Oxford Health NHS FT goes live with ePMA solution

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust has implemented Better Meds’ electronic prescribing and medication administration solution (ePMA). 

Implementation started across 26 wards in September 2022 following a successful trial in the summer and the solution should be fully rolled out by March 2023. Already, Oxford Health has streamlined its pharmacy processes, improving access to data and delivering time-saving benefits.  

Oxford Health was one of the global digital exemplars and has adopted a best-of-breed approach to digital transformation. Implementing the ePMA solution is a step forward in its ambition to achieve a HIMSS digital maturity level 7 score. 

The Better Meds ePMA is built on an openEHR platform that supports integration between the existing PAS and future systems. It delivers a seamless link to the pharmacy stock control system at Oxford Health. 

Lex Moon, lead ePMA pharmacist, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The feedback from all healthcare professionals has been positive both regarding the impact on their day-to-day roles as well as to patient safety.  

“One pharmacist told me that they have already noticed, at this early stage, that there is a reduction in errors and blank boxes. Shadowing on medication rounds I have also seen first-hand that the time taken to complete the medications rounds has been noticeably reduced.” 

Staff at the trust worked with the Better team to help shape a system that would address its specific needs and offer maximum benefit. An extra layer of patient authentication was added, with the option to add photos to patient profiles to help agency staff be confident they’re treating the right patient.  

Since its implementation Oxford Health staff have gained better access to data. On-call consultants are now able to review medication remotely allowing patients to get immediate access to their required medications. In addition, as staff no longer need to rewrite medication charts or manually input data on discharge, they are saving time

Christine Wadsworth, clinical safety officer of Better for the UK and Ireland, said: “As a trust that is embracing cloud-based technology, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust is the perfect partner for Better Meds, mirroring our passion for open standards that place patients at the heart of the care they receive.  

“Through our ePMA solution, we are committed to supporting OHFT to safely digitise its prescription processes whilst also providing improved access to data through the Better Meds integration across the trust’s various clinical systems.” 

The Oxford Health go-live comes after Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust selected Better Med’s ePMA in March this year.