Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust has successfully implemented the Better Meds electronic prescribing and medicine management (ePMA) system, integrating it into their electronic patient record (EPR) system.
The inpatient wards at Darent Valley Hospital introduced the system over a weekend in July 2024, aiming to streamline the prescription and administration of medicines, making the process safer and more efficient.
A dedicated clinical team worked tirelessly to transfer paper drug charts and prescriptions into the system, with over 500 drug charts and 8,000 prescriptions transcribed. Superuser digital heroes provided support as each ward transitioned to e-prescribing.
Dr Guy Sisson, chief clinical informatics officer at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, emphasized the importance of the new system in enhancing patient care and safety, stating that it aligns perfectly with the trust’s commitment to providing exceptional care.
The integration of ePMA into the Alcidion Miya Precision EPR system allows for seamless access to drug information, patient assessments, allergies, and lab results, improving safety for prescribers and saving time with standardised order sets.
The move to Better Meds ePMA enables staff to receive digital prescriptions with decision support, such as drug interaction alerts and allergy checking, improving medication management and patient care.
The successful rollout was praised by Kate Quirke, chief executive at Alcidion, highlighting the collaboration and dedication that led to the accomplishment. The partnership with Better Meds signifies a commitment to innovation in healthcare.
With instant access to dose-level data reporting and improved medication safety, Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust is at the forefront of digital healthcare transformation, supported by Better Meds and Alcidion.
Alja Babič, Better Meds implementation consultancy lead at Better, commended the trust’s efforts in optimizing prescribing and medicine management, noting the smooth and expertly managed rollout process. This successful implementation marks a significant milestone in medication management processes for the trust.
Other NHS trusts, including North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, and Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, have also adopted the Better Meds ePMA, signaling a growing trend towards digital innovation in healthcare.
