Promotion
NEW TECHNOLOGY IMPROVING PATIENT SAFETY AND
REDUCING RISK OF MEDICATION ERRORS AT NHS BORDERS
In June 2020, The ScOTTISh ParLIaMenT’S heaLTh anD SPOrT cOMMITTee PuBLISheD an IMPOrTanT rePOrT enTITLeD The SuPPLy anD DeManD FOr MeDIcIneS.
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s the enquiry continued, a fundamental issue was exposed that, shockingly, the system of supply and demand for medicines in Scotland ‘does not have a focus on patients’. It was found that this was partially due to a lack of comprehensive IT systems present across the nhS in Scotland.
Such systems could maximise the use of patient data and therefore insight to provide a better service, with a stronger focus on patient care, while also enabling savings and efficiencies. The report strongly recommends that the Scottish government consider the IT and data requirements of the nhS at a national level and use a strategic approach to implement systems with long-term utility as a matter of urgency.
This conclusion is very much in line with Omnicell’s ethos of improving
patient safety and efficiencies across a range of care settings through the development and implementation of innovative technology. Indeed, as part of its work to drive patient safety standards across the healthcare landscape, Omnicell submitted detailed evidence to this inquiry at the end of last year, extolling the benefits of robotic technology for improving patient care. Omnicell is already an established global leader in supply and medication management solutions and adherence tools for healthcare systems and pharmacies. nhS Borders in Scotland is one hospital already benefiting from its decision to automate its medication management process with Omnicell and has seen marked improvements in patient care.
here, alison Wilson, Director of Pharmacy at nhS Borders, talks about
the importance of correct medication management.
‘efficient management of medicine is essential across nhS Borders: the healthcare provider for the Scottish Borders. Based in Melrose, the Borders general hospital offers a range of acute inpatient services with a bed capacity of 330, meaning that a large number of patients require complex medication regimes for their ongoing care. The impact of the cOVID-19 pandemic has only added to the importance of correct medication management.
‘nhS Borders decided to automate its medication management process with four key objectives:
• To improve patient and staff safety through a reduction in medication errors.
• To improve governance visibility of pharmacy stock.
• To save nursing and pharmacy time spent on administrative tasks so they can spend more time on their clinical work.
• To reduce spending through improved stock management.
‘The decision was made to install five Omnicell automated medication dispensation cabinets to achieve these outcomes. The cabinets were installed in the wards with the highest use of medication, including the Medical assessment unit, emergency Department and cardiology. having been in use for over a year now, the Omnicell cabinets clearly support the right patient receiving the right dose of the right drug at the right time and they work by interfacing with the pharmacy system and the Board’s PaS. Prior to this, nhS Borders managed medication in traditional
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