i.Pharmacy, a clinical application used across all public hospital pharmacies in NSW, is currently being migrated to the cloud by eHealth NSW.
The statewide digital platform gives clinicians instant access to comprehensive patient dispensing information.
The new state-based build (SBB) and cloud migration will enhance clinical collaboration and access to information, supporting better coordinated patient care.
Director of Pharmacy at Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network Peter Barclay said one of the main benefits was improved access to patients’ prescription and dispensing history from across the state.
“This allows for better-informed clinical decisions about treatment and improved continuity of care,” he said.
The new i.Pharmacy will enable seamless transitions for patients’ medication history between hospitals across the state, no matter the location.
Mr. Barclay said this would enhance care delivery for patients from regional or rural areas.
“Through shared care models, patients can receive specialised treatment closer to their homes, eliminating the need for unnecessary travel,” he said.
Mr. Barclay said it would also benefit paediatric patients who transition to the adult system or patients who move between local health districts.
“It's really important when a young adult is moving from the paediatric service into adult services for anyone who's looking after them to be able to see their dispensing history,” he said.
Thanks to the i.Pharmacy SBB and cloud migration, these patients’ dispensing histories will remain accessible to all clinicians.
“This continuity ensures accurate medication management, and smoother handovers.”
The i.Pharmacy SBB also allows pharmacists to effectively manage drug shortages. With access to stock data, hospital pharmacies can track inventory and usage patterns over time.
“The biggest difference it will make is that we are working as one across the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, rather than as individual hospitals. This allows proactive planning to ensure stock is available until supplies return,” Mr. Barclay said.
“This helps prevent disruptions in patient care and enhances patient safety.”
Finally, the i.Pharmacy SBB also offers a more user-friendly interface that allows clinicians to quickly access medication information.
“It’s very quick to look up something,” Mr. Barclay said.
“You can immediately see all medications prescribed and dispensed.”
eHealth NSW commenced the rollout of i.Pharmacy SBB across the state in October 2023. For NSW Health staff seeking more information about i.Pharmacy, please visit the i.Pharmacy SharePoint site or email the program team.
The above news item is included in our eHealth NSW December 2023 newsletter.
Download the December 2023 newsletter
