The effects of CDSS for prescribing medication on patient outcomes and physician practice performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The effects of clinical decision support system for prescribing medication on patient outcomes and physician practice performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. 2021 Mar 10;21(1):98. doi: 10.1186/s12911-020-01376-8.

• Analysis of 45 studies of clinical decision making systems (CDSS) for prescribing show that the use of CDSS in some diseases has positive effects on patient outcomes and physician performance while it has no significant effect on others. In addition, the types of outcomes and the effects of CDSS on the diseases are different.

Development and application of ‘systems thinking’ principles for quality improvement

Development and application of ‘systems thinking’ principles for quality improvement
BMJ Open Quality 2020;9:e000714. doi: 10.1136/bmjoq-2019-000714

• Adaptation of EUROCONTROL Systems Thinking Principles to promote understanding of how safety may be achieved in a primary care setting in Scotland. A case study around prescribing in a GP practice is used to demonstrate the application in an analysis of a system and in the subsequent improvement intervention design.

Abstract

Medicines and Medical Devices Bill

Medicines and Medical Devices Bill
DHSC 13 February 2020

• The Medicines and Medical Devices Bill will allow:
• NHS hospitals to use innovative, personalised medicines for unique cancers and diseases,
• increase the range of professions able to prescribe medicines in low-risk circumstances, reducing unnecessary GP appointments
• introduce new regulations on medical devices, such as pacemakers, breast implants and ultrasound imagers, to ensure patient safety
• Read the House of Commons Library briefing.

Guidance for pharmacist prescribers

Guidance for pharmacist prescribers
General Pharmacuetical Council 29 November 2019

• This guidance covers five key areas that pharmacist prescribers must consider in order to prescribe safe and effectively. These are:
• Taking responsibility for prescribing safely
• Keeping up to date and prescribing within their level of competence
• Working in partnership with other healthcare professionals and persons seeking care
• Prescribing considerations and clinic judgement
• Raising concerns

Digital prescription technology

£26 million to help hospitals introduce digital prescriptions
DHSC 1 November 2019

• Twenty five trusts are to receive a share of the funding for digital prescription technology to replace outdated paper prescription systems, improving patient safety and reducing errors.

Case study: My Healthcare South & West Birmingham

Case study: My Healthcare South & West Birmingham
Extracted from HSJ 11 July 2018 and website

• Myhealthcare is a Birmingham based GP Federation (56 practices) has been given CQC Outstanding rating. (Not yet on CQC website 11 July 2018) 
• The Federation includes virtual primary care support services (GP access fund). 
• CCG data provided to inspectors indicates that the virtual prescription service cost significantly less than those that dealt directly with their practice, triaging NHS 111 calls resulted in reduced emergency admissions, reduced waiting list time for community services