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PharmAlert — Clinical Decision Support

HOSPITALS

A second check at the point of prescribing.

Hospital prescribing happens fast, across shifts, and often by the clinician least familiar with the patient. PharmAlert sits alongside your ePMA system and checks the prescription against the patient it is written for.

The setting

Prescriptions are written by rotating junior staff, reviewed by pharmacy at intervals, and administered by nursing teams. The person writing the prescription frequently has the least complete picture of the patient in front of them, and the least time to build one.

Where risk builds up

  • Admission and discharge, where the medicines list is being rebuilt from more than one source.
  • Out-of-hours prescribing, when pharmacy review is delayed until the next working day.
  • Patients whose renal function has changed since their regular medicines were started.
  • Anticoagulation, where a single missed interaction has an immediate clinical consequence.

Where PharmAlert fits

PharmAlert runs as the prescription is written, before it is signed — not as a retrospective report. Findings carry their reason and a safer alternative, and proceeding is always available and always recorded, so the check supports the prescriber rather than blocking them.

A check for this setting

Post-operative patient, 82, nine medicines, reduced renal function

Patient
M · 82 · eGFR 38
Medicines
9
CriticalPA-INT-002

Clarithromycin + Simvastatin

Clarithromycin inhibits CYP3A4, raising simvastatin exposure several-fold. Risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis.

Well documented · Established

SuggestedSuspend the statin for the antibiotic course, or use azithromycin — confirm against local formulary.

CriticalPA-INT-008

Warfarin + Macrolide

Macrolides inhibit warfarin metabolism and disturb gut flora that contribute to vitamin K. INR can rise sharply within days.

Well documented · Established

SuggestedCheck INR within three to five days of starting and again after the course — confirm against local anticoagulation guidance.

WarningPA-INT-020

ACE inhibitor + Potassium-sparing diuretic

Both raise serum potassium. Risk of hyperkalaemia, increased where renal function is already reduced.

Well documented · Established

SuggestedThe combination is often clinically intended in heart failure. Check U&Es at baseline and one to two weeks after any change.

6 risks · 2 critical · showing top 3 of 6

Demonstration only, using fictional patients. Not for clinical use.

What a pilot involves

SCOPE
One ward or one specialty, with a named clinical lead.
INTEGRATION
API alongside the existing ePMA, or an embedded panel within it.
MEASURES
Findings raised, findings actioned, override reasons, and prescriber feedback on relevance.
DURATION
Roughly fifteen weeks from scoping to joint evaluation.

Tell us about your setting.

We will come back with what a pilot would look like for you.

Request a pilot