University Hospitals Plymouth to integrate AI into new Epic EPR
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHP) is planning to integrate AI innovations into its Epic electronic patient record (EPR), which is planned to go live in summer 2026. The trust published its latest digital strategy in July 2025, in which it confirms that it is “committed to enhancing the EPR functionality by integrating cutting-edge AI innovation to transform patient care and streamline operations”. It follows an announcement from Epic in August 2025 that it will integrate a range of AI tools into its EPR solution, including clinical documentation for doctors. UHP and Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust signed a contract with Epic for a new EPR in January 2025 as part of a shared vision to implement a single EPR across Devon under the One Devon EPR programme. In a section on AI in UHP’s digital strategy, the trust said that it “will ensure that the integration of AI into our operations is supported by strong governance and clear guidance to foster responsible innovation”, adding that by “establishing frameworks that prioritise patient safety and data security, we will leverage AI technologies to enhance operational efficiency and improve patient care”. UHP said that it will “actively support the development and adoption” of new tools and technologies, “using AI advances in areas such as teledermatology and cancer detection”. AI innovations that the trust plans to integrate with its upcoming EPR include smart scheduling to “optimise resource allocation and reduce patient waiting times”, and virtual appointments to “enable seamless remote consultations, enhancing accessibility”. UHP also plans to introduce ambient AI, which it says, “will unobtrusively capture and document clinical interactions, freeing up clinicians to focus more on patient care and reduce the administrative burden”. “Conversational AI agents will assist both staff and patients by answering queries and providing real-time support,” UHP’s digital strategy says, while “data-driven insights, powered by AI, will allow us to identify trends, predict outcomes, and more informed decisions,” it adds. The trust says these digital plans “reflect our dedication to harnessing AI to revolutionise healthcare delivery”. Meanwhile, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust implemented Epic’s EPR in 2022, with Torbay and South Devon planning to go live in spring 2026 before UHP roll out the system in summer 2026. A spokesperson for University Hospitals Plymouth told Digital Health News: “We’re unable to share any details because we are still exploring which AI functionality would be most appropriate for ourselves and our patients.”