SA Health’s EPAS record ‘confusing’, could damage coronial inquests, State Coroner says
THE state’s controversial new electronic medical system is “confusing” and its complex hard copy records almost indecipherable, the State Coroner has warned.
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THE state’s controversial new electronic patient medical system is “confusing” and its complex hard copy records almost indecipherable, the State Coroner has warned.
Mark Johns on Monday raised concerns about the potential negative impacts the Enterprise Patient Administration System could have on important coronial inquests.
His concerns were aired during an urgent inquest into Stephen Herczeg, 72, who died last month at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
The Coroners Court heard that among medical blunders was the contentious EPAS system failing during critical moments.
The court later heard the “confusing” system was almost impossible to decipher. Registered nurse Suvas Kc struggled at times to explain its codes, described later by Mr Johns as “bizarre”.
Raising concerns about its complexity, Mr Johns told the court he had written to Health Minister Jack Snelling more than a year ago outlining his longstanding concerns.
“If this is an indication what we are going to end up in the Coroner’s Court when EPAS is more widely used I have concerns for the way (we) will be able to cope,” he said.
The Advertiser understands interim SA Health chief executive Vickie Kaminski has recently met with Mr Johns to listen to his “legitimate” concerns and find ways to urgently fix them.
Sarah Sloane, for the Central Adelaide Local Health Network, which manages the QEH, told the court that major priority “improvements” had been completed.
She said issues with how paper versions were printed were being simplified and Mr Herczeg’s records were seized before any changes were implemented.
The opposition called for a wider EPAS inquiry, days after The Advertiser revealed doctors’ fresh concerns about the system.
The QEH is the largest hospital to use the new system, which is designed to switch hospitals from paper to electronic records.
The system is years behind schedule while the cost has blown out to $422 million amid fears of more cost rises.
