Richard Baylor, COO at St. Vincent’s Consulting and former Cerner (now Oracle) executive, and Paul Charnley, Luminary advisor and former NHS CIO of the Year share their insights on building strong EPR vendor-trust relationships. This final instalment of the series discusses the importance of reliability and regulatory compliance in EPR systems, and delivering cost-effectiveness and value.
Ensuring reliability and regulatory compliance
Both Richard and Paul stress the critical components of ensuring reliability, performance, customisability, flexibility, and regulatory compliance in EPR systems. Richard emphasises proactive planning and responsibility delineation to manage expectations and avoid delays.
He highlights the importance of adequate staffing and funding by clients for system customisations and enhancements. Clear roles and responsibilities between suppliers and clients are essential for effective collaboration and successful EPR implementation.
Richard also underscores the continual need to optimise and enhance EPR systems based on user adoption, best practices, and striving for better outcomes.
Paul underscores the non-negotiable nature of reliability and performance in patient care, emphasising comprehensive technical support, training, and regulatory compliance to maintain operational efficiency.
He believes that continuous support and education on regulatory standards are crucial for both suppliers and NHS trusts to uphold compliance and deliver optimal patient care. Paul agrees with Richard on the importance of ongoing optimisation and enhancement, highlighting that this continual improvement is key to adapting to evolving healthcare needs and maintaining high standards of care.
Delivering cost-effectiveness and value in EPR systems
Both perspectives agree on the pivotal role of transparent pricing structures in delivering cost-effectiveness and tangible value in EPR systems. Richard addresses the commercial pressures faced by suppliers, emphasising the need for transparent pricing to build trust and sustain positive relationships.
He highlights that understanding financial implications and aligning on cost-value propositions are essential for fostering trust and productive collaboration. Richard also points out that trusts need to focus on the adoption and utilisation of EPR systems. The full value of these systems can only be realised if they are set up to drive desired outcomes and if the organisation transforms its delivery of care accordingly.
Additionally, articulating the value of EPR systems requires an intentional focus on monitoring, measuring, and communicating outcomes. Without these efforts, the benefits of transparent pricing and system implementation might not be fully realised or effectively demonstrated.
Paul stresses the importance of aligning financial incentives with outcomes to ensure a mutually beneficial partnership. He highlights that transparent pricing fosters confidence and enables NHS trusts to make informed decisions that maximise value and support the long-term sustainability of the partnership.
Paul concurs with Richard on the need for active monitoring and communication of outcomes to clearly demonstrate and sustain the value of the investment.
Key Takeaways:
- Proactive planning and clear responsibility delineation are crucial for managing expectations and ensuring successful EPR system implementation.
- Continuous education on regulatory standards is vital to uphold compliance and deliver optimal patient care in EPR systems.
- Continual optimisation and enhancement based on user adoption, best practices, and striving for better outcomes are necessary for long-term success and adaptability.
- Transparent pricing enables informed decisions and supports long-term sustainability in EPR system partnerships.
- Effective articulation of value requires intentional monitoring, measuring, and communication of outcomes.
- Aligning financial incentives with outcomes fosters a mutually beneficial partnership and maximises the overall value of the investment.
Building and sustaining EPR vendor-NHS trust partnerships
In this 3-part series, Richard Baylor, COO at St. Vincent’s Consulting and former Cerner (now Oracle) executive, and Paul Charnley, Luminary advisor and former NHS CIO of the Year share their insights on building strong EPR vendor-trust relationships. Read the other articles in this series, Effective Communication & Balancing Expectations in EPR Vendor-trust Partnerships and Setting the Stage for EPR Vendor-NHS Trust Success