BARCODE MEDICATION SYSTEM
WHAT IS BARCODE
A barcode is a small image of lines and numbers containing data that can be scanned by barcode scanners. In recent times, other devices such as smartphones and tablets have also been designed with barcode reading capabilities.
INTRODUCTION
Barcode medication administration is a barcoded system to prevent errors in healthcare system and to improve accuracy & generate online records of medication administration. Its overall goals are to improve the quality and safety of medication administration by making sure that patients are receiving the correct medicines at correct time by electronically validating & documenting medications. The information encoded in the barcodes allows for the comparison of medicine being administered with what was ordered for the patient.
Thus the BCMA consists of 5 Rights:
1. Right Patient
2. Right Drug
3. Right Dose
4. Right Route
5. Right Time
DEFINATION
Barcoded Medication Administration System is an inventory control system that uses barcodes to prevent human errors in the distribution of prescription medications at hospitals.
OBJECTIVES
- Identification of medicine
- Patient identification
- Maintaining patient’s safety
- Management of inventory
METHOD
For BCMA, each drug in the hospital is labelled with a unique barcode. When a patient is prescribed medication, it is faxed /sent electronically/ hand delivered to the hospital's pharmacy & entered into the computer system by a pharmacist. The pharmacist dispenses the Barcoded dose of drug to the patient's floor. When it's time for the attender to administer the medication, he/she uses a handheld device to scan the barcodes on his identification badge, the patient's wristband & the drug. If the barcode system cannot match the drug to be given with the order in the system, it alerts the attender with a visual warning. Each patient's barcode holds all the vital information about the patient and his medication.
A BCMA system consists of:
• A barcode printer
• A barcode reader
• A mobile computer with Wi-Fi
• A computer server
• A suitable software
ADVANTAGES OF BCMA SYSTEM
1. Improve patient's safety through the reduction of medication administration errors.
2. Improve nursing staff job satisfaction by minimizing nurse staffing service time requirements.
3. Generate positive public relations with the hospital's community.
4. Improve patient's satisfaction.
DISADVANTAGES OF BCMA SYSTEM
1. The key disadvantage for barcodes is that they require a line of sight in order to be read.
2. Barcode scanners usually have to be within 15 feet of the barcode in order to read its data.
3. Barcodes are typically printed on paper or plastic, which makes them easy to damage. A damaged barcode can't be read by a scanner.
4. Items must be scanned individually if you're using barcode technology.
5. Barcodes can be easily replicated.
No comments:
Post a Comment