Resident care


traditionally be dispensed in this way, such as hygroscopic medication. Advancements in technology have


also provided the ability to accommodate liquid medication. Whereas in the past MDS were only capable of handling basic administration of solid oral medications, there are now higher levels of safety over the more traditional methods of medication management.


MDS benefits for residents, staff & managers Care homes using the more traditional forms such as blister systems, often report how difficult it is to avoid human error when administering medication in a busy care home environment, regardless of how much is invested in staff training. Mistakes do happen, with interruptions


by other members of care home staff or by residents during the preparation and administration of drugs commonly cited as a cause for errors. On rare occasions, errors may lead to medication passed to the wrong resident for instance, which can pose a significant risk. Furthermore, care homes also risk


failing Care Quality Commission inspections if medication management systems are not safe enough. Instances like this are often a catalyst for managers to scrutinise processes and make sure they are doing everything possible to protect residents and staff from medication mistakes. From reducing medication errors and


improving resident safety, to reducing time staff spend on rounds and reallocating to resident care, as well as encouraging mobility, independence and


confidence for residents during this particularly challenging time, care homes benefit in a number of ways from using MDS. As an extra safeguard, some MDS


provide tamper-evident seals and personalised packaging so that each resident’s photo identification is shown on the front - along with drug names and doses that make each drug easily identifiable - to help minimise medication mistakes and human error. For staff, it means that they can identify


a resident’s medication at a glance to make round times more efficient. Furthermore, if an MDS is colour-coded, it makes it easy to distinguish between different dosage times whether at breakfast, lunch or dinner. For staff who access an MDS that also


dispenses liquids, it means no more sticky fingers and constantly going back and forth to wash hands, no more spills or having to scrub down sticky medication trolley. It also means no wastage, no inaccurate dosing, and even no searching for spoons during the medication rounds - all of which are time-consuming activities. Some MDS hold a number of different


tablets and capsules in the same pod, which eliminates the need for staff to go through individual boxes or count single pills in a bottle or blister pack. With individual sealed pods that can


be given directly to each resident, rather than care home staff having to pour liquid medication or handle tablets at the point of administration, it reduces the need for secondary dispensing. Reducing round times is a priority for all care homes as this frees up staff to do what


they do best – care for and spend time with residents. From the point of view of a care home


manager, better medication management processes using technology-enabled solutions can make a huge difference and provide peace of mind. For instance, medication audits can often be simplified and completed in minutes as opposed to time-consuming routes such as original packs or blister packs that can take hours. Furthermore, innovative systems that


are intuitive, reliable and user-friendly are more likely to be embraced by staff, particularly if they do not add to their workload. Those advances also allow staff to feel confident, and managers often report considerable confidence in staff as a result. Infection control precautions are key


for care homes, especially during the pandemic, and recent technological advances have facilitated greater benefits of significant importance at this time. For example, Biodose pre-portioned


pods are each lined with innovative anti- microbial technology that supports care homes to adhere to infection prevention measures. The silver-based coating helps to reduce the risk of infection and support care homes to protect residents who are at greater risk of contracting Covid-19. That provides a more hygienic


alternative to repeatedly opening and closing the same medicine bottles during meds rounds and helps to minimise infection in the care home environment.


Pharmacies: invaluable support There is notable value in care homes building long-term relationships with pharmacies. Some pharmacies across the UK, such as Pharmalogic in north- west England, have created dedicated care home services, and have established strong links to provide support for properties in their community. Access to a personalised service from


an independent, local pharmacy that understands your care home’s needs is invaluable. Specialist pharmacies can play a key role in strengthening a care home’s medicines management process


30 www.thecarehomeenvironment.com• August 2020


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