Our hospitals continue to go digital
In just over 12 months, Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) has become state leaders in the roll out of a software system that allows doctors and nurses to view patient medication information in real-time on a secured computer.
The system, called eMeds, has been rolled out in 60 per cent of our hospitals since going live at Blacktown Hospital on 28 February, 2017. Subsequently Mount Druitt and Auburn hospitals have implemented eMeds, with more than 585,000 medication orders placed using the software.
WSLHD toxicologist and Chief Medical Information officer Associate Professor Naren Gunja said the implementation of eMeds has gone a long way to improve visibility for clinicians and patients.
“eMeds has provided visibility to doctors, nurses and pharmacists so that they don’t have to run around looking for charts. Doctors love the fact that they don’t have to rewrite charts. All staff appreciate the legibility aspects,” Assoc Prof Gunja said.
“We are doing a lot of work improving medication reconciliation and medication information in discharge summaries.”
Critical to this roll out of eMEDs has been training staff who continue to use the solution in real time. So far, 236 nurses and 112 medical staff have been trained in Auburn, 263 nurses and 18 medical staff trained in Mt Druitt and 1136 nurses and 341 medical staff trained in Blacktown.
For further information about eMeds, visit: http://wslhdintranet.wsahs.nsw.gov.au/Electronic-Medication-Management–eMEDs-/Electronic-Medication-Management—EMM
