Introduction of a Single Electronic Health Record for Maternity Units in Ireland: Outline of the Experiences of the Project Management Team

Abstract

Electronic health records (EHRs) are being introduced worldwide. The change from paper to electronic records has not always been a seamless or quick process; however, EHRs are viewed as central to updating modern health care, especially organization structures and delivery of sustainable care with the potential for joint decision-making with the patient. The objective of this viewpoint paper is to outline how an EHR is being developed in Ireland. The focus of the Maternal & Newborn Clinical Management System project is the design and implementation of an EHR for all women and babies in the maternity services in the Republic of Ireland. The paper also outlines the lessons learned from the planning to the optimization stage of the project. The paper was developed through discussions with the project management team and their completed reports that outline the lessons they acquired from each project stage. Key lessons learned from each stage of the project are highlighted. This viewpoint paper explains how the national project management team is implementing the EHR and outlines the experiences and lessons learned and the challenges ahead following the phase one introduction. The Maternal & Newborn Clinical Management System is an example of a clinician-led, patient-focused, change management project from its inception to implementation. The introduction of EHRs is essential in modernizing health care and optimizing patient outcomes through the accurate and appropriate use of data.