Understanding local requirements for a new system is essential to a successful implementation. It’s vital to understand how ePrescribing systems help reduce the risk to patients through various factors and also bring changes in how tasks are undertaken, where they are undertaken and how the workflow is organised. These simple steps will help you to ensure the system you design is well-suited to your individual trust environment.
The team you need
Commissioners, Clinical Execs, Operational Director & CXIO eg CNIO, CCIO
What to do
Assign the SRO
The SRO ‘owns’ the project and is ultimately responsible for the project’s success. They have the overall responsibility for the business case viability& validation and the realisation and measurement of the business benefits. You should identify someone who is a senior figure in your trust and can be accountable for the project end-to-end.
Create a shared vision
Having a clear vision of the ePMA-based hospital environment you want to build together will give the project focus and help the team to establish the shorter- and longer-term goals.
Define what success looks like
Be clear about what you are trying to achieve and the expected impact. For example, is your hospital looking to improve the quality of the prescribing and medicines administration processes? To reduce errors and adverse events? To facilitate the flow of information between primary and secondary care? Knowing what is driving the implementation will help you define your areas of priority and know what you need to measure to be able to track your success.
Map the existing workflows
Your pharmacists’, doctors’ and nurses’ workflows will all be affected by the introduction of the new ePMA system, so it is imperative you understand how they currently work to ensure that no steps in their respective process are lost or compromised by the digital move.
Tip:Explore potential areas for improvement using modelling and simulation tools so you understand the potential impact of any proposed service changes or developments.
Review the market
Make sure you have a solid understanding of the benefits and limitations of the various systems on offer by talking to suppliers and mapping their specifications against your areas of priority.
Tip:Why not contact other trusts who have procured the suppliers you are most interested in and hear about their experience of the system?
What to read
-
How to get the best use of system
From building blocks to making the best out of the system: presentation from an event run by the ePrescribing Research Programme in 2012.
-
Electronic Health Records, and Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Management
A detailed introduction to Electronic Health Records, and Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Management including the main issues and common pitfalls.
-
Why we need ePrescribing?
Presentation from the National Patient Safety Agency exploring the burden of medication errors and the requirements for better-designed medication systems
-
NHS Trust’s ePrescribing implementation planning support tools
- Project Initiation Document
- Implementation Risks and Risk Management Strategy Implementation Risks and Risk Management Strategy
- Roll Out Plan
- Ward-ePrescribing-go-live-preparation
-
Northumberland Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust’s implementation planning support tools
- ePMA Draft Plan Northumberland Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust’s implementation planning support tools
- Benefit Measures for ePMA Northumberland Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust’s implementation planning support tools:
- ePMA Governance structure NTW Northumberland Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust’s implementation planning support tools
- ePMA Project Board Meeting Terms of Reference V2 1 Northumberland Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust’s implementation planning support tools:
-
Before and After: Measuring Impacts Example from GSTT
Guys & St Thomas provide an in depth look at the issues they have faced pre ePMA and possible impacts following implementation of their ePMA system
-
A comprehensive collection of proven Quality, service improvement and redesign (QSIR) tools, theories and techniques that can be applied to a wide variety of situations.
-
eHealth Implementation Toolkit
Including support on how to ensure ePMA implementation will fit in with organisational priorities and structures
Connect
The learning doesn’t need to stop here. Get in touch with your colleagues via NHS Futures . Whether you’re looking for advice from mature trusts or hoping to speak to others at a similar point of implementation journey, this platform allows you to connect with the wider Medicines Optimisation Network.
Or join the conversation on Hexitime, where you can not only hear other’s stories but gain time bank credits for the time you spend sharing your own with others.