Moreland (2012) identifies the use of information technology as a means to increase patient safety, increase continuity of care and change hospital delivery (p. 97). Implementing the eMAR system can therefore increase patient safety and increase nurses’ confidence in medication administration. One option in reducing medication errors is the ability for the eMAR system to display alerts. For example regulatory questions and standards are implemented within the system to ensure the standards for medications administration are being addressed (Hunter, 2011, p. 2). The ability for the system to alert nurses when dispensing and administering medication reinforces accountability in nurses to check the medication administration rights before administering
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In addition to eMAR the use of barcode technology in collaboration with the eMAR system has resulted in an overall decrease in medication errors. Barcode technology and eMAR has resulted in an overall 60 to 97 % decrease in medication errors (Karen, 2011, p. 1). Barcode technology is also referred to as BCMA, which means barcode medication administration (Paoletti et al., 2007, p. 537). This technology involves all patients having a barcode wristband; this wristband is obtained at the time of admission. Once placed on the patient their information can be scanned by the nurses using a hand held device, when medication is dispensed it is scanned checked by the eMAR system and bar code wristband scanned to ensure the right patient is receiving the medication in addition the information will be upload and documented on the eMAR system (Paoletti et al., 2007, p. 538). The combination of eMAR and BCMA increase patient safety because medication administration rights are review and the nurse is able to locate the right patient as their barcode wristband identifies each patient. Although the patient is scanned each time, this may seem repetitive, the patient will have a sense of involvement and trust that the nurse it making sure they the right patient is getting the right medication thus decreasing the risk for medication administration …show more content…
1705). A computerized system has its pros and cons, for example one con of a computerized system is bypassing the system and disregarding certain alerts (Karen, 2011, p. 4). Nurses may want to override the system in order to get the task completed faster, although they are accountable medication administration rights, any alerts that may be assumed to be repetitive may be disregarded. This disregards of alerts or bypassing the system can result in medication errors and decrease patient’s
In addition to eMAR the use of barcode technology in collaboration with the eMAR system has resulted in an overall decrease in medication errors. Barcode technology and eMAR has resulted in an overall 60 to 97 % decrease in medication errors (Karen, 2011, p. 1). Barcode technology is also referred to as BCMA, which means barcode medication administration (Paoletti et al., 2007, p. 537). This technology involves all patients having a barcode wristband; this wristband is obtained at the time of admission. Once placed on the patient their information can be scanned by the nurses using a hand held device, when medication is dispensed it is scanned checked by the eMAR system and bar code wristband scanned to ensure the right patient is receiving the medication in addition the information will be upload and documented on the eMAR system (Paoletti et al., 2007, p. 538). The combination of eMAR and BCMA increase patient safety because medication administration rights are review and the nurse is able to locate the right patient as their barcode wristband identifies each patient. Although the patient is scanned each time, this may seem repetitive, the patient will have a sense of involvement and trust that the nurse it making sure they the right patient is getting the right medication thus decreasing the risk for medication administration …show more content…
1705). A computerized system has its pros and cons, for example one con of a computerized system is bypassing the system and disregarding certain alerts (Karen, 2011, p. 4). Nurses may want to override the system in order to get the task completed faster, although they are accountable medication administration rights, any alerts that may be assumed to be repetitive may be disregarded. This disregards of alerts or bypassing the system can result in medication errors and decrease patient’s