Although bar code technology in medication administration can help prevent medication errors, misuse of the technology can also yield negative results and create new potential medication errors, according to a study published in the Annals of Pharmacotherapy.
Researchers retrospectively evaluated all high-alert medication alerts, alert types and override documentation that occurred from Jan. 2008-Nov. 2008. Simultaneously, researchers evaluated nursing and pharmacy workarounds affecting proper use of bar code medication administration. Results from their evaluation showed 17 percent of scanned medications triggered an alert. Of these, 55 percent were for high-alert medications.
However, researchers discovered an average of three clinician workarounds per medication administration. Nursing workarounds included failure to scan medications/patient armband and scanning the bar code once the dosage has been removed from the unit-dose packaging. Pharmacy workarounds included missed doses and duplicate doses. Researchers concluded these types of workarounds can limit the bar code technology's ability to improve patient outcomes and safety.
Read the study abstract about bar code medication administration.
Read other coverage about medication safety:
- Study: Providers Should Update Reviews of Comparative Drug Effectiveness on Yearly Basis
- Hospital's New Medication Cards Aim to Improve Medication Safety
- Using Color to Differentiate Drug Strength Can Improve Medication Safety
Researchers retrospectively evaluated all high-alert medication alerts, alert types and override documentation that occurred from Jan. 2008-Nov. 2008. Simultaneously, researchers evaluated nursing and pharmacy workarounds affecting proper use of bar code medication administration. Results from their evaluation showed 17 percent of scanned medications triggered an alert. Of these, 55 percent were for high-alert medications.
However, researchers discovered an average of three clinician workarounds per medication administration. Nursing workarounds included failure to scan medications/patient armband and scanning the bar code once the dosage has been removed from the unit-dose packaging. Pharmacy workarounds included missed doses and duplicate doses. Researchers concluded these types of workarounds can limit the bar code technology's ability to improve patient outcomes and safety.
Read the study abstract about bar code medication administration.
Read other coverage about medication safety:
- Study: Providers Should Update Reviews of Comparative Drug Effectiveness on Yearly Basis
- Hospital's New Medication Cards Aim to Improve Medication Safety
- Using Color to Differentiate Drug Strength Can Improve Medication Safety