In this 6-part series, Richard Baylor, COO at St. Vincent’s Consulting and former Cerner (now Oracle) Executive, and Paul Charnley, Luminary Advisor and former NHS CIO of the Year, explore how to build strong EPR Vendor-Trust relationships. In this penultimate article, Richard and Paul discuss the importance of reliability, performance, customisability, flexibility, and regulatory compliance in EPR systems.

Both Richard and Paul stress the critical components of ensuring reliability, performance, customisability, flexibility, and regulatory compliance in EPR systems. Richard emphasises proactive planning and responsibility delineation to manage expectations and avoid delays. He highlights the importance of adequate staffing and funding by clients for system customisations and enhancements. Clear roles and responsibilities between suppliers and clients are essential for effective collaboration and successful EPR implementation. Richard also underscores the continual need to optimise and enhance EPR systems based on user adoption, best practices, and striving for better outcomes.

Paul underscores the non-negotiable nature of reliability and performance in patient care, emphasising comprehensive technical support, training, and regulatory compliance to maintain operational efficiency. He believes that continuous support and education on regulatory standards are crucial for both suppliers and NHS Trusts to uphold compliance and deliver optimal patient care. Paul agrees with Richard on the importance of ongoing optimisation and enhancement, highlighting that this continual improvement is key to adapting to evolving healthcare needs and maintaining high standards of care.

Key Takeaways:

• Proactive planning and clear responsibility delineation are crucial for managing expectations and ensuring successful EPR system implementation.
• Adequate staffing and funding for system customisations are essential to enhance reliability and customisability.
• Continuous education on regulatory standards is vital to uphold compliance and deliver optimal patient care in EPR systems.
• Continual optimisation and enhancement based on user adoption, best practices, and striving for better outcomes are necessary for long-term success and adaptability.