South Australian patient records system EPAS ‘dangerous’, ‘unfit for purpose’, new survey of medical staff reveals

A DAMNING new survey by SA’s peak medical group reveals the EPAS records system is a “dangerous” dud, and questions its suitability for the new RAH.

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A DAMNING new survey by the state’s peak medical association has revealed the highly controversial Enterprise Patient Administration System is a total dud, it’s “dangerous” and questions whether it should be used at the new Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Results from an Australian Medical Association (SA) questionnaire of 248 staff, including senior doctors and nurses, reveals the trouble-plagued system is “unfit for purpose” and “dangerous”.

In the survey, doctors say that EPAS is “the worst medical software I have ever used” and “I believe it is dangerous, cumbersome and flawed”.

AMA (SA) president Associate Professor William Tam questioned whether the system should be rolled out at the nRAH and believes it puts patient safety at risk.

He said the survey highlighted many potential life-threatening “near misses” had occurred, including staff entering the wrong information in the incorrect area.

Speaking for SA Health, EPAS clinical advisory chair, Dr Santosh Verghese admitted the system could be safer.

“The system is much safer than what it was four years ago,” he said.

“Do I think there is work that needs to be done to make it safer? I certainly think we need to do more work related to improving safety.”

Dr Verghese maintains EPAS is safer than paper records and said “the same mistakes could occur even on a paper form”.

The $422 million system designed to switch hospitals from paper to electronic records is currently being trialled at major hospitals, including the Queen Elizabeth, Noarlunga and Repatriation General hospitals and has been heavily criticised by staff.

The AMA survey results show 40 per cent of EPAS users said their opinion of the system was “poor” and 18 per cent reported the system was “worse after becoming familiar with the system”.

More than 30 per cent of respondents said they believed patients were not clinically safer with EPAS.

Many staff using EPAS reported a 25 to 30 per cent drop in productivity, despite having used the system for up to four years.

While SA Health says EPAS is designed to improve patient care and safety, the AMA says the questionnaire clearly shows the system is still not delivering on its promise.

Prof Tam said the association had repeatedly told the government about their concerns but they had been ignored.

“In the fourth year of this $400 million tool (EPAS) we ask the government to again pay attention to the concerns and frustrations that have been highlighted by clinicians,” he said.

Prof Tam said doctors supported electronic records but EPAS was contributing to errors.

“When people who have been using the system for more than two years tell you it is dangerous and unfit for purpose you need to take notice,” he said.

Opposition health spokesman Stephen Wade labelled the system a “world-class dud” and urged the government to take action to make it safe for South Australians.

When the nRAH opens on September 5 a mix of both paper records and EPAS will be used to give staff time to adapt.

State Coroner Mark Johns has previously slammed EPAS for “effectively preventing the court from establishing the truth” in the death of former Socceroo Stephen Herczeg.