PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Kathrin M Cresswell AU - Ann Slee AU - Aziz Sheikh TI - Five key recommendations for the implementation of hospital electronic prescribing and medicines administration systems in Scotland AID - 10.14236/jhi.v23i4.904 DP - 2016 Oct 01 TA - BMJ Health & Care Informatics PG - 783--788 VI - 23 IP - 4 4099 - http://informatics.bmj.com/content/23/4/783.short 4100 - http://informatics.bmj.com/content/23/4/783.full AB - National Health Service (NHS) Scotland is about to embark on the implementation of hospital electronic prescribing and medicines administration systems. There are a number of risks associated with such ventures, and thus drawing on existing experiences from other settings is crucial in informing deployment.Drawing on our previous and ongoing work in English hospitals as well as the international literature, we reflect on key lessons that NHS Scotland may wish to consider in going forward. These deliberations include recommendations surrounding the key aspects of deployment strategy: 1) the way central coordination should be conceptualised, 2) how flexibility in strategy can be ensured, 3) paying attention to optimising systems from the outset, 4) how expertise should be developed and centrally shared, and 5) ways in which learning from experience can be maximised.Our five recommendations will, we hope, provide a starting point for the strategic deliberations of policy makers. Throughout this journey, it is important to view the deployment of hospital electronic prescribing and medicines administration systems as part of a wider strategic goal of creating integrated digital infrastructures across Scotland.