IMS MAXIMS and Better join forces to provide e-prescribing software

Electronic prescribing software will be easier to integrate into NHS trusts thanks to a new partnership.

IMS MAXIMS has joined forces with Better by Marand to become a reseller of is e-prescribing system, OPENeP.

The move will give NHS trusts the option to buy an e-prescribing system that integrates seamlessly with the MAXIMS software suite.

The model has already been successfully adopted by Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, a global digital exemplar (GDE), which uses MAXIMS.

The trust is due to go live with OPENeP in the summer.

Leesa Ewing, commercial director at IMS MAXIMS, said: “E-prescribing is recognised as one of the key components of an electronic patient record (EPR).

“The partnership with Better by Marand will enable us to integrate our EPR with OPENeP, and to create a seamless experience for clinicians.

“That should give trusts additional confidence that they will achieve the well-documented benefits of e-prescribing, which include fewer medication errors and, critically, improved patient safety.”

Both companies have committed to using open architecture and standards to allow their systems to interoperate with others, in line with Secretary for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock’s call for integration.

Electronic prescribing – or e-prescribing –  is regarded as crucial for improving patient safety by reducing medication errors associated with hand-written notes.

The Government in 2018 committed £75million to accelerate the roll-out of e-prescribing.

To date, 13 trusts have received funding and 48 bis are being considered for a second wave of funding.

Roko Malkoč , product manager of OPENeP, added: “It is our common goal with IMS MAXIMS to improve outcomes for patients. We both work closely with the medical staff to make sure that we have identified the problems to be solved and prevent unnecessary errors.”

IMS MAXIMS already has a partnership in place with JAC so they can continue to use its specialist pharmacy stock-control capabilities.

Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust will use JAC software to run its pharmacy when it goes live with its new e-prescribing system.

In March controlled drugs became available on the Electronic Prescription Service for the first time, following a successful trial.

The decision means patients will be able to have their prescriptions sent electronically from their GP to their pharmacy, rather than having to carry a paper copy.

Schedule 2 and 3 controlled drugs, excluding oral liquid methadone, are now available electronically.