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Right Decision Service newsletter: September 2024

Welcome to the Right Decision Service (RDS) newsletter for September 2024.

1.Business case for permanent provision of the Right Decision Service from April 2025 onwards

This business case has now been endorsed by the HIS Board and will shortly be submitted to Scottish Government.

2. Management of RDS support tickets

To balance increasing demand with available capacity and financial resource, the RDS team and Tactuum are now working together to  implement closer management of support tickets. As a key part of this, we want to ensure clear, timely and consistent communication with yourselves as requesters.  

Editors will now start seeing new messages come through in response to support ticket requests which reflect this tightening up and improvement of our processes.

Key points to note are:

2.1 Issues confirmed by the RDS and Tactuum teams as meeting the critical/urgent and high priority criteria will continue to be prioritised and dealt with immediately.

Critical/urgent issues are defined as:

  1. The Service as a whole is not operational for multiple users. OR
  2. Multiple core functions of the Service are not operational for multiple users.

Example – RDS website outage.

Please remember to email ann.wales3@nhs.scot and his.decisionsupport@nhs.scot with any critical/urgent issues in addition to raising a support ticket.

High priority issues are defined as:

  1. A single core function of the Service is not operational for multiple users. OR:
  2. Multiple non-core functions of the Service are not operational for multiple users.

Example – Build to app not working.

2.2 Support requests that are outwith the warranty period of 12 weeks since the software was originally developed will not be automatically addressed by Tactuum. The RDS team will consider these requests for costed development work and will obtain estimate of effort and cost from Tactuum for priority issues.

2.3 Support tickets for technical issues that are not classified as bugs will not be automatically addressed by Tactuum. The definition of a bug is ‘a defect in the software that is at variance with documented user requirements.’  Issues that are not bugs will also be considered for costed development work.

The majority of issues currently in support tickets fall into category 2 or 3 above, or both.

2.4 Non-urgent requests that require a deployment (i.e a new release of RDS) will normally be factored into the next scheduled release (currently end of Nov 2024 and end of Feb 2025) unless by special agreement with the RDS team.

Please note that we plan to move in the new year to a new system whereby requests all come to an RDS support portal in the first instance and are triaged from there to Tactuum when appropriate.

We will be organising a webinar in a few weeks’ time to take you through the details of the current support processes and criteria.

3. Next scheduled deployment.

The next scheduled RDS deployment will take place at the end of November 2024.  We are reviewing all outstanding support tickets and feature requests along with estimates of effort and cost to determine which items will be included in this deployment.

We will update you on this in the next newsletter and in the planned webinar about support ticket processes.

4. Contingency arrangements for RDS

Many thanks to those of you who attended our recent webinar on the contingency arrangements being put in place to prevent future RDS outages as far as possible and minimise impact if they do occur.  Please contact ann.wales3@nhs.scot if you would like a copy of the slides from this session.

5. Transfer of CKP pathways to RDS

The NES clinical knowledge pathway (CKP) publisher is now retired and the majority of pathways supported by this tool have been transferred to the RDS. Examples include:

NHS Lothian musculoskeletal pathways

NHS Fife rehabilitation musculoskeletal pathways

NHS Tayside paediatric pathways

6. Other new RDS toolkits

Include:

Focus on frailty (from HIS Frailty improvement programme)

NHS GGC Money advice and support

If you would like to promote one of your new toolkits through this newsletter, please contact ann.wales3@nhs.scot

To go live imminently:

  • Focus on dementia
  • NHS Lothian infectious diseases toolkit
  • Dumfries and Galloway Adult Support and Protection procedures
  • SIGN guideline – Prevention and remission of type 2 diabetes

 

7. Evaluation projects

We have recently analysed the results of a survey of users of the Scottish Palliative Care Guidelines toolkit.  Key findings from 61 respondents include:

  • Most respondents (64%) are frequent users of the toolkit, using it either daily or weekly. A further 25% use it once or twice per month.
  • 5% of respondents use the toolkit to deliver direct patient care and 82% use it for learning
  • Impact on practice and decision-making was rated as very high, with 80% of respondents rating these at a 4-5 on a 5 point scale.
  • Impact on time saving was also high, with 74% of respondents rating it from 3-5.
  • 74% also reported that the toolkit improved their knowledge and skills, rating these at 4-5 on the Likert scale

Key strengths identified included:

  • The information is useful, succinct, and easy to understand (31%).
  • Coverage is comprehensive (15%)
  • All information is readily accessible in one place and users value the offline access via mobile app (15%)
  • Information is reliable, evidence-based and up to date (13%)

Users highlighted key areas for improvement in terms of navigation and search functionality. The survey was very valuable in enabling us to uncover the specific issues affecting the user experience. Many of these can be addressed through content management approaches. The issues identified with search results echo other user feedback, and we are costing improvements with a view to implementation in the next RDS deployment.

8.RDS High risk prescribing (polypharmacy) decision support embedded in Vision and EMIS primary care E H R systems

This decision support software, sponsored by Scottish Government Effective Prescribing and Therapeutics Division,  is now available for all primary care clinicians across NHS Tayside. Board-wide implementation is also planned for NHS Lothian, and NHS GGC, NHS Ayrshire and Arran and NHS Dumfries and Galloway have initial pilots in progress. The University of Dundee has been commissioned to evaluate impact of this decision support software on prescribing practice.

9. Video tutorials for RDS editors

Ten bite-size (5 mins or less) video tutorials for RDS editors are now available in the “Resources for providers of RDS tools” section of the RDS.  These cover core functionality including Save and preview, content page and media management, password management and much more.

10. Training sessions for new editors (also serve as refresher sessions for existing editors) will take place on the following dates:

  • Wednesday 23rd October 4-5 pm
  • Tuesday 29th October 11 am -12 pm

To book a place, please contact Olivia.graham@nhs.scot, providing your name, organisation, job role, and level of experience with RDS editing (none, a little, moderate, extensive.)

If you have any questions about the content of this newsletter, please contact his.decisionsupport@nhs.scot  

With kind regards

 

Right Decision Service team

Healthcare Improvement Scotland

 

 

 

Red – For medicines normally initiated and used under specialist guidance

Introduction

Description

Anaesthetic agent used with specialist supervision as a third-line analgesic to manage complex pain. It is an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor inhibitor. This use is outside the UK marketing authorisation.

 

note: syringe pump and syringe driver are both relevant terms

Preparations

(Note: Will need indication for use on prescription, for example ‘for nerve pain’)

Ketamine injection

  • Used by subcutaneous injection/ infusion.
  • Specialists occasionally give ketamine IV – see below.
  • Preparations: 10mg/ml (20ml ampoule), 50mg/ml (10ml vial)

Ketamine oral solution

  • 50mg/5ml (unlicensed specials medicine)
  • (This is the preferred strength but other options are available)
  • Injection may be given orally

Ketamine is a Schedule 2 CD (Controlled Drug), therefore all prescriptions must satisfy CD prescription requirements to be valid and include details of the dose, form, strength, directions for use and total quantity (in both words and figures). It must also follow CD storage and recording regulations.

Sample prescription

 

Indications

†Unlicensed

  • Neuropathic pain poorly responsive to titrated opioids and oral adjuvant analgesics (for example antidepressant and/or anticonvulsant) particularly when there is abnormal pain sensitivity - allodynia, hyperalgesia or hyperpathia.
  • Complex ischaemic limb pain or phantom limb pain.
  • Poorly controlled incident bone pain (often has a neuropathic element).
  • Complex visceral/abdominal neuropathic pain.

 

Cautions

  • Use low doses, carefully monitored, in cardiac failure, cerebrovascular disease, ischaemic heart disease.
  • If used for over 3 weeks and there is a need to stop treatment, discontinue ketamine gradually.
  • Consider dose reduction in severe hepatic impairment.

 

Contra-indications

  • Do not use ketamine if patient has raised intracranial pressure; uncontrolled hypertension, delirium or recent seizures; history of psychosis.

 

Drug interactions

  • Ketamine interacts with theophylline (tachycardia, seizures) and levothyroxine (monitor for hypertension, tachycardia).
  • Diazepam increases the plasma concentration of ketamine.
  • Refer to relevant British National Formulary (BNF) section for further information.

 

Side effects

  • Hallucinations, dysphoria and vivid dreams.
  • Hypertension, tachycardia, raised intracranial pressure.
  • Sedation at higher doses.
  • Erythema and pain at infusion site.
  • Urinary tract symptoms, for example frequency, urgency, urge incontinence, dysuria and haematuria. (Where there is no evidence of bacterial infection, consider discontinuing ketamine and seeking urology advice.)

 

Dose and administration

Starting ketamine

  • Ketamine is started on the recommendation of a palliative medicine consultant. This is usually done in an inpatient setting.
  • Very occasionally, a patient may need to start ketamine in the community. The route of choice is generally oral ketamine. The palliative medicine consultant will liaise closely with the GP, community nurse, and unscheduled care service.
  • 24-hour palliative medicine advice will be available.
  • Patients starting ketamine will be taking a regular opioid. Ketamine may restore the patient’s opioid sensitivity and lead to opioid toxicity.
  • The specialist may recommend changing to a short acting, regular opioid before starting ketamine, particularly if the patient has side effects from the current opioid dose.
  • Monitor closely for signs of opioid toxicity (for example sedation, confusion); reduce opioid dose by one third if the patient is drowsy and seek advice.
  • Hallucinations/dysphoria. If the patient is not drowsy this is more likely to be a ketamine side effect than due to opioids.
  • Give QThaloperidol oral 500micrograms to 1mg twice daily or SC 1mg to 2mg once daily. Midazolam SC 2mg as needed can also be used.
  • Preventing ketamine dysphoria – consider oral QThaloperidol 500micrograms to 1mg daily when starting ketamine. It can be stopped when the patient’s ketamine dose is stable.

 

Dose and administration – oral ketamine

  • Ketamine can be started using the oral route or patients may be changed from an SC infusion when pain is controlled.
  • Starting dose: 5mg to 10mg four times daily.
  • Increase dose in 5mg to 10mg increments.
  • Usual dose range: 10mg to 60mg four times daily.

 

Dose and administration – subcutaneous ketamine infusion

  • Starting dose: 50mg to 150mg/24 hours.
  • Review daily; increase dose in 50mg to 100mg increments.
  • Usual dose range: 50mg to 600mg/24 hours (higher doses are occasionally used in specialist units).

 

Administration

  • Prepare a new syringe every 24 hours.
  • Dilute ketamine with sodium chloride 0.9%.
  • Check the syringe is not cloudy and protect it from light.
  • Ketamine stability and compatibility – refer to syringe pump ketamine compatibility table.
  • Dispose of the ketamine vial in accordance with the local policy.
  • Rotate the SC infusion site daily to prevent site reactions. If these occur, increase the volume of sodium chloride 0.9% used to dilute the ketamine if possible and/or add a maximum of 1mg of dexamethasone injection to the ketamine infusion.

 

Converting from a 24-hour SC ketamine infusion to oral ketamine

  • Oral ketamine is more potent than SC ketamine (due to liver metabolism). Many patients require a dose reduction of 25 to 50% when changing to oral ketamine.
  • Prescribe the oral ketamine in divided doses - four times daily.
  • Titrate dose in 5mg to 10mg increments.
  • Some specialists stop the SC infusion when the first dose of oral ketamine is given. Others gradually reduce the infusion dose as the oral dose is increased.

 

 Dose and administration – parenteral ketamine

  • Palliative medicine consultants or anaesthetists occasionally administer SC or IV ketamine as single or ‘pulsed’ doses for severe pain or to cover painful procedures.
  • Specialists have used IV ketamine infusions to manage ischaemic limb pain.

 

Practice points

Patient monitoring

  • Patients who are at risk of hypertension, tachycardia, respiratory depression or opioid toxicity should only start ketamine in a clinical area able to monitor them 2 to 4 hourly for the first 24 hours.
  • All patients should be medically reviewed at least once daily until stable, and then weekly.
  • Once the pain is controlled, the palliative medicine specialist may recommend a gradual reduction in the dose of opioid and/or ketamine.

 

Blood pressure

  • Check blood pressure is normal or well controlled before starting ketamine. Record a baseline blood pressure.
  • Check blood pressure one hour after the first dose of oral ketamine or starting a SC infusion.
  • Check blood pressure 24 hours after the first dose of ketamine, then daily.
  • If blood pressure increases 20mmHg above baseline inform the patient’s doctor.
  • If blood pressure remains elevated 20mmHg above baseline on repeated measurement, stop the ketamine and seek advice from a palliative medicine specialist.

 

 Pulse

  • Record a baseline pulse rate.
  • Check pulse one hour after the first dose of ketamine or starting SC infusion.
  • Check pulse 24 hours after the first dose of ketamine, then daily.
  • If pulse rate increases 20bpm above baseline or rises above 100bpm, inform the patient’s doctor.
  • If there is no other cause of tachycardia, seek advice from a palliative medicine specialist.

 

Respiratory rate

  • Record a baseline respiratory rate.
  • The palliative medicine specialist will advise on frequency of monitoring.
  • If respiratory rate decreases to 10 breaths/minute inform medical staff. Seek advice from a palliative medicine specialist.
  • Naloxone (in small titrated doses) is only required for reversal of life-threatening respiratory depression due to opioid analgesics, indicated by:
    • a low respiratory rate, fewer than 8 respirations/minute
    • oxygen saturation below 85%, patient cyanosed.
  • Naloxone should not be given in large bolus doses as it can precipitate an acute opioid withdrawal reaction. Refer to Naloxone guideline.

 

Dysphoria, hallucinations, vivid dreams

Assess patient daily until ketamine dose is stable; then stop any regular QThaloperidol or midazolam.

 

Patient and carer advice points

  • There can be a delay of several days in obtaining further supplies of ketamine. Advise patients to ensure new supplies are requested in adequate time.
  • The taste of ketamine can be unpleasantly bitter. Patients can suck or chew on something sweeter after taking. Other flavours can also be requested.

 

References

Prommer EE. Ketamine for pain: An update of uses in Palliative Care. Journal of Palliative Medicine 2012;15(4):474-483.

Quibell R, Prommer EE, Mihalyo M. Ketamine. Journal of Pain & Symptom Management 2011;41(3):640-649.

Twycross R and Wilcock A. Palliative Care Formulary (Fourth Edition). Palliativedrugs.com Ltd, Nottingham, 2011.

Hanks G et al. The Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine (Fourth edition). Oxford Univeristy Press, 2010.

Fallon M, Welsh J. The role of ketamine in pain control. European Journal of Palliative Care 1996; 3:143-146.

Mercadante S. Ketamine in cancer pain: an update. Palliative Medicine 1996; 10: 225-230.

Edmonds P. The role of ketamine in the management of chronic pain. CME Bulletin Palliative Medicine 1998; 1:3-5.

Grant I, Nimmo W, Clements J. Pharmacokinetics and analgesic effects of IM and oral ketamine. British Journal of Anaesthesia 1981; 53:805-809.

Enarson M, Hays H, Woodroffe M. Clinical experience with oral ketamine. Journal Pain & Symptom Management 1999; 5: 384-386.

Bell RF. Low-dose subcutaneous ketamine infusion and morphine tolerance. Pain 1999; 83: 101-103.

Fitzgibbon E, Hall P, Schroder C et al. Low Dose Ketamine as an Analgesic Adjuvant in Difficult Pain Syndromes: A Strategy for Conversion from Parenteral to Oral Ketamine. Journal Pain & Symptom Management 2002; 23(2): 165-170.

Beitez-Rosario M, Feria M, Salinas-Martin A. A retrospective comparison of the dose ratio between subcutaneous and oral ketamine. Journal Pain & Symptom Management 2003; 25: 400-402.

Kannan T, Saxena A, Bhatnagar, Barry A. Oral ketamine as an adjuvant to oral morphine for neuropathic pain in cancer patients. Journal Pain & Symptom Management 2002; 23: 6065.

Bell R, Eccleston C, Kalso E. Ketamine as an adjuvant to opioids for cancer pain (Cochrane Review). In: The Cochrane Library. Issue 3, 2004. Oxford: Update Software.

Hocking G, Cousins M. Ketamine in chronic pain management: an evidence-based review. AnaesthAnalg. 2003; 97: 1730-9.

Visser E, Schug S. The role of ketamine in pain management. Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy 2006; 60: 341-348.

Webster L, Walker M. Safety and efficacy of prolonged outpatient ketamine infusions for neuropathic pain. American Journal of Therapeutics 2006; 13: 300-5.

 

Stability references

Watson D, Lin M, Morton A et al. Compatibility and stability of dexamethasone sodium phosphate and ketamine hydrochloride subcutaneous infusions in polypropylene syringes. Journal Pain & Symptom Management 2005; 30: 80-86.

Twycross R and Wilcock A. Palliative Care Formulary (Fourth Edition). Palliativedrugs.com Ltd, Nottingham, 2011.

Dickman A, Schneider J and Varga J. The Syringe Driver (Third Edition). Oxford University Press 2011.