Electronic medication management systems
Electronic Medication Management (EMM) systems use digital tools and functionality to help streamline medicines-related activities and minimise errors that could lead to patient harm.
What is an Electronic Medication Management System?
Electronic Medication Management (EMM) refers to the use of electronic systems to facilitate and enhance the prescribing, dispensing and administration of medicines.
The purpose of an EMM is to reduce medication errors, streamline workflows, and improve access to medicine information.
An EMM can include:
- electronic prescribing functionality, such as software used in general practice or clinical information systems used in hospitals
- clinical decision support, such as allergy alerts
- dispensing and supply systems, such as pharmacy software and automated dispensing cabinets
- electronic medication administration records
Electronic Medication Management System guides and resources
There are certain steps you need to consider when introducing and using an EMM. If an EMM isn’t properly managed it can lead to errors and unsafe medication management.
We have a range of resources to support the safe use of EMM and its ongoing management and optimisation.
Implementing an EMM in hospitals and healthcare settings
We have several resources on EMM requirements and the safe implementation of EMMs within hospitals and other healthcare settings.
Our resources include guidance for safe implementation, on-screen display of information, and business requirements.
EMM in residential care settings
An Electronic National Residential Medication Chart (eNRMC) is a specific EMM used to prescribe, supply, and track medicine in residential care settings.
Our guidance supports residential care facilities and software vendors to implement an eNRMC.
This guidance can be applied to all types of residential care facility settings, whether you are a single site or part of a larger provider network.
EMM Self-Assessment Tool
Our EMM self-assessment tool (EMMSAT) is a free online tool that allows health services to independently assess and optimise their EMM implementation through continuous quality improvement.
The EMMSAT facilitates assessment against a set of domains and indicators.
To access the full functionality of the EMMSAT, you will need to nominate a Site Administrator using the site administrator nomination form.
Our fact sheet and user guide provide information about the EMMSAT and you can email us for help and support.
We also welcome your feedback through a short survey about improvements that could be made to the EMMSAT or support materials.
EMM incident classification in hospitals
To safely implement an EMM in a hospital, you need a standardised classification system for EMM-related adverse events and incidents.
We have a range of guidance and tools to support hospitals in classifying and investigating EMM-related adverse events and incidents:
- Classifying EMM-related adverse events and incidents fact sheet
- Classification of prescribing and medicine administration adverse events and incidents
- Classification for problems associated with IT systems used in healthcare
- Classification of consequences of EMM-related adverse events and incidents
Guidelines for On-Screen Display of Medicines Information
If EMMs display medicines information in a way that is unclear, incomplete or ambiguous, it increases the possibility of errors and harm to patients.
Our National Guidelines for On-Screen Display of Medicines Information provides recommendations for how medicines information should be displayed on-screen in EMMs to reduce the risk of errors.
Our guidelines incorporate Australia’s National Mixed-Case Lettering List and Recommendations for safe use of medicines terminology.