The next phase of the Mental Health Electronic Medical Record (EMR) project is bringing more clinical documentation into one integrated digital platform, helping reduce hybrid workflows and support safer, more connected care.

The Mental Health Inpatient EMR implementation marks the third phase of the Mental Health project, building on previous work to bring mental health services further into a single electronic medical record.

The latest phase moves more mental health-specific nursing and medical documentation from paper and hybrid processes into the Electronic Medical Record. This will give clinicians greater visibility of important consumer information, reduce the risk of critical information being missed and support a more consistent way of working.

“We are excited about the next phase of the Electronic Medical Record rollout as it brings more mental health-specific documentation into a single integrated platform. Having the majority of clinical information in one place will improve visibility of important consumer information, reduce risk of critical information being missed, and support safer, more streamlined care,” said Shaveta Sood, Program Manager, Ward 7, Women’s Mental Health Inpatient Unit.

For nursing and medical teams, the implementation represents an important step towards eliminating hybrid paper and electronic workflows.

“We are excited about this implementation as it marks the final step in eliminating hybrid paper and electronic workflows for our nursing and medical teams, enabling a more streamlined and integrated way of working,” said Colin Baker, Nurse Unit Manager, Aged Mental Health.

The implementation also supports the broader vision of connecting mental health services through one electronic medical record.

“By connecting care settings and information, we are creating a more seamless experience for consumers and the teams who support them,” said Terri Fiorenza, Director, EMR.

Jessica Hart, EMR Projects and Quality Manager, Digital Health, said the project represents continued progress towards a more integrated digital way of working across Mental Health.

“This is another important step in moving away from hybrid workflows and embedding mental health documentation directly into the Electronic Medical Record. Each phase brings us closer to a consistent, connected digital experience for our consumers and our staff.”

As the 1 September go-live approaches, teams across Mental Health are preparing for the next step in creating a more connected and digitally enabled way of delivering care.