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The Map of Medicine
The Map of Medicine is a nationally available online tool which provides a single point of reference on evidence-based care pathways, spanning both primary and secondary care for around 400 medical conditions.
A rigorous methodology has been used to create the national pathways and keep them up to date with emerging evidence, practice-based knowledge, and, where appropriate, changes in healthcare policy.
A key feature is that the Map can be localised both with non clinical information (e.g. opening hours and contact details) as well as with clinical information, for example the modification of pathways to recognise local decisions on the delivery of care. A number of early adopter communities have started using the localisation functionality. The uses are diverse, for example in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes it is being used to support smoking cessation services, in Kent and Medway it is being used to support services linked to dementia and depression.
Benefits include supporting reductions in the variability of patient journeys and ensuring, in practice, that the patient pathways adopted support optimisation of healthcare outcomes and the efficiency of healthcare delivery.
Potential Pharmacy Uses of the Map
The Map of Medicine has been highlighted in the Department of Health's Informatics Planning Guidance 2010/11 as a system to improve management, enable change and support the delivery of World Class Commissioning. LPCs and contractors involved in the design of pharmacy services may find the Map a helpful tool in ensuring local service delivery is consistent with national best-practice guidance. Similarly if a PCT is re-designing services and localising the Map, consideration could be given to the inclusion of community pharmacies in appropriate care pathways.
Practicing pharmacists may find the Map a useful information resource.
Accessing the Map
The national pathways can be accessed via www.eng.mapofmedicine.com. This site is open access. This site is also promoted to patients through NHS Choices.
In order to access a version of the Map with locally-adapted pathways that reflect local service design decisions, an NHS Athens account is required.
Map of Medicine – General Guidance (no registration required)
Map of Medicine – General + Local Guidance (registration required)
Map of Medicine - Patient Facing Website
Obtaining an Athens Password
All community pharmacists are eligible to sign-up for NHS Athens accounts to access secure content held on the NHS Evidence Health Information Resources Website, for example full-text articles that are normally available under subscription only.
An online form to register can be found on the NHS Evidence Health Information Resources Website. Once a personal account has been set up access is available 24/7 from any internet enabled PC. Registration is confirmed immediately if registration is undertaken through N3. It is also possible to register through a standard internet connection, but the application may take up to 15 days to be processed whilst eligibility if verified.
To prevent any delays in the registration process, it is important to ensure that the name used in the application, matches your name as it appears in the RPSGB register. If problems are experienced, for example if the request is declined, pharmacists should contact their regional NHS helpdesk.