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ℹ️ Introduction
This article explains how the Ardens Clinical Safety Alerts work within EMIS Web. By the end of this guide, you will understand how Clinical Safety Alerts help identify potential patient safety concerns in real time and support safer clinical decision-making.
Background
In a busy general practice environment, it can be difficult to identify every potential safety concern during a consultation or prescribing activity. Important safety information may be linked to a patient's diagnoses, medications, monitoring requirements, or national guidance.
Ardens Clinical Safety Alerts are designed to support practice staff by highlighting potential risks at the point of care. These alerts are based on national guidance and are intended to help practices identify and act on potential safety issues as they arise. Clinical Safety Alerts are available to all practice staff and are displayed in real time when the relevant criteria are met.
How Ardens Can Help
Ardens Clinical Safety Alerts continuously monitor clinical data and display warnings when a potential safety issue is identified.
Key benefits include:
Supporting safer prescribing and clinical decision-making
Highlighting relevant MHRA and NICE guidance
Providing real-time alerts during consultations and prescribing
Reducing the risk of missed safety issues
Promoting consistent clinical practice across the organisation
All Clinical Safety Alerts are activated by default.
⚠️How the Alerts Work
Clinical Safety Alerts are triggered automatically when specific activity occurs within a patient's record.
This may include:
Adding a clinical code
Recording a diagnosis
Prescribing or issuing medication
Recording information that may indicate a safety concern
When the trigger criteria are met, an alert will appear on screen providing relevant information and guidance for the user.
✅Types of Alerts
Ardens provides a wide range of Clinical Safety Alerts covering different areas of patient safety.
Examples include:
Medication safety alerts
Drug monitoring alerts
High-risk prescribing alerts
Controlled drug alerts
Cancer-related safety alerts
National MHRA and NICE guidance alerts
Clinical monitoring reminders
Alerts are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect changes in national guidance and safety recommendations.
🚨Respond to an Alert
When an alert is displayed:
Review the information presented
Consider the guidance in the context of the patient's clinical situation
Take any appropriate action required
Continue with the consultation or prescribing process
Many alerts include links to supporting guidance or additional resources to help inform decision-making. Some alerts may also provide direct access to relevant Ardens templates or assessment tools.
❌ Deactivate an Alert
Clinical Safety Alerts are enabled by default and are designed to support safe clinical practice across the organisation.
While alerts can be managed at practice level, Ardens strongly recommends that Clinical Safety Alerts remain active to help ensure important patient safety issues are not missed.
If a practice chooses to deactivate an alert:
Go to the EMIS Ball
Select Configuration > Resource Publisher
Select Shared folders
Locate the Ardens Folder
Open the Clinical Safety Protocol folder
Right-click on the relevant alert and select Status > Deactivate
⚠️Please note: Deactivating an alert will disable it for all users within the organisation.
❓FAQs
Who can see Clinical Safety Alerts?
Clinical Safety Alerts are available to all users with access to patient records.
Are Clinical Safety Alerts enabled automatically?
Yes. Clinical Safety Alerts are installed as active when Ardens is deployed within EMIS Web.
Do Clinical Safety Alerts replace clinical judgement?
No. Clinical Safety Alerts are designed to support clinical decision-making and should be considered alongside professional judgement and local policies.
Are new safety alerts added to Ardens?
Yes. Ardens regularly reviews and updates content to align with national guidance and safety recommendations.
🏫 Additional Support
Complete the Getting Started with Ardens EMIS academy course
Book training for your GP Practice, PCN or ICB
Contact our Support Team for support in real time