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How Helpful Barcodes in Medication Administration System
In healthcare centers, the use of medications is very sensitive and vulnerable to human errors
such
as exhaustion, workload, carelessness, lack of experience and concentration, etc. These errors
cause
serious harm to the patients and put their lives at risk.
So, to resolve all these errors, there is a need for an advanced
medical management system in
the
healthcare centers and for this Barcode Medication Administration System is introduced. Barcodes
are
very helpful for pharmaceutical centers. It prevents unnecessary pharmaceutical errors and
establishes a
patient safety environment.The BCMA system's main objective is to ensure that the right patient
receives the right medicines to preserve the five rights of medication administration.
Posted By: Technogeek
Published:
Introduction
Barcode Medication Administration is an advanced system that lowers the possibility of manual
mistakes in the delivery of medicines by labeling them through barcodes. It validates
pharmaceuticals
through a computer system to ensure that patients are getting the appropriate medical doses at
the
correct intervals.
In 1995, the Colmery-O'Neil Veteran medical institution
created the Barcode
Medication Administration
(BCMA) system. A nurse Glenna Sue Kinnick came up with the concept after being
inspired by barcodes
in the automobile rental system.
Barcodes are used by BCMA on medicines, patients’ wristbands, medical
devices, and equipment. The
implementation of barcode medicine delivery results in an error reduction of 40 to 70% in
medical
administration.
The Five Rights of Barcode Medication Administration are: Right Patient,
Right Medication, Right Time, Right Dosage, and Right Route.
Uses of Medical Barcodes in Healthcare
A medical barcode, also known as a healthcare barcode or a hospital barcode, is a type of barcode that is used in healthcare settings to track patient information, medication administration, and medical supplies.
In healthcare, barcodes are typically used in two ways:
Medication administration:
A barcode is printed on a medication label, which is then scanned before the medication is given to a patient. This ensures that the medication is correct and has not expired. The barcode also allows healthcare providers to record when the medication was given and who administered it.
Patient identification:
A barcode is printed on a patient's wristband, which contains their medical record number or other identifying information. This allows healthcare providers to scan the barcode to access the patient's medical record and ensure that they are receiving the correct treatment.
Medical barcodes are also used to track medical supplies, such as surgical instruments and lab specimens. Each item is labeled with a barcode that contains information about the item's type, expiration date, and location. This enables healthcare providers to quickly and accurately locate the items they need and track their usage.
The use of medical barcodes in healthcare has become increasingly common in recent years, as hospitals and other healthcare facilities seek to improve patient safety and reduce medication errors. By implementing barcode systems, healthcare providers can ensure that patients receive the correct treatment and that medical supplies are properly tracked and managed.
How does Barcode Healthcare Management System Works
There is a requirement of a total of five things to set up a complete Barcode
Healthcare Management System
that is – a computer/laptop, a server, software, a barcode scanner, and a barcode
printer.
The details of the patient’s medicines are stored in their computer system
and delivered to the
medical staff. A nurse read the barcode attached to the patient’s wristband with the help of a
barcode scanner before giving the remedy. This band contains all required patient information,
including personal information and received treatment. The patient can receive the correct
medicines if the system matches with the prescription. This cross-checking helps in the
verification of patient records and ensures proper medicine administration.
Need of Barcodes in Pharmaceutical Distribution
Barcodes are needed in the pharmaceutical distribution to ensure the accurate treatment of the
patients. There are some following points that describe the requirement of barcodes in
healthcare-
Medication to Right Patient
There is a possibility that the nurse gives the medication to the wrong patient due to
some
minor mistakes. With the patient’s wristband barcodes, they ensure the correct patient's
details and
their
respective prescriptions.
Avoid Medication Misreads
Sometimes, the chemist misreads the medicine names and the wrong medicine is delivered to
the
patients. By scanning the barcode labels of patient wristbands and medications, correct
medicines can be easily identified.
Proper Medicine Dosage
Sometimes, it also happens the nurse gives the incorrect dosage to the patient due to
lack of
concentration. With the barcodes, she can obtain the accurate dosage information of the
medications by scanning a label present on them.
Benefits of Barcode Medical Distribution System
Alert Notifications
With the barcodes, it is simple to keep track of the patient’s medical history. The system
can rapidly notify of allergic reactions if occurs in a patient through medications.
Additionally, the nurses can be notified of missed doses and medicine expiration dates.
Enhance Patient Safety
Due to some medical mistakes, the patient's treatment may take a very long time and his life
may
also be in danger. Barcode Medication Administration System can improve patient safety by
providing
accurate and fast medical treatment to them.
Improve Work Performance
Healthcare professionals can do better care of patients and manage their precious time more
efficiently rather than worrying about the prescription mistakes. This will improve their
work
performance to greater extent which results in better efficiency.
Better Inventory Management
Barcode Medical Distribution System can be designed to make audit reports and
data in order to alert possible inventory
requirements. Just like every other sector, barcodes can be used in hospitals to manage
inventories and assets in better way.
Future of Barcode Technology in Healthcare, and its improvement in Patient care and Safety
The future of barcode technology in healthcare is promising, with many potential applications to
improve patient care and safety. Here are a few examples:
Medication administration
Barcode technology can be used to ensure that patients receive the correct medication and
dosage. Nurses can scan a patient's wristband and then scan the medication, ensuring
that there are no errors or mix-ups.
Medical device tracking
Barcode technology can be used to track medical devices, ensuring that they are properly
cleaned, maintained, and replaced as needed.
Patient identification
Barcode technology can be used to accurately identify patients, reducing the risk of
errors and ensuring that patients receive the correct treatment.
Medical record management
Barcode technology can be used to manage medical records, ensuring that patient
information is accurate, up-to-date, and easily accessible.
Inventory management
Barcode technology can be used to manage hospital inventory, ensuring that supplies are
available when needed and reducing waste.
Overall, the future of barcode technology in healthcare is likely to involve further integration
with electronic medical records, wearable devices, and other advanced technologies. This will
enable healthcare providers to provide better care and reduce the risk of errors, improving
patient outcomes and overall healthcare efficiency.
Additionally, barcode technology can aid in contact tracing during
pandemics, track vaccine administration, and improve patient follow-up after hospitalization.
