Overview
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has successfully launched an electronic prescribing and medicines administration (ePMA) system, marking a significant advancement in their digital health initiatives.
Implementation Details
- The ePMA system, developed by Altera Digital Health, was introduced across 56 inpatient wards and urgent care areas in November 2025.
- This initiative aims to replace outdated paper-based workflows with a more efficient digital process.
Benefits of the New System
The ePMA system is designed to:
- Streamline the electronic discharge process by making discharge medication orders readily available for dispensing.
- Reduce delays caused by the transfer of paper medication charts from wards to pharmacies.
- Enhance patient safety through clinical decision support and alerts for allergies and medication interactions.
Impact on Patient Care
In the first week of operation:
- Over 800 patients were transitioned from paper to the ePMA system.
- More than 23,000 medications were recorded as administered.
Statements from Leadership
Harry de Voil, Chief Information Officer at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals, emphasized the importance of this ePMA launch as a step towards enhancing digital maturity, efficiency, and patient safety.
Mark Hutchinson, Executive Vice President at Altera Digital Health, congratulated the trust on reaching this milestone, noting that it positions them well for future advancements in their electronic patient record (EPR) system.
Future Developments
The ePMA implementation follows the earlier deployment of Altera Digital Healthโs Sunrise EPR system in March 2023. The trust plans to continue enhancing the system’s functionality, including the activation of ePMA in emergency departments.