A new medication management system which could reduce round times by 35% is being rolled out in Fold Housing Association’s care scheme accommodation across Northern Ireland.
During the last year Fold has been working in partnership with Boots UK to test the benefits of Electronic Medication Administration Record (eMAR), a system which provides staff with immediate access to medication schedules, prescribed doses and an overview of stock supplies.
The trial, which took place at Loughview housing with a care scheme in Holywood, saw traditional record keeping swapped in favour of a digital system. Employees at this scheme are currently managing over 270 medications on a monthly basis for 27 residents.
As a result of the success of this trial, Fold Housing Association will be introducing the system across Northern Ireland. In addition, Loughview has become a reference site for organisations across the UK to see the benefits of eMAR.
The platform is designed to show staff only the medication information which is relevant to residents at a specific time. The system has been proven to eliminate missed medications, reduce round times by a third and offer increased safety by factoring out human error. eMAR also keeps track of stock supplies and prevents new orders being made in error.
Deirdre Carr, Care Services Manager at Fold Housing Association said: “The Boots UK eMAR system has allowed our Care Services team to meet the highest standards of care we strive for at Fold Housing Association. It has enabled improved record keeping at our site in Loughview as each member of the team has a personalised electronic signature and password. Photographic images of our residents are linked to their records and stay on screen until all necessary prescribed medications have been administered and are duly recorded. We know exactly who has received their medication and when, which is particularly important when medications need to be given at and within a specific time period.
“In addition, reports can be accessed quickly for auditing purposes. For example, we can see the chronological order of a residents’ history of medication and which medications we need to reorder so we have the required amount on site.”
She added: “Our staff has adapted really well to this new and improved system of medication record management. The team received one-to-one support which took into consideration each individual staff members IT skill level.”
Jolene Jess, Lead Regional Business Manager for care services at Boots UK said: “At Boots UK we constantly work make sure our pharmacists are equipped with the right tools to deliver the best health care service in every setting. Because of the professional, long standing relationship we have with Fold Housing it seemed a natural fit that we approached them to pilot in their housing with care schemes. “
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Notes to Editors
EMAR IN NORTHERN IRELAND
The EMAR System will be rolled out across Fold Housing Association’s care schemes across Northern Ireland:
Spelga Mews in Banbridge – 12 residents
Manor Court in Lurgan – 36 residents
Gnangara in Enniskillen – 30 residents
Glenowen Court in Belfast – 44 residents
Seven Oaks in Derry-Londonderry – 30 residents
Millbrook Court in Bangor – 50 residents
About Boots UK
Boots UK (boots.com), the UK’s leading pharmacy-led health and beauty retailer, is part of the Retail Pharmacy International Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. With 2,511* stores in the UK, Boots UK is committed to providing exceptional customer and patient care, be the first choice for pharmacy and healthcare and offer innovative 'only at Boots' exclusive products such as the UK’s leading skincare brand No7, all delivered with the great value customers love. Created over 165 years ago, the Boots brand is still at the heart of the communities it serves.
*As at 31 May 2015 excluding equity method investments
FOLD HOUSING ASSOCIATION
Established in 1976, Fold is now one of the leading Housing Associations in Northern Ireland, supporting over 30,000 customers through housing, care and support. Fold manages 6,000 homes covering family, sheltered and complex client need groups. With a turnover of £40m the social enterprise employs 800 people in 60 towns across Northern Ireland.
Fold is the largest provider of assistive technology in Ireland with 23,000 homes availing of its Telecare service. In 2012, Fold along with partners Tunstall and S3 secured the first ever triaged managed service contract for connected health in the UK. Fold Telehealth assists people with diabetes, COPD and other chronic illnesses to maximise their independence and to avoid GP and hospital visits. The contract with all local health trusts achieved its 1,000,000th monitored day milestone in March 2015.
For further information about Fold please visit www.foldgroup.co.uk