Fold Roll Out Electronic Medication Management System

A new medication management system which could reduce round times by 35% is being rolled out in Fold Housing Association''s care scheme accommodation across Northern Ireland.
During the last year Fold has been working in partnership with Boots UK to test the benefits of Electronic Medication Administration Record (eMAR), a system which provides staff with immediate access to medication schedules, prescribed doses and an overview of stock supplies.
The trial, which took place at Loughview housing with a care scheme in Holywood, saw traditional record keeping swapped in favour of a digital system. Employees at this scheme are currently managing over 270 medications on a monthly basis for 27 residents. As a result of the success of this trial, Fold Housing Association will be introducing the system across Northern Ireland. In addition, Loughview has become a reference site for organisations across the UK to see the benefits of eMAR.
The platform is designed to show staff only the medication information which is relevant to residents at a specific time. The system has been proven to eliminate missed medications, reduce round times by a third and offer increased safety by factoring out human error.  eMAR also keeps track of stock supplies and prevents new orders being made in error.
Deirdre Carr, Care Services Manager at Fold Housing Association said: "The Boots UK''s eMAR system has allowed our Care Services team to meet the highest standards of care we strive for at Fold Housing Association. It has enabled improved record keeping at our site in Loughview as each member of the team has a personalised electronic signature and password. Photographic images of our residents are linked to their records and stay on screen until all necessary prescribed medications have been administered and are duly recorded. We know exactly who has received their medication and when, which is particularly important when medications need to be given at and within a specific time period.
In addition, reports can be accessed quickly for auditing purposes. For example, we can see the chronological order of a residents history of medication and which medications we need to reorder so we have the required amount on site.
She added: ''Our staff has adapted really well to this new and improved system of medication record management. The team received one-to-one support which took into consideration each individual staff members IT skill level.''
Jolene Jess, Lead Regional Business Manager for care services at Boots UK said: ''At Boots UK we constantly work make sure our pharmacists are equipped with the right tools to deliver the best health care service in every setting. Because of the professional, long standing relationship we have with Fold Housing Association it seemed a natural fit that we approached them to pilot in their housing with care schemes. 
The EMAR System will be rolled out across Fold Housing Associations care schemes across Northern Ireland:
Spelga Mews in Banbridge “ 12 residentsManor Court in Lurgan “ 36 residentsGnangara in Enniskillen “ 30 residentsGlenowen Court in Belfast “ 44 residentsSeven Oaks in Derry-Londonderry “ 30 residentsMillbrook Court in Bangor “ 50 residents
Pictured Above: Joyce Laird - Regional Business Manager, Care Services Boots UK ; Deirdre Carr - Care Services Manager; Helen Craig - Acting Manager, Loughview;  Hilary Hamilton - Senior Care Worker, Loughview; Mrs May Mulligan, Resident, Loughview Jolene Jess - Lead Regional Business Manager, Care Services Boots UK'