Cambridgeshire hospitals to implement shared electronic patient records

Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) and Royal Papworth Hospital are partnering to implement a shared electronic patient record (EPR) system. The initiative aims to improve care across the Cambridge Biomedical Campus by enabling the two NHS trusts to share information and reduce clinical duplication.

The new system will utilize the Epic Connect model, integrating with the existing Epic system used by CUH since 2014. This approach has previously been employed in other parts of the UK to link neighboring hospitals. The rollout is expected to take approximately one year and involves collaboration between both trusts and Epic Systems Corporation.

Officials stated that the transition will allow clinical teams to access complete patient information in a single location, facilitating smoother transitions between services and enhancing research capabilities.