Enterprise Patient Administration System (EPAS)

Enterprise Patient Administration System (EPAS) is a state-of-the-art and combined electronic patient record system that will produce a consistent and complete electronic health record in the long run for patients across all South Australia Health (SA Health) sites. EPAS is a pre-built and pre-configured by 60% by a global healthcare systems company, Allscript. The system was greatly customised by 40% by SA Health to support SA Health’s clinical and administrative implementation. Also, the system becomes a dynamic environment that responds to user’s needs and changing business practice.

EPAS mainly consists of three main parts : clinical decision support, information of patient electronic health record (HER), and management applications regarding

Clinicians and approved and trained staff can access to the system with appropriate security access.

Will all general practitioners (GP) have access to EPAS?

GPs employed by SA Health will have access to EPAS. Therefore, EPAS will not be available to the private sector.

Implementation of EPAS

Administrative staff and clinicians working at SA Health sites are able to access electronic patient information system and order tests, medications and review results from computers.

Prior to EPAS activated at each site, staff will receive a training session and business change support to help them prepare for the new system.

Since the activation of EPAS at SA Health sites, many advantages have been accrued thanks to improving patient safety and quality of healthcare for South Australians, clinicians and healthcare administrative staff.

Benefits to South Australians

• A trusted and consistent electronic health record

• Relevant information to inform healthcare strategies and research and development

• Connectivity between public healthcare staff in South Australia

• Innovative approach to treatment and processes across SA Health

• The system will be instantly accessible at the time of

Among the benefits, it is easy for healthcare professional to sign in (just using a smartcard and PIN number). Medication safety is also enhanced via a barcode scanner which checks the right drug is being administered to the patient who also has the barcode on their wristband.

The only remaining limitation is the expansion of EPAS after 2014 to cover the whole SA Health footprint which is currently obstructed by the lack of adequate telecommunication infrastructure in South Australia, which the organisation is optimistic will be a gap taken care of by the National Broadband Network.

Economic Feasibility

Allscripts, the preferred EPAS software solution provider, provides and early estimates total cost for EPAS over 10 years at $220 million (capital cost of $151 million and operating cost of $69 million). The estimate was stated to be subject to refinement during the planning phase.

In terms of expected benefits, the benefits will realize over 10 years from May 2015 by $75.8 million.