The delivery of the Single Digital Patient Record (SDPR) reached a milestone this week with NSW Health signing a contract with Epic Systems, a world-leading software company.
The contract signing marks an important milestone with work now starting on the initial design and build of this next generation system.
What is the Single Digital Patient Record?
The SDPR will deliver a state of the art, secure digital record keeping platform that will transform the digital systems that NSW Health staff use every day to deliver care.
For the first time, our health care teams will have access to an integrated all-in-one electronic medical record system, patient administration system and pathology laboratory information system.
Having one statewide system will support consistency and continuity of care for all patients, while also streamlining the way clinicians work.
Clinicians will be able to access a patient’s clinical records quickly, securely, and safely, regardless of their location. It will also provide simplified clinical workflows in an intuitive, user-friendly system with streamlined technical support.
Patients will benefit from a better, more consistent experience no matter where they seek care. Having confidence that their healthcare team will have all the relevant information at their fingertips.
Why has NSW Health chosen to partner with Epic Systems?
The decision to partner with Epic Systems follows a robust, two-and-a-half-year procurement process involving over 350 clinical and technical experts from across the system.
Epic Systems is a world-leading software company specialising in the design and delivery of electronic medical records systems and associated technologies. Their software is currently being used domestically in the ACT and certain hospitals in Melbourne, and in many large health services internationally including in the United Kingdom and the United States.
What are the next steps?
The SDPR will be delivered collaboratively and in partnership with Local Health Districts (LHDs), Specialty Health Networks (SHNs) and other NSW Health organisations, facilitated by eHealth NSW and NSW Health Pathology.
Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD) will be the first LHD to go live with the new platform in 2025. The sequencing of other local health districts is currently being considered, with a readiness assessment underway.
The SDPR program is working towards the following timeline*:
- Finalise contract negotiations: 2023
- Design and build: 2024–2025
- Lead site deployment in Hunter New England LHD: 2025/26
- Statewide rollout in remaining LHDs/SHNs: 2026–2029/30
- NSW Health Pathology adoption: 2026–2029/30
*Activities and timeframes subject to change following detailed planning.
The SDPR will be implemented in all NSW Health public hospitals over the next 6 years.
For more information
Please visit the SDPR solutions page, or Minister for Health Ryan Park's media release.
