Medication safety

Clinicians collaborate on COVID-19 medication access

The CEC Medication Safety team led a collaboration with public, private and non-government organisations to devise an innovative model for all eligible people in NSW, particularly priority populations, to access oral antivirals for the treatment of COVID-19. These medicines were inaccessible in the community given limited supply, knowledge and lack of PBS listing. This model has been pivotal in achieving the objective of safe, high quality and equitable care being delivered across all settings. It is a demonstration of the CEC's ability to implement a bespoke, rapid and agile response to the system's needs. The model introduced a reliable service which connected primary and tertiary healthcare to improve access and outcomes for all of NSW, including rural, regional and priority populations.

Bayan sitting at his desk

Overview

This model empowered vulnerable community groups such as those living in regional, rural and remote areas of NSW, experiencing homelessness, living in Residential Aged Care Facilities or accessing Aboriginal Health Services to understand these treatments through the patient-specific resources.

It also empowered NSW Health Pharmacy Departments to solidify their relationships with local GPs, Aboriginal Health Services and Residential Aged Care Facilities.

The suite of resources that accompanied this model empowered clinicians to make appropriate decisions regarding patient eligibility and contributed to the safe prescribing of antiviral agents to treat COVID-19.

This model strengthened relationships between primary, secondary and tertiary care to optimise care for patients in NSW. The CEC's leadership allowed the barriers along the healthcare continuum to be broken down, and new networks and relationships to be formed as everyone worked towards the shared vision to ensure provision of the best patient care, no matter the health care setting.

Working with CEC on the antivirals access model was a true partnership! Everyone quickly committed their time and expertise to contribute to the rapid development of the model. This collaborative effort ensured the model met the needs of patients and clinicians in both primary and acute care, whilst also aligning to the ACI's model of care and clinical guidance, and meeting policy, legal, distribution and medication safety requirements. It has been great to get to know the Medication Safety Team and their portfolio of work through working on the access model – one of just many present and future partnerships!

Ellen Rawstron, Executive Director PRISM – Agency for Clinical Innovation

CEC Expertise

The CEC led a collaboration with other NSW Health agencies and primary health sector stakeholders and devised a model for access which allowed GPs and community-based medical specialists to provide electronic prescriptions for dispensing at NSW Health Pharmacy Departments. These medications were couriered to patient homes enabling COVID-19 positive patients to receive treatment and remain in the community. Extensive stakeholder engagement was undertaken to ensure this model was fit-for-purpose. The CEC also produced a suite of guidance documents and resources for clinicians and patients to improve knowledge and confidence in prescribing, dispensing and taking these treatments.

Bayan Hosseini – Senior Improvement Lead, Medicines Critical Response and Governance

Bayan Hosseini – Senior Improvement Lead, Medicines Critical Response and Governance

CORE principles at their best! The development of COVID-19 access models brought the Ministry of Health, pillar organisations, specialist health services and clinicians together to collaborate. Openness and respect were essential elements and at the centre was the CEC’s expertise in safety and quality, empowering the team to put patient safety first.

Vinstein Brillante, Senior Policy and Project Officer, State Preparedness and Response Unit

A safer system

Over 14,000 patients have successfully accessed oral COVID-19 treatments through NSW Health. The establishment of this model coincided with a peak in infections and likely prevented additional hospitalisations at a time of the highest number of COVID-19 cases and hospital admissions. Timely access for high-risk groups also likely prevented COVID-19 related deaths. The networks and relationships built can now be transferred and scaled to a wider scope to promote further safety and quality initiatives. The model has already been adapted to support the NSW response to the influenza outbreak and leveraged to widen access to Evusheld, a medicine for pre-exposure prophylaxis against COVID-19.

Meets Future Health priorities:

  • Safe care is delivered across all settings

Meets CEC Strategic Plan priorities:

  • Safety priorities and program

People

The CEC team:

  • Dr Harvey Lander – Director Systems Improvement
  • Nina Muscillo – Chief Advisor and Program Lead, Medication Safety, Quality and Therapeutic Optimisation
  • Lucy Nair – Principal Lead, Medication Safety and Quality
  • Bayan Hosseini – Senior Improvement Lead, Medicines Critical Response and Governance
  • Kate Roper – Improvement Lead, Medication Safety
  • Lolita Java – Improvement Lead, Medication Safety
  • Chi Tran – Improvement Lead, Medication Safety
  • Thulasee Sri Ganeshan – Improvement Lead, Medication Safety
  • Maria Chan – Project Support Officer, Medication Safety.

The CEC's Medication team

Our partners:

  • NSW Ministry of Health
  • Agency for Clinical Innovation
  • HealthShare NSW
  • eHealth NSW
  • Primary Health Networks
  • HealthPathways
  • NSW Health Pharmacy Departments
  • Clinician representatives from NSW Health
  • General Practitioners
  • Consumer representatives.