Digital Medication Management System

Digital Medication Management System

The Digitising Care pilot project was delivered in 2024 as part of the Smart D8 pilot programme and focused on improving medication safety and continuity of care at Dublin Simon Community’s Usher’s Island medical facility. Usher’s Island is a 100 bed service providing healthcare to people experiencing homelessness, many of whom have complex medical needs and require regular medication management. The pilot responded to the challenges of managing high volume, high risk medication in a busy clinical setting by introducing a secure, digital medication management system to replace paper-based processes.

Working in partnership with Dublin Simon Community, Smart D8 supported the implementation of a cloud-based Digital Medication Management System (DMMS) designed to improve accuracy, communication and patient safety. Prior to the pilot, medication records were managed through manual documentation, increasing the risk of omissions, transcription errors and delays in communication between nurses, GPs and pharmacies. The digital system introduced mandatory safety checks, centralised records and real-time access to clinical information, allowing healthcare professionals to manage prescriptions and medication administration more efficiently and safely.

The impact of the pilot was immediate and measurable. During the implementation period ,the digital system eliminated key medication documentation errors, achieving a 100% reduction in missing signatures, omission codes and allergy records. By ensuring that essential information was completed before medication could be prescribed or administered, the system significantly reduced the potential for human error. This was particularly important in a setting where residents may receive medication multiple times per day and where consistency and accuracy are critical to patient wellbeing.

More than forty healthcare professionals, including nurses, GPs and pharmacists, were trained to use the system as part of the pilot. Staff engagement was strong, with the digital platform supporting clearer communication with local pharmacies and improving access to up to date medication information at the point of care. By reducing administrative burden and streamlining medication rounds, the system enabled frontline healthcare staff to spend more time focused on patient care, contributing to safer, more consistent and more dignified healthcare experiences for people using the service.