New digital system will improve care for patients and save time for staff
Plans to deliver a new electronic prescribing system in all Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (CTM UHB) hospitals have taken a big step forward today (Tuesday September 3, 2024) with the announcement that it has selected Nervecentre as its technology supplier.
The new electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration system, known as ePMA, will replace paper-based processes, helping to provide clinicians with more time to deliver safer and more efficient care to patients.
It will streamline prescribing by replacing the paper drug chart at the end of a patient’s bed with a new digital system. This will reduce the risk of medication errors, help ensure information is accurate, up-to-date and readily available to support clinical decision making, and will ultimately improve patient care.
Introduction of ePMA is a key part of the national Digital Medicines programme, led by Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW) to make the prescribing, dispensing and administration of medicines everywhere in Wales easier, safer and more efficient for patients and clinicians.
Dom Hurford, Executive Medical Director at CTM UHB said: “Digitising prescribing in our hospitals will not only make care safer for our patients but will also increase the efficiency of the services we provide. We are excited to be working with Nervecentre to introduce this new technology that will benefit both our service users and our clinical teams.”
CTM UHB is the second health board in Wales to select Nervecentre as its preferred ePMA supplier following a rigorous and clinically led tender process. Cardiff and Vale University Health Board has also partnered with Nervecentre.
Lesley Jones, DHCW Programme Oversight Chair for ePMA said: “This marks another key milestone for ePMA in Wales and it’s so exciting that Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB is now a step closer to starting to implement this technology that will deliver safer care for patients and help staff to become more efficient.
“Moving from paper-based processes to a digital system will revolutionise how medicines are managed, and health care is delivered. We look forward to supporting our colleagues as they implement the new system in every ward in every hospital in the UHB area.”
The new system will be rolled out to hospitals in Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Bridgend benefitting the 450,000 population.
Paul Volkaerts, CEO of Nervecentre said: "We are thrilled to partner with Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB on their digital transformation journey. This collaboration will unlock transformative benefits for clinicians and ultimately deliver superior care to patients across the region."
The introduction of ePMA is supported and funded by Welsh Government and is part of a digital transformation programme to improve care across NHS Wales.
Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for Wales, Andrew Evans, said, ““I am delighted by today’s announcement that Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board has chosen Nervecentre as its ePMA partner. The health board becomes the third since March to confirm its plans to roll out ePMA across all its hospitals, with the national programme benefiting from the Welsh Government’s significant investment to digitise all aspects of the prescribing and administration of medicines in Wales.
“Electronic prescribing and medicines administration has the potential to transform how care is provided in our hospitals, improving efficiency and safety and benefiting patients and clinicians alike. I look forward to seeing the team at the health board continue their excellent progress with this important work.”
03/09/2024