opportunity to take an international, joined up approach to tackling dementia.

This comes at an important time, with the worlds population aging and some predictions that by 2020 we will see nearly 70 million people living with the condition. The

Saving time and money in todays busy carehomes

Introducing the new LloydsPharmacy electronic Medicines Administration Record (eMAR) And because there are no paper files, eMAR reduces the need for spacewasting file storage. eMAR is easy to use too, thanks to its checklist design and simple step-bystep process, with training provided. Meeting CQC requirements Because the LloydsPharmacy eMAR system stores patient records on a single system, it improves care homes' compliance with CQC standards something that can be more difficult for businesses that use paper-based systems. Using eMAR can help with several different CQC requirements, including outcomes one, nine, 11, 16 and 21. Take outcomes nine and 21 for example: CQC Outcome 9 (Regulation 13) Management of medicines Requirement: To handle medicines safely, securely and appropriately. Requirement: To ensure medicines are prescribed and given to people safely. Requirement: To follow guidance about how to use medicines safely. How eMAR helps: Medicines are dispensed from their original packaging, which includes patient information leaflets, expiry dates and manufacturer details. eMAR also assesses each patient's medication for details of known allergies and to make sure it's safe to use with other medications, which helps prevent adverse drug reactions. CQC Outcome 21 (Regulation 20) Records Requirement: To keep accurate, personalised care, treatment and support records. Requirement: To store records in a secure, accessible way that allows them to be located quickly. How eMAR helps: All records in eMAR are stored electronically. This means fast and easy handovers for staff as well as remote access for head offices a paperless system that can be shared with external bodies. CQC compliance aside, one of the most valuable benefits of the LloydsPharmacy eMAR system is that it allows care home staff to spend more time doing what they do best that is, caring for residents. Why? Because by using eMAR, staff spend far less time on admin. And that means there's more time for patients, which leads to a safer environment, since care and quality issues are picked up and managed far more quickly. For more details contact us by emailing healthcare.services@ lloydspharmacy.co.uk or speak to one of the team on 024 7643 2117

Global attention on dementia is welcome

n November, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt compared dementia to cancer in the 1960s and HIV/Aids in the 1980s suggesting that people are too scared to talk about it. After a long and painful journey he said, we are now much more open about both and better able to tackle [cancer and HIV/Aids]. We need now need to do the same with dementia. The increased attention now being paid to dementia by national and international governments should be welcomed by all. Hunt was speaking following the publication of the State of the Nation dementia care report, which reveals that in some areas of the UK less than half of people with dementia are properly diagnosed. Alongside the report, the Department of Health published a map showing the differences between CCGs in rates of diagnosis. These range from 75 per cent in some areas to as low as 39 per cent in others, a figure Hunt describes as unacceptable. David Cameron has made addressing dementia a priority of this government, personally launching the Dementia Care Challenge in 2012 and describing dementia as one of the most important issues we face as the population ages. As well as the health and personal issues associated with dementia, it is also a considerable economic burden to the UK, with the disease costing the country 19 billion a year a figure set to spiral as the population grows older. To combat this, the government has committed 66 million to fund research to find a cure for the disease. However, the State of the Nation figures show there is still a long way to go, with funding levels still a fraction of those directed at cancer, for example. As well as committing more funding, the UK took advantage of its presidency of the G8 to host the first ever G8 Dementia Summit in December. This provided a unique
12 Healthcare Business

summit will bring together governments, researchers, pharmaceutical companies, business and third sector organisations, with the intention to make dementia more of an issue for the international community. One of the key focuses of the summit was the search for a cure for dementia. Opinions on the potential for this to be achieved differ. Some predict that this could be reality in the near future, with Dr Eric Karran, director of research at Alzheimers Research UK, suggesting a breakthrough may come in the next five years. The summit also saw the Care Quality Commission announce that it is to carry out focused inspections of some 150 care homes and acute hospitals to review how people with dementia are cared for in England. This is again a reflection of how seriously the challenges of dementia and an aging population are being taken, and provides an opportunity for the care sector to play a leading role in how we care for people living with dementia. With dementia now firmly established on the national and, thanks to the G8 Dementia Summit, international stage, we look forward to seeing what the results of this increased focus will be. Nick Albrow Senior Account Executive PLMR 020 7622 9529 www.plmr.co.uk

sk any care home business to name its top priorities and the safety and care of its residents is always number one. Since many residents require medicines, that means medicines administration and management is essential too. And let's not forget compliance with tough CQC standards, something all care home managers cannot afford to ignore. These are all issues LloydsPharmacy's care home service understands only too well. So well, in fact, that LloydsPharmacy has introduced its integrated electronic medical administration records or eMAR solution for care homes. LloydsPharmacy recognises there's a real need for an integrated solution to support safe and effective resident care, both today and in the future. It also realises most care homes must adopt new practices to improve their performance in terms of CQC regulations. And that's where eMAR comes in. But what does the system do exactly? Forget time-consuming, paperbased medicines administration record (MAR) charts. LloydsPharmacy's eMAR system uses a portable touchscreen device a tablet computer that records details of patients' medicines electronically. This helps to make sure medicines are delivered correctly while providing a full electronic record and audit trail. It's safe, secure and online. And because it produces single patient records, it makes building and monitoring individual resident care plans easier too, while helping to reduce adverse drug reactions. Valuable benefits But that's not all. With LloydsPharmacy's eMAR system, staff handovers are simpler and faster, and handwriting issues are a thing of the past. Medicines are delivered in their original packaging and stock control is automated, which saves valuable time. Most importantly, medicines mismanagement is reduced, as is medicines waste, since eMAR includes end-to-end medication management. And those who need access to patients' records whether care home staff, pharmacists or residents' GPs can get it online, instantly. Integration is important to care home managers, so eMAR also works with care planning software, with multiple-site care homes able to view and analyse patients' records centrally.