Electronic Palliative Care Coordination Systems (EPaCCS).
EOLP Medical Director, Dr. Sinead Clarke and Deputy CEO Annamarie Ratcliffe have spearheaded the Cheshire & Merseyside (C&M) Data Driven Roadmap to Electronic Palliative Care Coordination Systems (EPaCCS).
The project, first piloted in 2011, was created to address the challenges in end-of-life care coordination due to fragmented IT systems and lack of accessible patient information. Over the years, the initiative has expanded to cover the entire Cheshire & Merseyside Integrated Care System, serving 2.6 million people.
By implementing EPaCCS, the project has achieved notable outcomes, including a significant increase in the identification of patients needing palliative care, more comprehensive Advance Care Plans, and a reduction in hospital deaths. The project’s success is attributed to its data-driven approach, collaborative efforts, and a commitment to improving care quality for patients at the end of life.
EPaCCS also brings system-wide benefits, such as saving valuable clinician time and reducing unnecessary hospital admissions.
Through strategic partnerships and education, the project has elevated the importance of digital shared records, influencing commissioning decisions and embedding EPaCCS within the broader healthcare landscape.
The project’s guiding principles—working with existing systems, minimizing data entry burdens, and leveraging data to drive change—have been instrumental in its success.
As the initiative continues to gain momentum, it is drawing national attention and inspiring other regions to adopt similar approaches. The ongoing efforts to share our lessons learned and our success aims to create a more coordinated, compassionate, and patient-centered approach to end-of-life care across the UK.
If you would like to know more about EOLP’s consultancy services and how we could help your Integrated Care System or organisation to get the best out of EPaCCS, please contact us at info@eolp.org.uk.
Watch our national webinar which tells our story of a 12 year long EPaCCS journey that began in Cheshire: here
