Patient Safety

I've come across two great articles that explain the use of the bar code system in combination with electronic health records. One article gives the general information of the bar code system and the other article does identify the flaws that these systems do not pick up. The "flaws" that the system doesn't pick are patient allergies & drug interactions. Hopefully with time these "flaws" can be corrected thus reducing even more medication errors.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/feb/01/hospitals-clinics-hustle-launch-electronic-health-/


http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2011/02/08/1762569/bar-code-system-tracks-hospitals.html

Medication Administration

Technology has come a long way, especially when it comes to administering medications. I have been to several different facilities and have had first hand experience of "giving meds" using different systems. Unfortunately, some hospitals still have not caught up with the times and still use charts and paperwork to administer medications. In my hospital everything is accounted for & is stored in what we call the Pyxis Med Station. This med station is an automated dispensing station that records every medication pulled and includes a scanning system that aides in reducing medication errors.