Northeast Health Wangaratta (NHW) has successfully gone live with the Charm Oncology Information Management System, marking a significant milestone in the region’s cancer care delivery. Funded by the Victorian Government and delivered by Magentus, the implementation introduces a modern, fully electronic chemotherapy prescribing and scheduling system that replaces outdated manual processes and sets a new benchmark for patient safety, efficiency, and quality of care.
For decades, oncology teams have relied on paper charts, manual scheduling, and fragmented communication – methods that often led to inefficiencies, delays, and increased risk of transcription errors. Today, NHW joins over 100 facilities nationwide that trust Charm to deliver safe, evidence-based cancer treatment. With more than 100,000 patients managed through Charm over the past decade, this proven platform is now empowering NHW to provide care that is faster, safer, and more connected.
A Leap Forward in Patient Safety and Care Quality
Charm has been designed to remove barriers to person-centred care. For patients, the benefits are immediately tangible: reduced waiting times, fewer delays, and improved communication with their care team. By creating a single source of truth for treatment information, Charm strengthens trust and transparency throughout the cancer journey.
Charm’s electronic prescribing and administration capabilities significantly reduce the risk of medication errors and improve real-time verification. Built-in clinical checks and decision support tools ensure treatments align with best-practice protocols, giving clinicians confidence and patients peace of mind. Standardised documentation enhances continuity of care, while integrated scheduling eliminates the inefficiencies of manual appointment booking.
“Moving from paper-based systems to Charm is a game-changer,” said Kim Bennetts, NHW Executive Director of people And Corporate Operations. “Our patients deserve the highest standard of care, and this technology helps us deliver that safely, efficiently, and consistently. This implementation reflects our commitment to safe, high-quality care and our vision for a digitally connected health service.”
Efficiency That Benefits Everyone
The shift to Charm means streamlined workflows for nurses, pharmacists, and oncologists. Automated scheduling reduces administrative burden, while integration with Slade Pharmacy removes duplication and accelerates medication ordering and dispensing. By eliminating paper charts and manual checklists, staff can focus on patient care.
“Charm doesn’t just improve processes, it transforms the experience for clinicians and patients alike,” said Margot Mason, Head of Clinical Services at Magentus. “This is about enabling care teams to work smarter, not harder, and ensuring every patient receives timely, evidence-based treatment. It’s about giving clinicians the tools they need to deliver exceptional outcomes.”
Beyond immediate operational benefits, Charm positions NHW for a digitally connected future. Real-time access to patient records enhances collaboration across disciplines, while structured data supports audit, research, and continuous improvement. The introduction of wall-mounted computers and Workstations on Wheels (WOWs) ensures mobility and bedside documentation, aligning with NHW’s broader digital health strategy.
