HSE Mid West Introduced the MN-CMS EHR for Maternity, Neonatology, and Gynaecology Services

HSE Mid-West, has become the first region in Ireland to complete the implementation of the Maternal and Newborn Clinical Management System (MN-CMS) EHR with all specialties; maternity, neonatology as well as gynaecology.

MN-CMS is the Electronic Health Record (EHR) of the National Women and Infants Health Programme (NWIHP) and replaces paper-based records enabling doctors, midwives, nurses, and allied health professionals to access up-to-date patient information instantly.

The MN-CMS EHR went live at UMHL on Saturday July 5th and, on Monday July 7th, at the Nenagh Ambulatory Gynaecology Unit including menopause and fertility services followed by Ennis antenatal clinic on the July 9th. It is the fifth hospital to go live joining Cork University Maternity Hospital, University Hospital Kerry, the Rotunda Hospital, and the National Maternity Hospital in this national programme.

This is a significant advancement in the delivery of maternity, neonatology, and gynaecology care across the region and marks a key milestone in the HSE’s commitment to delivering safe, integrated, and person-centred care. It strengthens communication across hospital and community services, supporting safer, more coordinated care for women and newborns. With the Oracle Cerner-powered EHR they are connected with the hospitals and clinics already live on the system, ensuring that expectant mothers’ complete health records are accessible, regardless of where they receive care in the region. Additionally, MN-CMS EHR helps UMHL staff to accurately code diagnoses and procedures, receive near realtime notifications if the patient has an increased risk of certain conditions, and convert raw data into actionable insights by identifying patterns and trends that can elevate care delivery and help improve outcomes.

The key benefits of the MN-CMS EHR include:

• Enhanced patient safety through realtime access to clinical information and more informed decision-making
• Streamlined, high-quality documentation that reduces duplication and ensures legibility.
• Improved communication among multidisciplinary teams, ensuring seamless care across hospital and community settings.
• Support for research, audit, and datadriven management at local and national levels.
• Compliance with GDPR in protecting patient privacy while enabling secure information sharing.

As part of the HSE Digital for Care 2030 strategy, all of Ireland’s 19 maternity hospitals, units, and their related clinics are expected to implement the system in the next five years as part of this transformative national programme.

UMHL is a tertiary referral unit with 83 obstetric beds, 19 neonatal cots, seven birthing rooms, two operating theatres, two postnatal wards, and one antenatal ward. The Nenagh Ambulatory Gynaecology Unit is a state-of-the-art facility operating as a hub for women’s health, gynaecology, menopause, and fertility services, in the Mid-West region of Ireland.

Serving as the University of Limerick’s clinical placement site for midwifery and medical school training, UMHL provides comprehensive education and hands-on experience to future healthcare professionals and emphasises a collaborative approach to healthcare delivery, fostering a supportive environment for both patients and learners.

Digital for Care Programme

Better use of digital innovation is a critical part of the delivery of the modern health and social care response to the changing needs of patients and their families.

As part of driving Digital for Care, the Government’s digital strategy for Ireland’s health services to 2030, the HSE will use digital technology and data to improve our population’s health and wellbeing.

Healthcare staff will be provided with modern digital tools to deliver better, safer care. Digital innovation and solutions will be used to promote selfcare, lifestyle choices, assist with the prevention and treatment of disease and provide a more accurate diagnosis. Clinicians and carers will be enabled to share information safely so they can provide high quality, connected care and services, which are better coordinated around their patients’ needs. The MN-CMS EHR will be deployed to the remaining 14 maternity hospitals in the future phases.

You can read/download the Digital for Care Implementation Plan from this link. For information on MN-CMS go to this link.