TECHNOLOGY
The partnership between Omnicell and South East London ICS will build valuable learning and intelligence using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning for reporting systems, live dashboarding and action planning.
between these two solutions are already well established, and in fact work has already been done by some Trusts to enable this integration as part of the ePMA programme. It puts additional patient safety measures in place from the moment the drug is prescribed, to the moment the drug is administered to the patient. This has helped many Trusts take a major step forward in closing the loop of the medication process.
Road to interoperability The roll-out of ePMA systems shone a light on the need for robust and game-changing healthcare solutions, and NHS Trusts are now taking digitalisation a step further by investing in the integrated electronic health record (EHR) systems. EHRs go beyond standard prescription data and include a broader view, including information from all the clinicians involved in a patient’s care. Importantly, they also share information with other healthcare providers, such as laboratories and specialists. This approach enables NHS Trusts to enhance their operational and financial efficiencies and improve the experience for staff working at multiple sites. Importantly, for the patient it means healthcare professionals will have access to an up-to-date and shared view of a patient’s information, irrespective of the treatment venue – enabling the delivery of
higher-quality, more coordinated and more informed care across the patch. With millions of pounds being spent on the systems, hospitals are now considering and expecting other technology to seamlessly integrate with the EHR system to create greater efficiencies and to get the most out of their investment.
Cautious approach
While the benefits of integration with both ePMA and EHR are clear, many hospitals still remain rightly cautious. Introducing automation with the capacity for interoperability is a big investment, requiring interruption of existing workflows and subsequent change management, and there is often an underlying concern that the technology will soon become redundant. But, when done in the right way, interoperability produces unparalleled standards of patient safety, as well as future-proofing spending and maximising the value of any new technology. In the last year alone, automated dispensing solutions have been integrated with several prominent ePMA providers and EHR systems to drive better patient outcomes, financial and time savings and better workflows for staff in hospitals. Interfaces exist between Omnicell and Better, Cerner, EPIC, AllScript, SystmOne, WellSky and MedChart. However, the most important prerequisite for successful outcomes lies with establishing strong collaboration and shared goals between healthcare and technology providers. In other words, it is essential to work with the right partners.
Collaborative approach A high quality, trusting relationship will support a smooth transition to new, tech- nology-enabled ways of working, supporting full buy-in and adoption by staff. Technology solution providers should spend time on site to understand different workflows across the healthcare provider’s departments. Armed with this knowledge, the aim is to provide solutions through outcomes – not products – which are interoperable and work holistically, as well as for individual wards and departments. This type of approach is considered essential by Omnicell because its solutions have a direct or indirect impact on so many aspects of its clients’ organisations, as well as external stakeholders. In addition
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to medical practitioners, its platforms need to integrate with everyone from finance teams to medication wholesalers. Interoperability with these partners therefore helps ‘close the loop’ in the medication management process because, not only does it enable optimisa- tion of medication administration, it also provides full access to patient data records, allowing for full visibility and accountability. Integration between systems enables addi- tional features including inventory optimi- sation, diversion management, medication usage analytics, compliance and population health services.
The benefits of this came to the fore amid the challenges caused by COVID-19. At the start of the outbreak Omnicell was quickly able to support Trusts by developing a COVID-19 Item Forecast Report. This gave healthcare providers a real time view of stock items, including COVID-19 related medicines and supplies across their Omni- cell installations, as well as live reporting medicine usage on COVID-19 wards. It provided the ability to identify if an item was at risk of running out, and alerted staff in enough time to avoid shortages. The Item Forecast Report also presented trend analysis to identify if usage was increasing. This supported clinical staff in actioning changes to stock levels, ensuring they were able to react effectively to demand. Furthermore, it allowed healthcare staff to spend more time focusing on direct patient care rather than on manually keeping tabs on stock, a task that could be extremely difficult during times of such high demand. The pandemic amply demonstrated the
need for greater connection between systems and there has been unprecedented interest in the potential for integration between automated medication dispensing solutions and EHR systems. This is encouraging, and points towards an awakening about the benefits of interoperability, but the reality is that the healthcare sector has yet to scratch the surface of what will eventually be achieved through wider technology adoption. The reason for this is data. Pharmacy automation systems alone generate
JANUARY 2022
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