RNOH and UCLH to collaborate on Epic Electronic Health Record

Following funding approval by NHS England, the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital Trust (RNOH) will work with UCLH to implement an extension of our Epic Electronic Health Record (EHR).

The collaboration will start later this month and RNOH will be able to utilise UCLH’s expertise in designing, implementing, and using Epic since March 2019.

It is expected that Epic will be rolled out at RNOH in November 2025, replacing paper records and many of the current clinical systems at RNOH with a single, fully integrated clinical record. It means that staff can always access the complete, accurate and up-to-date information needed to ensure the best care for patients.

RNOH Chief Executive Professor Paul Fish said: “We’re very excited to be implementing an EHR at RNOH and to leverage its capabilities to improve care for patients. As more hospitals move in this direction, digital innovation and transformation such as Epic’s EHR is taking patient care forward to exciting places. This new system will help maintain RNOH’s position as the UK’s leading provider of acute neuro-musculoskeletal medicine to our complex patient group.

Working in partnership with UCLH and being able to draw on their knowledge and experience of using Epic will set us up for success long into the future.”

UCLH Chief Executive David Probert said: “It is good to see NHS organisations work together in this way to learn from each other, help further improve patient safety, and accelerate research. It will further improve how we work together across specialties to benefit patient care, for example in the London Sarcoma Service.”

Dr Gill Gaskin, Medical Director, Digital Healthcare, UCLH said: “We are delighted to collaborate with our RNOH colleagues and to be able to share our experience of implementing such a huge change programme – to the benefit of even more patients. We know that the key to success will be the ongoing cooperation across trusts and the involvement of clinicians and patients so that everyone benefits quickly when Epic goes live at RNOH.”

Dr Lila Dinner, Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Medical Officer, RNOH said: “Partnering with UCLH to implement Epic will provide our staff with the right tools and insights to develop and build their skills base to ensure our patients continue to receive the safest, highest quality, and efficient care. I’m really looking forward to getting this exciting project started.”

Director of Digital Strategy for the NHS in London James Friend added: “Effective electronic patient records transform the experience for patients. They also make it easier to do the right thing for the patient.

“When NHS organisations join together to deliver for patients and clinicians, they provide a wealth of opportunities to serve local communities and to innovate world class treatment and care.”

Epic will be used at all three of RNOH’s sites – the main hospital in Stanmore, the Bolsover Street Outpatient Assessment Centre and the Enfield Musculoskeletal Community Health Hub.