National Standard Medication Chart (NSMC) audit
The National Standard Medication Chart (NSMC) audit aims to improve the safety and quality of medication charting in Australian hospitals who use paper-based NSMCs. Audit data can help health service organisations evaluate the effectiveness of NSMC safety features. These features can contribute to improved health outcomes for patients and identify areas for continuous quality improvement within hospitals.
It is recommended that Australian hospitals and day procedure centres utilise the NSMC Audit System on a regular basis to identify priority focus areas, implement quality improvement processes and trend improvements. This data can be utilised as evidence for the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) standards (second edition), specifically Standard 4 Medication Safety.
NSMC national and local audits
Since its establishment in 2018, individual sites have been using the NSMC Audit System to conduct local audits.
NSMC National Audits have also been conducted, and reports are available on the Commission’s website (below) for health services looking to understand how their organisation performs against national results.
From 2024 onwards, the Commission will no longer be coordinating NSMC National Audits.
The NSMC audit system will be maintained by the Commission and will be available for Australian hospitals and day procedure centres to access the system and conduct local audits.
At this time, only Australian hospitals and day procedure services (public and private) will be able to access the NSMC Audit System.
All enquiries should be emailed to nsmc.audit@safetyandquality.gov.au.
Audit resources
FAQs, forms and guides
The following resources have been developed to support hospitals participating in the NSMC audit.
NSMC audit system video tutorials
Instructional videos are available for the NSMC audit system:
Contacts
Contact your NSMC local contact for further advice.
| State | Contact email | Contact phone |
|---|---|---|
| ACT – Mr Daniel Lalor | Daniel.Lalor@act.gov.au | (02) 6174 7106 |
| NSW – Ms Nina Muscillo | CEC-MedicationSafety@health.nsw.gov.au | (02) 9269 5585 |
| NT – Ms Angela Young | angela.young@nt.gov.au | (08) 8951 7571 |
| QLD – Ms Fiona McIver | medicationsafety@health.qld.gov.au | (07) 3708 5294 |
| SA – Ms Jacinta Nagle | HealthMedicationSafety@sa.gov.au | (08) 8204 1944 |
| TAS – Ms Lisa Crisp | lisa.crisp@ths.tas.gov.au | (03) 6777 4238 |
| VIC – Dr Kylie McIntosh | Kylie.McIntosh@safercare.vic.gov.au | (03) 9500 4322 |
| WA – Ms Wai Seen Kee | doh.medicinesandtechnologyunit@health.wa.gov.au | Mon, Tues |
Checklist for Assessors
FAQs, forms and guides
The following resources have been developed to support hospitals participating in the NSMC audit.
NSMC audit system video tutorials
Instructional videos are available for the NSMC audit system:
Contacts
Contact your NSMC local contact for further advice.
| State | Contact email | Contact phone |
|---|---|---|
| ACT – Mr Daniel Lalor | Daniel.Lalor@act.gov.au | (02) 6174 7106 |
| NSW – Ms Nina Muscillo | CEC-MedicationSafety@health.nsw.gov.au | (02) 9269 5585 |
| NT – Ms Angela Young | angela.young@nt.gov.au | (08) 8951 7571 |
| QLD – Ms Fiona McIver | medicationsafety@health.qld.gov.au | (07) 3708 5294 |
| SA – Ms Jacinta Nagle | HealthMedicationSafety@sa.gov.au | (08) 8204 1944 |
| TAS – Ms Lisa Crisp | lisa.crisp@ths.tas.gov.au | (03) 6777 4238 |
| VIC – Dr Kylie McIntosh | Kylie.McIntosh@safercare.vic.gov.au | (03) 9500 4322 |
| WA – Ms Wai Seen Kee | doh.medicinesandtechnologyunit@health.wa.gov.au | Mon, Tues |
Checklist for Assessors
Audit reports
2022 report
The NSMC national audit was conducted between 4 October 2022 to 31 October 2022 for participating hospitals across all Australian states and territories, including private hospitals. The report outlines the findings and recommendations from the 2022 National Standard Medication Chart (NSMC) national audit.
2020 report
The NSMC national audit was conducted between 21 September 2020 to 31 October 2020 for participating hospitals across all Australian states and territories, including private hospitals. The report outlines the findings and recommendations from the 2020 National Standard Medication Chart (NSMC) national audit.
This report outlines the findings and recommendations from the 2020 National Standard Medication Chart (NSMC) national audit.
2018 report
This report outline the findings and recommendations from the National Standard Medication Chart (NSMC) national audit conducted in 2018.
Previous reports
In September 2018, the National Inpatient Medication Chart (NIMC) audit system was replaced by the NSMC audit system.
If you would like a copy of a previous NIMC audit report from 2009-2014 please contact the Commission via email on medsafety@safetyandquality.gov.au.
2022 report
The NSMC national audit was conducted between 4 October 2022 to 31 October 2022 for participating hospitals across all Australian states and territories, including private hospitals. The report outlines the findings and recommendations from the 2022 National Standard Medication Chart (NSMC) national audit.
2020 report
The NSMC national audit was conducted between 21 September 2020 to 31 October 2020 for participating hospitals across all Australian states and territories, including private hospitals. The report outlines the findings and recommendations from the 2020 National Standard Medication Chart (NSMC) national audit.
This report outlines the findings and recommendations from the 2020 National Standard Medication Chart (NSMC) national audit.
2018 report
This report outline the findings and recommendations from the National Standard Medication Chart (NSMC) national audit conducted in 2018.
Previous reports
In September 2018, the National Inpatient Medication Chart (NIMC) audit system was replaced by the NSMC audit system.
If you would like a copy of a previous NIMC audit report from 2009-2014 please contact the Commission via email on medsafety@safetyandquality.gov.au.