Major Patient Safety Initiative Undertaken at Spalding
At Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital, we are taking steps to reduce medication errors for our patients by using bar code scanners at the patient's bedside to verify the identity of the patient and medication at the time the medication is being administered. This system known as "e-MAR" (electronic Medication Administration Record) adapts clinical patient care software, a wireless computer network, portable computers and scanners for use at the patient's bedside. Techology such as e-MAR has been proven to dramatically reduce medication mix-ups according to U.S. Pharmacopeias, a nonprofit organization that develops medical standards. Read More...
Upon admission to Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital, each patient receives a bar-coded armband. On the medication side, each dosage is bar coded before leaving the hospital pharmacy. At the time of medication delivery, the nurse scans both the medication to be administered and the patient's armband - this verifies the "five rights" of medication delivery: Right Medication, Right Time, Right Dose, Right Route, Right Patient. The system also checks each medication order against the patient's drug history. If conflicts or potential drug interactions are identified, warnings appear to alert the nurse to double check, verify and/or call the doctor or pharmacist before administering the medication.
A multi-disciplinary task force at Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital that included pharmacy, nursing, respiratory therapy, information systems and physician representatives provided input and feedback in preparation of eMAR and bar coding implementation throughout the hospital.
At Spalding we believe, a hospital patient should be able to completely trust that the medications he receives in the hospital will help treat and cure him - not harm him. The adoption of new technology such as eMAR reflects our commitment to patient safety and the reduction of medical errors
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