Lessons from the central Hampshire electronic health record pilot project:evaluation of the electronic health record for supporting patient care and secondary analysis

Summary points The central Hampshire electronic health record pilot project was valued by clinical staff for supporting emergency care As the pilot did not cover all providers, however, its clinical value was limited The electronic record was used to create a database to analyse processes of care across organisational boundaries Identified issues were coding systems, data quality, and the availability of analytical skills These issues need to be addressed locally and nationally If electronic records are to replace data collection processes within the NHS, significant investment and clinical leadership are required