Publish date: 23 July 2021
This weekend there will be some Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration (EPMA) downtime which is only relevant to Local, Secure and Stoddart House (Community). Mid Mersey Division will not be affected.
A fix for the EPMA system speed will be installed this Monday 26 July and so that the installation can take place there will be two periods of downtime
- First downtime 7am - 8am Sunday 25 July
- Second downtime 7am - 8am Monday 26 July
Outside of these times the system will be available as normal. If it is anticipated that when necessary medication is required during these times please print of MAC and MAP reports in advance.
Part of this fix will mean that the Yellow Simultaneous Patient Access Notification alerts will be removed from the system. This will mean if 2 or more members of staff are accessing the record at the same time, they will no longer be alerted that other members of staff are also viewing or amending the patient record.
There is a risk that prescribers could be accessing the EPMA system and amending medication that is being administered and charted by nursing staff at the same time, without either member of staff being alerted to the fact that the other member of staff is in the record.
It is recommended that from Monday if a prescriber wishes to stop any medication which is due to be administered imminently, they must phone the ward and advise the nursing staff that the medication should not be administered before they discontinue the medication on the EPMA system. This will remain in place if the speed issue is resolved until the EPMA system is upgraded to the next version. A QPA will be sent to cover this information also.
If you have any questions email EPMA_Pharmacy_Team