out of the EPR was timed to coincide with completion of the first phase of the new 1,159-bed hospital. This is being built under a GBP333 million scheme to centralize all acute services at one site with completion due in 2008.
The original contract was signed in October 2003, ahead of the UK’s National Program for IT. Mr Pearson says there are no immediate plans to join the program, we will assess the benefits and costs once an alternative strategic option is in place, he said. We have a contract with iSoft until 2011 with the option to extend this for three years, so there is no immediate pressure.
