Key Takeaways

• Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has partnered with Better to implement an electronic prescribing and medicines administration (ePMA) system.
• The ePMA system aims to enhance medication safety, efficiency, and accessibility for both patients and healthcare professionals.
• This initiative is part of NHS Wales’ Digital Medicines Programme and will be integrated into Aneurin Bevan UHB’s long-term healthcare strategy.

Implementation of ePMA at ABUHB

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) in Wales has selected Better to provide a state-of-the-art electronic prescribing and medicines administration (ePMA) system across its local hospital areas. This initiative is a vital component of NHS Wales’ Digital Medicines Programme, geared towards enhancing the safety and efficiency of medication prescribing and administration for both clinicians and patients.

ABUHB caters to five regions in Gwent: Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport, Torfaen, and the neighboring area of South Powys. Dr. Melanie Poole, the lead ePMA doctor at ABUHB, emphasized the importance of this digital transformation. “The implementation of ePMA is a significant step forward in the health board’s digital strategy, harnessing technology to enhance healthcare delivery,” she stated.

The benefits of the ePMA system include streamlined workflows and improved efficiency, essential for delivering high-quality patient care. Clinicians will benefit from instant access to comprehensive medication records and decision support tools, which will assist in ensuring safe prescribing and administration practices. This digital approach allows for organization-wide analyses of prescribing trends, which will enhance quality improvement efforts for superior patient outcomes.

A dedicated team at ABUHB has been established to focus on enhancing prescribing safety for patients throughout the ePMA rollout. This team’s efforts have already highlighted multiple advantages of the ePMA implementation, such as reductions in medication spending, improved documentation of allergies, and less time spent by staff searching for patient information.

Božidarka Radović, product director at Better, expressed pride in the partnership, stating, “We are proud to support Aneurin Bevan UHB in their journey towards safer and more efficient medication management. Having our ePMA will not only enhance patient safety but also streamline workflows for healthcare professionals, ensuring that critical medication information is always accessible.”

The rollout of the ePMA system is financially backed by the Welsh Government and will be a key aspect of Aneurin Bevan UHB’s upcoming 10-year healthcare strategy in Gwent. In a related development, it was announced that Better’s ePMA system will also go live in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, the largest health board in Wales, by March 2026, transitioning from paper-based processes to digital workflows in over 40 hospital and community sites.

Additionally, the Welsh government plans to launch an electronic health record and app by January 2025, which will allow expectant mothers to instantly access their full maternity records, further exemplifying the commitment to digitizing healthcare in Wales.

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