ARC-net Highly Commended

by Dorothée van Hooff | Jun 2, 2016 | News Release

MOIC partner ARC-net was Highly Commended in the category Healthcare Business of the Year of the Small Business Awards 2016, an award installed by Business Eye Magazine and First Trust Bank. This is a major endorsement as most of the other businesses awarded were at least 20 years old. Brenda Buckley, Publisher of Business Eye, said: “We received a really strong entry from a wide variety of companies based right across Northern Ireland. They are already an integral part of the business calendar here, and we’ve every reason to believe that they will go from strength to strength.”
Speaking about the Awards, Head of First Trust Bank, Des Moore, said: “By celebrating and rewarding their success through initiatives like the First Trust Bank Business Eye Small Business Awards, we help shine a light on best practice and hopefully motivate other businesses to achieve their full potential. The standard, diversity, innovation and entrepreneurial drive demonstrated at the Awards were not only exciting but encouraging for the local economy and we want to congratulate all of the entrants and winners.”

Success MOOP Think Tank

by MOIC | May 24, 2016 | News Release

On May 18^th 2016 the Medicines Optimisation in Older People Think Tank was attended by 50 people representing hospital and community pharmacy, local commissioning groups, GPs, the Department of Health, the Mid-East Antrim Agewell Partnership and the Health & Social Care Board. Ms Anne Friel (Regional Lead, MOOP) outlined the objectives of the day which included: describing a strategic approach to medicines optimisation for older people in Northern Ireland, sharing best practice and gathering ideas to inform a regional strategy for medicines optimisation for older people.

Dr Mark Timoney (Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, Department of Health) set the scene by outlining the change in population demographics in Northern Ireland. He told the audience we have both an obligation to our increasing population of older people to optimise their medicines and to focus on their healthcare journey, whilst also rationalising the healthcare system. Ideas should be ‘borrowed shamelessly’ with evidence-based practice introduced and scaled up across the province. There should be closer interprofessional ties with GPs and nurses, supported by enabling information technology, and clear connectivity between primary and secondary care.

Issues and priorities

This keynote lecture was followed by short presentations from pharmacists working in various settings including care homes, intermediate care and the acute setting. Innovations and new services presented included: a pilot of Frailsafe^®; BCH direct; intermediate care and care home case management; a falls assessment project; and the SHSCT Acute Care @ Home service.  The Think Tank attendees were asked to identify their main issues and priorities. All the presentations and priorities identified are available on the MOIC website (look at Presentations) or can be requested from Dr Ruth Miller, Project Manager, MOOP, ruth.miller@westerntrust.hscni.net.

In the picture from left to right: Carmel Darcy, Mark Timoney, Cathy Harrison, Joe Brogan, Ruth Miller, Anne Friel, Hilary McKee.

Demonstration STEPSelect in Dresden

by MOIC | May 18, 2016 | News Release

Mike Scott will demonstrate medicines optimisation tools at the University Clinic Carl Gustav Carus in Dresden on May 18. The focus will be on STEPSelect as a clinician driven procurement tool and EPICS. Our host is Julia Lämmel, lead antimicrobial pharmacist of the Clinic Carl Gustav Carus.

MOIC announces a partnership agreement with Pharmacy Management. 

by MOIC | Apr 28, 2016 | News Release

MOIC announces a partnership agreement with Pharmacy Management. The two organisations will work together to communicate and promote the development of medicines optimisation throughout the UK and beyond. More information: see profile Pharmacy Management.