Is it time to open up the UI of the GP EPR? Is it time for an app store?

Does one size fit all? Are generalists better than specialists? Do I want one massive bloated program or a range of apps that each do what they do well? As a GP - I often argue that generalists are what is needed. Prof Barbara Starfield’s work has shown that putting generalists at the center of care is the most cost efficient method and deliver the best outcomes, however her work didn’t say you don’t need specialists. On my computer at home or my smartphone - does the OS do everything or does it allow programs and apps to run on it that allow me to do things, write a document, listen to music, play a film. Of course I get a choice and I might choose Apple Mail or Microsoft Outlook depending on what I want to do. So why is my EPR one system that offers me no choice. OK there are API partners who can add functionality and some of these are better than others - with shared sign on etc. But fundamentally im stuck with the front end UI that Im given. I know however from mobile versions of my EPR that talking to the “database” is possible through another front end that looks completely different. Why cant I choose which front end I use? I’m not bothered who stores the data, or how its sent, as long as its secure and stable. I am interested in how I interact with the data. For example - I was working with our practice palliative care lead the other day. I’ve built a search for her which works well. We then looked at the Palliative care summary screen - ‘a feature’ its awful! It looks like an old teletext display from BBC micro days. It’s all text heavy and shortened lines and unreadable and unusable. It could be so much better. Perhaps its unreasonable to expect one provider to produce an amazing palliative care screen and an amazing diabetes screen and an amazing pediatric assessment template. Perhaps the trick is to have people with vested interests produce and compete for my business by producing a screen in their specialist area that I want to use. Or competing in providing a new front end. I use Wordpress a bit and I can add in all sorts of themes and widgets to a website - many of these add functionality or features and I can choose the ones I like. OK need to be aware of IG issues and risk of data leaking out but i still think there may be a way of approving “app” like addons.