From the May 2018 issue of HealthCare Business News magazine
Barcode administration was introduced in conjunction with the smart pump to help reduce the errors associated with the Five Rights. Barcode administration allows the practitioner to scan the patient, medication and themselves to ensure the right drug, right dose, right route and right patient, and document the right time in real time.
The Joint Commission has included in its 2018 Hospital National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG) two items that can be directly improved using a smart integrated infusion pump. They are:
• Identify patients correctly.
• Use medication safely.
Moving forward with smart pump technology requires integration with the barcode administration technology, the hospital’s IT network and the EMR. This is the first step in being fully integrated and truly reducing medication errors in healthcare.
Considerations when looking at the purchase of infusion pumps should include, but not be limited to:
• Interoperability with a facility’s current IT network.
• Compatibility with the EMR system.
• Current in-house equipment and ability to upgrade or expand.
• Software upgrade and maintenance costs.
• Capabilities of in-house BME departments to service equipment or the purchase of service contracts from the OEM.
About the author: Julie Andrews is a clinical analyst at MD Buyline.
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