NHG Pharmacy received a top regional CIO Award for its Multi-dose Medication Management (MMM) System also known as ConviDose™ on 13 March 2013. This coveted award is given every year to the top five organisations in Asia who break new ground by using IT systems to add value to their customers.
The MMM System packs patients’ medicines into individual sachets, according to the prescribed dosages and time the pills need to be consumed. This is a boon for patients with multiple long-term illnesses and their caregivers who have to keep track of various medications. It is especially useful when the patient has to take several different tablets a day.
More importantly, the MMM System improves medication safety as the sachets help to ensure the right medicines are taken at the right time and in the right dosages.
About 3,400 patients in 16 nursing homes and four long-stay wards in the Institute of Mental Health are already using this pioneering multi-dose medication service. The system is now being piloted at Hougang, Jurong and Toa Payoh polyclinics for use in patients own homes, and will be progressively rolled out in the nine National Healthcare Group Polyclinics. Ms Chan Soo Chung, NHG Pharmacy’s Executive Director said: “The MMM System makes it easier for patients to manage their medications, and empower them to live independently – at home and in the community.
NHG Pharmacy launches ConvidoseTM on 8 May 2012
Singapore First Multi-Dose Medication Management Service is now used in 14 nursing homes island-wide.
For anyone with multiple long-term illnesses, keeping track of medication can be a challenge, especially so when one is elderly and has difficulty identifying the medications or remembering when and how to take them.
To address these common problems, the National Healthcare Group Pharmacy is excited to introduce ConvidoseTM, Safer Easier Medicines - for patients and caregivers alike. This is Singapore first Multi-dose Medication Management Service.
With ConvidoseTM, patients' medicines dosages can be conveniently pre-packaged into individual sachets, according to the stipulated quantity and time the pills need to be consumed.
Some 3,000 patients in 14 nursing homes island-wide and four long stay wards in the Institute of Mental health (IMH) are already enjoying the benefits of this pioneering multi-dose medication service since the pilot started in May 2010.
At the launch of ConvidoseTM, Safer, Easier Medicines this morning, National Healthcare Group Chief Executive Officer Professor Chee Yam Cheng said in his opening address: "I'm happy that NHG Pharmacy has just started a small pilot at Toa Payoh Polyclinic to assess patients' needs and fine tune the operational workflow. We look forward to eventually providing this convenient service to those who need help with managing their medication at all nine National Healthcare Group Polyclinics island-wide.
"With plans to extend this service to the daycare centres and patients being looked after by the private healthcare providers," Prof Chee added, "I'm sure more of the public will be able to benefit from ConvidoseTM."
NHG Pharmacy Executive Director Ms Chan Soo Chung explained how ConvidoseTM benefits the users in the 14 nursing homes and four long-stay IMH wards that subscribe to the service.
"The ConvidoseTM medication management service allows our nursing home partners to free up precious manpower, save on storage space, cut down wastage and improve medication safety," Ms Chan said. "There was also significant improvement in productivity at the back-end because we can now pack the medication for 200 beds using 1.5 man-days instead of 20 man-days in the past."
ConvidoseTM: Safer, Easier Medicines won a Merit Award in the Ministry of Health's EXCEL Best Innovative Project in 2010. It also clinched the NHG Excellence in Action Award (Team category) that same year.
Nursing home administrators are very enthusiastic about ConvidoseTM, said Mdm Low Mui Lang, Executive Director, The Salvation Army Peacehaven Nursing Home: "Some residents may require up to 15 different pills a day, which can be challenge to keep track of accurately. This system helps simplify things by providing all the necessary medicines for each dose in one convenient sachet."
"ConvidoseTM frees time out from from tedious medicine mangement, and allows staff to spend more time interacting with our residents," said Ms Tan Guat Peng, Director of Nursing at United Medicare Centre.
