Modernizing together: Lessons from England’s first Epic Connect implementation

Recently, I was leading the Atos team that was supporting England’s first Epic Connect implementation — an important milestone that offers valuable lessons for future collaborations. I strongly believe that shared learnings and best practices can help us all reach an enhanced healthcare ecosystem quicker, and in this article, I would like to share some of the key highlights of this project with you.

Adapting to changes

Epic Connect is not a shortcut — it’s a strategic choice. And like any strategic choice, it comes with certain changes and adaptations that must be understood and managed on both sides.

What it means for the receiving organization

• Consideration of clinical autonomy: The receiving trust may need to compromise on certain clinical pathways to align with the host’s established models. While it doesn’t mean abandoning its own clinical identity, it does require negotiation and flexibility. However, it can also mean gaining access to proven, optimized pathways that reduce variation and accelerate the adoption of best practices. In many cases, these pathways have already been refined through years of frontline experience.
• Level of influence over system design: The receiving organization’s influence over the EPR configuration is not eliminated, it is shared — and sometimes limited — depending on the governance model agreed between trusts. However, this shared approach allows the receiving trust to benefit from a mature, stable system that has already been tested and deployed. It avoids the delays, risks, and resource drain of a full build, while still allowing for input where it matters most.
• Cultural adaptation: Adopting another trust’s digital culture and governance model can be challenging.: However, it fosters standardization, shared learning, and a sense of belonging to a wider digital ecosystem.

What it means for the hosting organization

• Operational burden: The host trust leads the implementation, governance, and ongoing support. This includes staffing, training, and managing cross-organizational alignment. However, it also positions the host as a digital leader — setting the standard, shaping the model, and enabling others to benefit from its success.
• Risk exposure: The host takes on technical, financial, and reputational risks. However, it gains strategic influence, strengthens partnerships, and builds a legacy of innovation and collaboration.
• Cultural leadership: The host must foster trust, transparency, and shared purpose across organizational boundaries. However, this creates opportunities to lead not just a system, but an entire movement towards more integrated, patient-centered care.

What makes Epic Connect work

Success with Epic Connect depends on more than technology. It requires the following:

• Strong relationships: Trust between the organizations is the foundation. Without it, even the best systems will struggle to deliver.
• Clear governance: Decision-making must be structured, transparent, and inclusive. Shared ownership is key to long-term sustainability.
• Agreed clinical pathways: Alignment on clinical models is non-negotiable. This is where compromise becomes collaboration.
• Change management and cultural readiness: Staff members need to understand not just how the system works, but why it matters. Engagement, training, and communication are critical.
• Scale: Epic Connect offers a scalable model that delivers financial and operational benefits. By leveraging a shared infrastructure, trusts can reduce implementation costs, avoid duplication, and accelerate deployment timelines. This model is particularly attractive for specialist or smaller trusts that may not have the resources for a full Epic build. But scale isn’t just about cost — it’s about reach. As more organizations connect, the potential for shared data, integrated care, and system-wide learning grows exponentially.

A shared model for shared success

Epic Connect is more than a cost-saving measure. It’s a strategic enabler. It allows NHS organizations to brace for change and sustainability. Here’s how:

• Accelerates digital transformation by leveraging existing infrastructure so that trusts can move faster and more efficiently
• Standardizes care with shared pathways to reduce variation and support consistent, high-quality care across organizations
• Builds resilient partnerships by fostering collaboration, mutual support, and a shared commitment to improvement.

Atos played a pivotal role in England’s first Epic Connect implementation, supporting both the host and receiving organizations through every phase — from governance design, business case development and cultural change to successful go live. Our experience in multi-trust environments, combined with deep technical expertise and a people-first approach, makes us a trusted partner in navigating the complexities of shared EPR models.

Cultural change: The hidden engine of success