Press release: Northern Trust STEPS together with Digitalis in new direction for medicine selection
Antrim Hospital, 6 July 2009
The Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NHSCT) has played a leading role in developing the STEPSelect on-line medicines selection and procurement system now being used in Northern Ireland.
STEPSelect (Safe Therapeutic Economic Pharmaceutical Selection) is a collaboration between the Northern Trust and the Irish-Dutch company, Digitalis Medicines Management Ltd.
It is a step-by-step system that uses on-line reviews from a range of databases to assist in the selection of the most appropriate and preferred medicines.
Dr Mike Scott, Head of Pharmacy and Medicines Management and Director of Pharmacy for the NHSCT said: “The preferred medicines are classified, exclusively, on the basis of clinically relevant considerations, making for optimal effectiveness in particular conditions.
The involvement and ownership of clinicians, in particular consultants and general practitioners with special interest the respective areas is a vital factor in the process.
I am also pleased to be liaising with the pharmaceutical industry via ABPI Northern Ireland who currently hold an observer role during the evolution of the process.
STEPSelect complements NICE guidance by ensuring that there is an effective process which leads to both best care for the patient and the best use of resources”.
Dr Scott said the programme was providing a more effective and efficient medicines management process “built upon the principles of quality and safety and providing health improvements and better efficiency”.
Mr Rob Brenninkmeijer, Pharmacist, Digitalis Medicines Management, said: “By developing the STEPSelect process with NHSCT, we are enabling doctors, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals and information specialists to work in a more collaborative and effective medicines management process.”Research on integrated medicines management in Northern Ireland has shown that using STEPSelect can lead to a reduction in the need for people to come into hospital due to the inappropriate use of medicines, he said.
Developed initially with a small number of therapeutic groups and built on that success, the approach is being extended to cover a much wider range of therapies.
Part of the pilot’s success has been the joint nature of the process involving Digitalis and the Northern Trust. The Trust has shared extensive Digitalis databases and, in turn, Digitalis had an insight into the Trust’s pharmaceutical information, so increasing the knowledge base for both parties.
Northern Trust Chief Executive, Norma Evans, said: “The Trust is very pleased with the use of this scheme as it will improve the quality and safety of medicine used by patients in both hospitals and the community in Northern Ireland.”
Dr David Brownlee from Health and Social Care (HSC) Innovations said: “The collaboration between industry and health demonstrates the value of working with the clinical base in developing new product and technology opportunities for healthcare.
These products can help to secure real improvements in healthcare practices locally, nationally and globally.”
July 6th, 2009