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Waitemata DHB pharmacist nationally recognised for advancements in patient safety
Waitemata DHB pharmacist nationally recognised for advancements in patient safety
Waitemata District Health Board (DHB) Pharmacy Operations Manager David Ryan has been named a finalist in the New Zealand Excellence in IT Awards for introducing electronic prescribing (e‐prescribing) across North Shore and Waitakere Hospitals.
E‐prescribing does away with hand‐written paper medication charts reducing the rate of prescribing errors, eliminating difficult‐to‐read handwriting and alerting staff to patient allergies or adverse reactions.
Waitemata DHB Chief Executive Dr Dale Bramley says the system is a significant innovation in patient safety with an immediate impact on the wards.
"David has led e‐prescribing from the ground up with over 850 beds now operating the technology across our hospitals and major clinical sites,” says Dr Bramley.
"Waitemata DHB now has the largest single electronic prescribing implementation in Australasia and is the only DHB in New Zealand to have completed the roll‐out of electronic medication management covering acute, elective, forensic psychiatric and mental health services.
"We are immensely proud of David’s nomination and would also like to acknowledge our staff who have championed e‐prescribing on the wards and made our hospitals safer.”