One Patient Record: Why EPR, PAS and Patient Portals Belong Together
3 min read · October 23, 2026
On this page (6 sections)
The challenge: the same information in too many places
In many healthcare settings, the electronic patient record, the patient administration system and patient communication tools were bought at different times from different suppliers. Each does its own job, but they do not always work well together.
The result is familiar to clinicians and administrators alike:
- Details typed into more than one system.
- Appointment changes that do not reach the clinical record straight away.
- Patients and carers repeating the same information at every contact.
- Letters and results that are slow to reach the people who need them.
- Reporting that depends on pulling data from several places.
Why it matters now
NHS organisations are being asked to do more with digital tools: give patients more access to their own information, support carers, meet accessible information needs, act quickly when patients or families raise concerns about deterioration, and report reliably on safety and outcomes. Each of these is harder when data is split across disconnected systems.
What a connected approach looks like
One record, many views
Clinicians, administrators, patients and carers see the information relevant to them, drawn from the same source.
Administration that feeds care
Referrals, appointments and waiting lists update the clinical picture automatically.
Patients as partners
A portal lets patients and carers view appointments, share information, complete forms and raise concerns, reducing phone calls and letters.
Safe by design
Role-based access, full audit trails and strong security protect sensitive information.
Ready to connect
Standards-based interfaces make it easier to exchange information with other systems.
Steps for organisations considering change
- Map where patient information is entered and how often it is re-keyed.
- Ask frontline staff where delays and duplication hurt most.
- Involve patients and carers in designing portal services.
- Start with a pilot in one service to prove the benefits.
- Plan data migration and training early.
About CareTower
CareTower brings EPR, PAS and a patient and carer portal together in one record for the NHS. It is currently in pilot and is not yet generally available. We are working with healthcare organisations that want to shape it as pilot partners.
Key takeaways
- Separate systems create duplicate work and gaps in information.
- A single record with role-based views helps staff and patients.
- Patient portals can reduce calls and give patients more control.
- Piloting in one service lowers risk.
Interested in becoming a pilot partner? Request a demo.
See how DMG can help your organisation
Explore our products — from Orbis ERP and SafeThread to QMS, and CareTower for healthcare — or book a demo with our team.