Barcode Medication Administration
Name
Institutional Affiliation
Barcode Medication Administration
Introduction
Medical errors are a common issue in the Perfect Wellness Health Care Facility. Every year, the facility reports an increase in the number of medical errors. The issue has led to a critical need for change because the hospital is losing its place as the leading health care facility in the region. Recently, a report from the hospital indicated that the main source of errors is the medication ordering process. Primarily, patients have received wrong medicines because of issues associated with the process. The hospital lacks a technology for identification of medicine to support proper administration. Therefore, the hospital administration should implement critical changes to automate the process to prevent medical errors in the future. However, adequate data is necessary to promote evidence-based change in the health care. Although various methods are available to collect data to inform the necessary change, the current project uses interviews with the hospital administration and care providers, including nurses and pharmacists.
Summary of the Investigation
The change process begins with detailed collection and analysis of data to establish the current performance level and the need for improvement. The implementer will use an interview schedule to conduct interviews with the hospital administration and nurses to determine the level of medical errors and their views regarding necessary changes. The interview, conducted at the Perfect Wellness Health Care Facility, will involve extensive collection of data, such as regarding the current number of medical errors, the nature of the current ordering and inventory management system, the potential causes of the issue, and views of the administrators and providers regarding the necessary change to improve the process. The implementer will analyze responses from the interviews to make critical decisions regarding necessary improvement, such as the need to implement an automated ordering system.
Current Process and its Modelling
Data from the interview revealed a considerably high level of adverse drug events (ADEs) at the hospital. ADEs are errors that occur because of a mistake in the delivery of a medicine to the patient. The interview and analysis of hospital records indicated that medical errors affected about 40% of hospitalized patients. Although some of the errors lack significant harm, about 10% experience negative effects of a serious ADE. They also cause considerable cost effect on a patient and the hospital. The process involved the use of “medication-use phases” to understand the occurrence of errors in the hospital. The phases indicate the process that the medicine goes through before getting to the patient. First, the medical doctor writes a medication order depending on what is available in the inventory. Secondly, a medication administration record (MAR) records the medication. Thirdly, the pharmacy dispenses the drug depending on availability. Fourthly, the patients receive the medicine. Finally, the doctor conducts further monitoring. The review of data from the hospital revealed that about one-third of medical errors occur during the initial prescription phase and another one-third during the administration phase. Figure 1 shows the current process through which the drug administration process at the hospital undergoes currently. Figure 2 shows the current UML process diagram in the ordering of medications in the hospital.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Suggested Process Improvement
The suggested process change at the hospital is to include a technological system to improve the medication administration system and prevent medication errors. The hospital can resolve the issue of ADEs by using automatic identification technologies, such as Barcode Medication Administration. The technology reduces medical errors by providing reliable and detailed data during the patient care process. The barcode is a reference number that a computer uses to search descriptive information relating to patient care. Implementers design the system to prevent medical errors by providing information that matches patient medical data to the medicine being prescribed and administered. The system will have a barcode medication device connected to a computerized system with wireless internet. It will have a software-enabled barcode reader. Evidence from the hospital reveals that most of the errors occur during the ordering and administration phases. Therefore, the barcode reader will be instrumental in improving the accuracy of the ordering and administration process to reduce the chances of erring. Nurses and pharmacists will use the system to verify patient information and the hospital inventory before ordering and administering drugs. It will promote safety outcome throughout the five phases of medical administration. Figure 3 shows how the implementer will include the technology to improve patient care by preventing medication errors.
Recommended Benefits of Adopting the New Technology
Barcode Medication Administration will be beneficial to patients, nurses, and the healthcare organization. The technology is effective in improving patient outcomes, such as reducing ADEs. The system achieves the benefit through improving the efficiency of the medication processes. It helps patients to achieve optimal care experience, reduces the length of stay in the hospital and reduces the cost of treatment. The system improve care provided by nurses because they learn to understand medication expectations, including what to do, when, and how. The system is a type of intelligence for caregivers because it provides all necessary information to optimize the care process. The system implements a significant element in the continuum of care, safe drug administration. It will reduce errors and improve the level of satisfaction among nurses and other care providers, including reduction in the level of stress and burnout. The proposed system will improve the image of the health care facility by reducing the prevalence of medical errors. The hospital will also reduce the cost incurred in the treatment of ADEs. Satisfied patients might give positive reviews to other potential clients. As a result, the hospital might increase the level of income by attracting more patients. Therefore, the process change is beneficial at all levels of the care provision process at the Perfect Wellness Health Care Facility.
Conclusion
The Perfect Wellness Health Care Facility experiences a serious challenge associated with the lack of an effective health information system in drug administration. The hospital records a considerably high number of medical errors annually because of inefficiency in drug ordering and administration. Technological systems in health care support evidence-based practice and improve the safety and quality of care provided to patients. The Perfect Wellness Health Care Facility can address the challenge by using a Barcode Medication Administration to improve the process and reduce the rate of ADEs. The system is beneficial to patients by reducing the cost of treating ADEs, nurses through improvement of their efficiency in the medication process, and the hospital by improving its image and reducing the cost of care. Generally, a Barcode Medication Administration will be a cost-effective investment for the Perfect Wellness Health Care Facility.
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