Supporting Ireland's One Health Record Journey

Introduction

Ireland is embarking on the largest digital transformation programme in the history of its health service. The HSE's One Health Record programme will create a single, lifelong Electronic Health Record (EHR) for approximately 5.3 million people, supporting more integrated, safer and more connected care across six health regions.

International experience shows that successful EHR programmes are not simply technology projects. They are large-scale clinical transformation programmes that require strong leadership, effective governance, meaningful clinical engagement and sustained investment in people, capability and change.

To support this ambition, Grant Thornton Ireland, ALKU and St Vincent's Consulting have formed a unique three-way consortium, bringing together complementary expertise from Ireland, the UK and North America. Together, the consortium combines deep knowledge of the Irish health system with proven experience delivering large-scale EHR programmes across some of the world's most mature healthcare markets.

Rather than treating technology, clinical transformation and implementation as separate workstreams, the consortium provides an integrated delivery model that brings together programme leadership, clinical transformation, change management and international implementation expertise to help healthcare organisations realise the full value of digital transformation.

Watch the Discussion

As Ireland embarks on one of the most significant healthcare transformation programmes in its history, getting the balance right between national vision and local reality will be critical to success.

In this discussion, Sharon Scanlan is joined by Larry Murphy and Holly Tobin to explore the lessons learned from large-scale Electronic Health Record programmes across Ireland, the UK, Canada and the United States.

Together, they discuss the importance of clinical leadership, governance, workforce development, stakeholder engagement and sustainable operating models. The conversation highlights why successful transformation goes far beyond technology, requiring strong partnerships between clinical, operational and technical teams, meaningful patient involvement and a commitment to continuous improvement long after go-live.

From balancing national standardisation with local flexibility to building internal capability and creating governance models that enable effective decision-making, the discussion offers practical insights for healthcare leaders delivering complex digital transformation.