The benefits of implementing an electronic patient record system.

The national information strategy information for Health outlined the strategic objective: to ensure clinicians have access to relevant information 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Electronic patient record (EPR) systems are the key to achieving this in the short term and are also the basis for the migration from paper to electronic records in the future. This article outlines the development of a new nurse role to participate in the procurement process and subsequent implementation of the EPR system in an acute trust.