Codeveloping an effective EMPA to maturity in an acute NHS Trust: an implementer report.

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Digital Health Transformation
• Clinical System Development

Background:

• University Hospitals Leicester collaborated with Nervecentre to create an Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration System.
• The system was designed to meet the specific clinical and interoperability requirements of the National Health Service (NHS).

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the co-development and implementation of a new Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration System.
• To evaluate the system's impact on clinical workflow, safety, and error rates.

Main Methods:

• A frontline-led, agile development approach was employed over 18 months.
• The project team included clinicians, IT specialists, and vendor representatives.
• The system was deployed successfully, handling over a thousand transcriptions during rollout.

Main Results:

• No increase in medication error rates was observed in the first three months post-implementation, despite high caseloads.
• Healthcare professionals reported improved efficiency and clinical workflow.
• The integrated medication alert system enhanced perceived safety.

Conclusions:

• NHS trusts can successfully co-develop IT systems with vendors, meeting interoperability standards like Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR).
• This approach can enhance frontline clinical experience.
• Alternative deployment strategies, such as gradual implementation, warrant evaluation for successful digital transformation in the NHS.