The Dictionary of Medicines and Devices (dm+d)
A high-tech solution for tomorrow's pharmacy
As a key element of the information technology programme, dm+d delivers a single coding system for all medicines and devices. The successful implementation of dm+d is vital if initiatives, such as Integrated Care Records, are to be effective. As well as improving patient safety, the Dictionary of Medicines and Devices will support key developments including automated dispensing systems.
It has been developed for use throughout the NHS as a means of uniquely identifying the specific medicines or devices used in the diagnosis or treatment of patients. The dm+d will become the NHS standard for medicines and device identification, enabling diverse clinical systems to exchange information safely and reliably.
Improving patient safety is at the heart of the dm+d initiative. It is estimated that medication errors cost the NHS about £500 million per year in additional days spent in hospital. The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) has emphasised the importance of designing solutions that prevent harm. Electronic prescribing and dispensing systems have a vital part to play in reducing medication errors and transcription errors by providing clear, unambiguous and timely information.
As community pharmacists become more involved in prescribing and managing ailments, they will need to access and update patient information and medication histories. The dm+d will be central to this, giving you a unique code for each drug or device plus a text description. It is integrated with the Systematised Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms (SNOMED), the standard clinical terminology for health information IT systems.
