MOIC take centre stage at IHI Forum in Copenhagen

MOIC take centre stage at IHI Forum in Copenhagen

This week Professor Mike Scott and Anita Hogg travelled to Copenhagen to the IHI forum.

The IHI/BMJ International Forum shares knowledge, ideas, and expertise that inform quality improvement, patient safety projects, and practice transformations worldwide. It brings together healthcare improvers (including patients) from different parts of the world to discuss and share examples of innovation that can be replicated.

MOIC presented on medicines safety in Northern Ireland as part of a jam packed programme on Day 2.

MOIC presentation in Norway

MOIC presentation in Norway

MOIC have always focused on building collaborations throughout Europe and we have put Northern Ireland firmly on the map as a centre of excellence for pharmacy.

Over the last 20 years we have developed a world class hospital pharmacy service and our focus on medicine management has been replicated throughout the world. Due to this success we are delighted that Professor Mike Scott will present virtually today to a group of hospital pharmacies in South East Norway on the development of medicines management and medicines optimisation in Northern Ireland. Professor Scott will also discuss our work on the Isimpathy project and showcase how this pharmacy project has improved care for patients prescribed with multiple medicines.

The discussion in Norway follows on from a visit by a group of pharmacists from Norway in 2019 to MOIC, when they were impressed by the work of MOIC and the pharmacy practices in Northern Ireland.

SHAPES – A Project Update

SHAPES – A Project Update

The SHAPES App is now up and running and we are delighted that we have recruited our first volunteers. The SHAPES project aims to improve healthy ageing at home through the use of technology.

Volunteers will self-monitor their health conditions using a number of clinical devices and the results will automatically be uploaded onto the APP enabling participants to keep track of their weight, blood pressure and blood sugars easily and on a daily basis.

MOIC programme managers are working closely with clinicians, participants and the wider SHAPES team to analyse the effectiveness of the technology and monitor outcomes.

We are using the eCare – Personlised Care Intelligence Platform to capture the data from our volunteers. To find out more about this and the project throughout Europe view the latest brochure.

Improving Respiratory Care

Improving Respiratory Care

Work has continued between the team at MOIC and a QUB spin out company (Continga Limited) to trial a novel system for improving medicines adherence in those with respiratory diseases (e.g. asthma, TB).  Using the system, clinicians can observe their patients as they use inhaled medication with a view to improving how such devices are used.  A quality improvement pilot for use of this technology with adult asthma patients in the Western Health and Social Care Trust has been completed and a final MOIC evaluation report compiled. A manuscript is currently being prepared for submission to an academic journal.

The project found that the v-DOT technology was a feasible method of assessing inhaler technique and monitoring adherence in a small group of adult asthma patients managed in an outpatient setting.

A range of positive impacts for patients and clinicians were reported. A number of unexpected technical challenges were experienced and resolved and it was concluded that resource and clear communication channels are required to support this innovative approach to asthma management.

Showcasing iSIMPATHY Success at All-Ireland Conference

Showcasing iSIMPATHY Success at All-Ireland Conference

Our iSIMPATHY team took to the road last week to showcase the success of the project in Dublin at the All-Ireland Conference on Integrated Care,

Joanne Brown and Oonagh McKenna displayed a poster focusing on patient centred polypharmacy review work with critical care step-down patients. 

The conference was a networking opportunity with professionalS in all areas of health and it reinforced the importance of understanding our patients’ needs and involving them in their care.

The iSIMPATHY project, funded by the European Union’s INTERREG VA Programme, worked with professionals in Scotland, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland to comprehensively review patient medication. Taking multiple medicines can be problematic if the increased risk of harm from interactions between drugs, or between drugs and diseases, outweighs the intended benefits. The iSIMPATHY project has improved care for patients prescribed with multiple medicines.