The EAHP EU Monitor is a regular round up of news relevant to hospital pharmacy in Europe.

You can subscribe to receive the EAHP EU Monitor by email HERE.  

 

Still time to register for the common training framework consultation!

Readers of the EAHP EU Monitor are reminded there is still time to register to participate in the online Delphi consultation on the content of a common training framework for hospital pharmacy. With the consultation commencing on 28 February, interested individuals and organisations are invited to register their interest today!

The registration portal is available HERE.

More information about the common training framework project is available HERE. 

**Readers of the EAHP EU Monitor with an interest in the Common Training Framework may also be interested in Keynote Speech 3 at the upcoming EAHP Congress in Cannes (22-24th March 2017). Entitled "In search of the value of automation", facilitator André Rieutord and presenters Patrick Von Oirschot and Etienne Cousein, will explore the costs and benefits of automation solutions, as well as the implementation challenges. More information HERE.

 

EDQM open consultation on Automated Dose Dispensing Guidelines

The European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and Healthcare (EDQM) has opened a consultation on prospective European guidelines on Automated Dose Dispensing. The consultation will close on the 24th February 2017.

The purpose of the guidelines is to harmonise the standards and approaches to automated dose dispensing across Europe, to help ensure that this service is provided to a consistently high standard which ensures the safe supply of medicines to patients. The guidelines are intended to be utilised by pharmacies and manufacturers involved in automated dose dispensing, as well as by national authorities in countries where this service is provided.

The consultation survey is available HERE. 

The Draft Guidelines are available HERE. 

Commenting on the consultation, Aida Batista, EAHP Director of Professional Development and Patient Safety policy lead, remarked: "Automatic Dose Dispensing can be a powerful tool for patient safety as well as medication adherence. However, there are common challenges to be met in respect to its introduction and use. Therefore, EDQM's initiative to produce guidelines to help ensure this service is provided to a consistently high standard across Europe, is to be welcomed. EAHP encourages engagement by hospital pharmacy in the EDQM project and will be making its own response to the survey".

**Readers of the EAHP EU Monitor with an interest in automation solutions may also be interested in Seminar LM3 at the upcoming EAHP Congress in Cannes (22-24th March 2017). Entitled "In search of the value of automation", facilitator Andre Rieutord and presenters Patrick Von Oirschot and Etienne Cousein, will explore the costs and benefits of automation solutions, as well as the implementation challenges. More information HERE. 

 

EU study on Big Data in Health Makes 10 Policy Recommendations

The European Commission has published a study on big data in public health, telemedicine and healthcare which makes 10 headline policy recommendations in respect to improving the use of Big Data in healthcare delivery.

The study was conducted by Gesundheit Österreich Forschungs- und Planungs GmbH (GÖ FP) and included a systematic literature review, after which the added value of selected examples of Big Data in Health were identified. The examined examples included considerations of the added value of:

• A shared care platform in Denmark which facilitates coordination between the general practitioner, the municipality and the hospital in respect to patients with chronic diseases
• Estonia's National Identity Scheme which connects all pharmacies and hospitals to a centralised e-Prescription system and enables patients to access their health records online.
• Italy's ARNO Observatory which aggregates masses of administrative patient data, including pharmaceutical prescriptions, hospital discharges, medical home services, diagnostic examinations, and laboratory analyses.
• The UK's Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data warehouse, which covers all National Health Trusts in England, including acute hospitals, primary care trusts and mental health trusts.

The study authors recommend that their recommendations "be seen as suggestions for the European Union and its Member States on how to utilise the strengths and exploit the opportunities of Big Data for Public Health without threatening privacy or safety of citizens."

The 10 recommendations are:

1. RAISE AWARENESS - Develop and implement a communication strategy to increase the awareness of the added value of Big Data in Health and encourage a positive public mind set towards Big Data in Health 
2. EDUCATION AND TRAINING - Strengthen human capital with respect to the increasing need for a workforce that can utilize the potential of Big Data in Health 
3. DATA SOURCES - Expand existing and explore new sources of Big Data in Health and secure their quality and safety 
4. OPEN DATA AND DATA SHARING - Promote open use and sharing of Big Data in Health without compromising patients' rights to privacy and confidentiality 
5. APPLICATIONS AND PURPOSES - Increase target-oriented application of Big Data analysis in health based on the needs and interests of stakeholders including patients 
6. DATA ANALYSIS - Identify the potentials of Big Data analysis, improve analytical methods and facilitate the use of new and innovative analytical methods
7. GOVERNANCE OF DATA ACCESS AND USE - Implement governance mechanisms to ensure secure and fair access and use of Big Data for research in health
8. STANDARDS - Develop standards for Big Data in Health to enhance and simplify its application and improve interoperability
9. FUNDING AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES - Ensure purposeful investment steered by the European Commission to warrant cost-effectiveness and sustainability
10. LEGAL ASPECTS AND PRIVACY REGULATIONS - Clarify and align existing legal and privacy regulation of Big Data in Health 

More information is available HERE. 

Commenting on the study, Rob Moss, EAHP Director of Professional Development with policy portfolio covering Big Data, remarked: "Big Data is already part of our present in healthcare delivery. In a world of near-universal smartphone use, and ever great capacity and opportunity for data collections, the potential future applications of big data in healthcare appear almost limitless. For these reasons, its right that hospital pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals, grow more familiar with big data utilisation. The recommendations within the Commission's Big Data study are therefore useful and necessary, especially where these concern healthcare professional education and awareness".

**Readers of the EAHP EU Monitor with an interest in Big may also be interested in Keynote Speech 2 at the upcoming EAHP Congress in Cannes (22-24th March 2017). Entitled "Big data: hype or help?", Dr Heyo Kroemer, will explore some of the principal Big Data tools, the range of opportunities these provide to healthcare professionals in the conduct of their roles, as well as some of the implementation challenges to be met. More information HERE. 

 

EJHP: January 2017 themed edition on deprescribing

A special themed edition of the European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy tackles the growing debate about deprescribing and is now available online.

Articles range from reviews by international experts on the current problems surrounding deprescribing, to a description of practical tools to support the process. The edition also seeks to broaden the discussion via articles on the patient view of deprescribing, a legal perspective, and the role of nurses working with patients, pharmacists and doctors to make deprescribing decisions collaboratively. In summary, the edition hopes to provide the reader with an accessible, practical overview of the emerging area of deprescribing.

More information HERE.

 

  

 

GS1 case study "Safe medication and patient safety are key concerns at Antonius Hospital"

A recent case study has been published by GS1 Healthcare exploring how the hospital pharmacy at St Antonius Hospital in the Netherlands went about achieving a major project in patient safety by registering the administration of medication by means of barcodes.

More information HERE.