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Using the NIMC 2009 in private hospitals
Private hospitals are able to use the National Inpatient Medication Chart 2009 (NIMC). Using the NIMC has safety benefits because:- staff working across all public and the majority of private facilities will be familiar with it and its safety features;
- new permanent or casual staff will already be orientated to its design and use;
- the NIMC is incorporated increasingly into health professional curricula resulting in newly accredited staff being familiar with the chart from their first day on the ward.
Adopting the NIMC will require a communication and education strategy to inform staff of the NIMC and its safety features, and an implementation strategy to ensure it is rolled out effectively. There is a range of tools to support education, implementation, use and auditing of the NIMC available at the NIMC page.
Using the Private Hospital NIMC 2009
Some private hospitals have been using medication charts with tear away sections for pharmacy orders and Medicare Australia payment authentication. There will be challenges for those hospitals to implement the standard NIMC because it will require prescribers to return to prescription pad ordering in addition to writing on the medication chart.A private hospital NIMC has been developed for facilities using medication charts with tear away sections. It replicates the NIMC design and safety features but incorporates tear away sections for pharmacy orders and Medicare Australia payment authentication.
Private Hospital NIMC 2009 (PDF 3236 KB)
Resources to support use of the standard NIMC are applicable to the Private Hospital NIMC 2009 and are available on the main NIMC web page.
Feedback on the Private Hospital NIMC 2009 can be sent to mail@safetyandquality.gov.au
Private Hospital Day Surgery NIMC 2009
Private Hospitals expressed a need for a day surgery medication chart. The following Private Hospital Day Surgery NIMC 2009 is an A4 document with tear offs for pharmacy orders and Medicare Australia authentication, and is designed for use in private hospital day surgery settings.Private Hospital Day Surgery NIMC 2009 (PDF 460 KB).
Review of PBS Supply in Private Hospitals and Residential Aged Care Facilities
Currently, the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing is reviewing PBS supply arrangements in private hospitals and residential aged care facilities. This was agreed by the department with the Pharmacy Guild in the Fourth Community Pharmacy Agreement.The review will report in the second half of 2009. The Commission has made representations to the review noting that current PBS prescription requirements are an impediment to improving medication safety in private hospital facilities.
Further details of the review can be found on the Department of Health and Ageing Pharmacy Fourth Community Pharmacy Agreement Reviews web site.
Private Hospital Sector Committee
The Commission engages with the private hospital sector primarily through its Private Hospital Sector Committee. The Committee advises the Commission on safety and quality initiatives and issues in the private hospital sector.The Committee brings together private hospital owners, managers, funders and practitioners working in the sector. It is chaired by Ms Christine Gee, a board member (and former national president) of the Australian Private Hospitals Association and a private hospital manager.
