LENEXA, Kan., Nov. 8, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Mediware Information Systems, Inc.'s (Nasdaq:MEDW) UK division, JAC Computer Services, announces the successful hospital-wide deployment of its Electronic Prescribing and Medication Administration (EPMA) system. The system went into live operation between the 11th and 15th of September 2006.
The Winchester deployment took just six months from contract signature to go-live and has been implemented as part of the Trust's on-going plans to replace its current integrated Hospital Information system (HIS) in parallel with other replacement systems which are being supplied by the National Programme for IT (NPfIT). The Hampshire Partnership Trust has several inpatient wards on the Winchester site, and has also been part of the implementation.
JAC's Electronic Prescribing and Medication Administration combined with the Trust's existing JAC Pharmacy Management module provides a fully integrated Medication Management solution. The system manages the entire cycle of medication management from prescribing, clinical verification and supply, to bed side nurse administration. Ward based staff use mobile computers on the Trust's wireless network to prescribe and administer medicines at the bedside. The system also incorporates decision support from First Data Bank Europe (FDBE) providing real-time alerts for potential medical errors due to allergies and drug interactions.
Mr Peter Knight, Managing Director of Clinical Support and Asset Management commented: "Having been a long term user of Electronic Prescribing we are acutely aware of the importance of these systems. The new system uses mobile terminals to facilitate on-line prescribing and drug administration which will further help our clinical staff in the complex world of medication management. We are delighted with the success of this vital project which has been implemented both on-time and within budget. I would like to thank and congratulate both the staff at Winchester and JAC who have contributed greatly to the success of this project."
Joyce Bould, Project Clinical Lead commented: "We have been delighted at the acceptance of the JAC Prescribing and Administration system by our staff. They find the system easy to use, and like the screen design because so much information can be seen at once. Clinically, this system gives us what we have wanted for years -- prescribing charts on screen, clinical checking, and quick and easy access to patient information. Staff are able to use the system effectively after a relatively short training session. Winchester already used electronic prescribing, so we had to go for a 'big bang' strategy for our implementation -- and run with two electronic systems for as short a time as possible. Following careful planning and project management we were able to achieve go-live over a very short period of time -- four days. Clearly having experienced users helped enormously, as did their positive attitude, but the attention to detail in the run-up to go-live was of equal importance."
Robert Tysall-Blay, JAC Computer Services Ltd., commented: "The project team and staff at Winchester are to be highly commended for the success of this project. Winchester joins an ever growing list of JAC clients who are implementing our integrated Medication Management system. Electronic Prescribing in general is only used worldwide in less than 5% of hospitals. Winchester was the first hospital in the UK to implement electronic prescribing, and the uniqueness of Winchester in now being the first site in the UK to replace an existing electronic prescribing system should not go unrecognised. This implementation demonstrates clearly that complex and advanced clinical systems can be implemented in a relatively short timeframe. We would like to thank the Trust for choosing JAC and for the opportunity to work with them on this successful project."
Keven Ketzel, Vice President and General Manager of Mediware's global Medication Management operation, commented: "The Winchester implementation of Electronic Prescribing and Medication Administration capabilities, is very significant -- for Mediware as well as the entire UK market. This represents another example of how our technology can be quickly and cost effectively implemented and for customers seeking to extend medication safety processes beyond the four walls of the pharmacy. We congratulate Trust and the project team members on their achievement."
About Winchester
Winchester and Eastleigh Hospital NHS Trust manages The Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester, with approximately 450 beds, and Andover Community Hospital. Hampshire Partnership NHS Trust manages Specialist Mental Health and Learning Disabilities services across most of Hampshire, and has an acute facility, Melbury Lodge, on the Royal Hampshire County Hospital site in Winchester.
About JAC Computer Services
JAC Computer Services Ltd., based in Essex, is a U.K. leader in the development and delivery of Pharmacy Management and Electronic Prescribing and Medicines Administration Systems and has installed solutions in numerous Trusts throughout the U.K. JAC is a division of U.S.-based Mediware Information Systems Inc. (Nasdaq:MEDW) a major U.S. provider of clinical information systems worldwide for Pharmacy, Blood Transfusion and Operating Theatre environments.
About FDBE
First Data Bank Europe (FDBE) supplies data and software to an impressive portfolio of system suppliers serving clinicians in hospitals, community pharmacies, GP practices and other healthcare environments to enable safer prescribing and dispensing and improved patient care through effective clinical decision support. Through its partnerships with healthcare system providers, FDBE's decision support is in daily use by thousands of healthcare professionals in the U.K. NHS Connecting for Health has chosen First DataBank Europe to provide drug related clinical decision support.