What will the EPR mean for a speech and language therapist?

Alice, a Senior Speech and Language Therapist and Neurosciences Team Operational Lead, meets her patient Ian after he has been referred by a Stroke Alert Nurse who screened him on admission for swallowing and communication difficulties. Alice gathers a thorough case history which includes information from the patient, family and friends. Ian has various observations, including swallow and communication assessments, which are all summarised in his paper notes.   

After assessment, Alice updates the signage above Ian’s bed and writes in his paper notes. She also updates the patient handover, ICE, and the Electronic Discharge Letter on a computer for other ward team members to see.  

The Speech and Language Therapy Patient Tracker is updated on a computer system, and this will include a review date when Ian will next be seen. Alice also has to add information to a patient contact form which looks at direct and indirect time spent with Ian.  

Using a mixture of paper and different computer systems is something that should change for Alice when the EPR is implemented.  

The new system will standardise the referral method, inpatient trackers, clinical assessments and discharge letters and onward referrals.  

This is expected to free up time that Alice currently spends logging in and out of different systems, or completing paper notes, and sometimes waiting for that folder of notes to be handed over by another clinician.  

Alice is looking forward to the streamlined system, knowing it will give her more time with her patients.