Electronic Medication Management

Nurse handing patient medication in hospital bed.

Electronic Medication Management (eMeds) provides significant digital capabilities, improving accuracy and visibility of medication information between clinicians, allowing them to view medication records digitally, rather than searching through paper files.

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Electronic Medication Management

Nurse entering a prescription for medication on a computer.

The Challenge

Historically, medication management has been performed across NSW using multiple methods, and primarily on paper. This methodology can lead to inconsistent documentation and legibility issues that result in medication errors and incidents, as well as issues of compliance with medication protocols.

Nurse administering medication after referring to electronic medical records.

The Plan

To address this gap eHealth NSW, in conjunction with our NSW Health partners, designed eMeds to support clinicians in digitally managing medication prescriptions, reviews, dispensing and administration for inpatients within the electronic medical record (eMR).

The system was developed to provide stakeholders with access to information in real time. It allowed multidisciplinary teams to access live decision support, as well as manage medications safely and efficiently for hospital patients.

It is underpinned by a standardised state-wide design to promote adherence to the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care National Safety and Quality Healthcare Standards.

eHealth NSW adopted a stacked approach to roll out, allowing for development of a solution for all locations up front, ahead of a rapid implementation, with more than 100 of the active sites operational within a 12-month period.

The eMeds system is the most accurate, safe and efficient way of medication management. eMeds increases transparency across various multidisciplinary teams and contributes to the delivery of timely care to patients. As a result, clinicians will now be able to spend more of their valuable time with patients to deliver quality care.

Dr Ruchi Shah SRMO, General Medicine, Campbelltown Hospital

Two female nurses entering patient data about medication history.

The Outcome

Launched in 2015, eMeds has been successfully delivered to 199 sites.

Used by clinicians to ensure safe management of medication for patients across NSW, eMeds has reduced medication errors, facilitated improved medication histories, and reduced administration errors.

In addition, it has provided significant data collection and reporting capabilities to NSW Health, including the comparison of data across Local Health District (LHD) boundaries.

When eMeds is implemented at Fairfield Hospital later this year, it will mark the last of 200 sites across NSW Health, and the completion of the project.

Doctor and nurse analysing medication and looking at computer screen.

The Benefits

The successful implementation of eMeds across NSW has improved medication safety and patient outcomes while enabling a more sustainable health system, including;

Reduction in adverse drug events improving patient safety and enhancing patient care
Improved medication history while allowing clinicians to track medications throughout critical points of a patient’s hospital journey
Improved communication of patient and medication information between care settings
Reduced medication administration errors by 11%, providing greater visibility of administration schedules and displaying alerts
Improved medication safety by ensuring correct medication supply and enabling greater consistency in prescribing practices
Improved compliance with safe prescribing practices and completeness of medication documentation
Enabled better antimicrobial stewardship through decision support capabilities and access to medication information at the point of care.

Key Statistics

199+

sites are live

$132M

in savings from launch to Jun 2021

Data correct as of May 2023

Electronic Medication Management (eMeds)