[RN5000]

Hi to all,
I am a native Iowan and have been living in So Florida for 5 years. I recently began working as a new nurse in January. The facility I work in had the EMAR system. Does anyone know if hospitals across Ia are using this system, and if so which ones? I would really appreciate the input. Thanks! (Oh I do miss Ia)!

[debblynn13]

hi RN5000,

The only hospitals I know about are the 3 main hospitals in Des Moines. Right now none of them use the eMar system. Broadlawns still does all paper charting. Mercy is just implementing a new computer system for charting and Methodist has a computer system / pyxsis set up and are looking at updating/revising their computer system this fall/spring. I have heard mention of the eMar system but as far as I know they aren't implementing it in the near future. I'm not sure what the Vets hospital has.

Hopefully others can update you on the other hospitals in the state. Maybe Iowa city or the quad cities might have it.

It is a nice day in iowa today, no hurricanes and temps in the mid 70's. Wish it would stay this way for awhile tho....

Debblynn

[RN5000]

Thanks for the information. Despite some of its drawbacks, I do like the safety of doing electronic med admin. I have been thinking of moving back to Ia so was wondering about emar there. I appreciate your response. Hopefully it wont be too long before some of the larger hospitals get on board with it.

The weather sounds lovely. Autum has always been my fav! It wont cool down here for at least another month or more, and who knows when the next hurricane will come. But winter, ahhhhh, beautiful!

[EMS]

The small 25 bed hospital in South east Iowa uses CPSI computer system. We do have electronic MAR and scan braclets and meds. I like the system a lot most of the time. Other then those odd times you get a doc order that the computer dosent like an it is hell trying to figure out how to put it in so the computer will do what you want and other will still understand what you are saying. Then again somedays I think about the fact that a least a paper wouldn't have told me "no you cant' do that"

[Harleygirl]

I work at a rural 25 bed critical access hosp.
We use CPSI, not too bad, sometimes a pain.

[RN5000]

Thanks for the replies regarding emar. In my hopsital the only time we enter and order is if it is a stat order and the pharmacy isnt open. I can go to the accudose, or pixis, get out the med, scan it and go thru the process of entering it. For all else, we scan the order to the pharmacy and they put it up on the emar. We have to acknowledge the order before admin so its a double check on pharmacy( and they have of couse been known to make errors). I glad to hear a few hospitals are starting to use it. Thanks for the info.

[Tanzanite]

The Monroe county hospital in Albia, uses a nice system, but I don't know the name of it, since I'm only a student who had only 4 weeks in clincals there. It's all computerized charting, and you scan all meds & supplies to the pt's ID# and bracelet. It was pretty cool.

[iowanurse199]

The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics just started to use the EMAR system. It is being introduced a few units at a time. Should be running everywhere sometimes next year.

[FirePup]

Mary Greeley in Ames uses electronic med administration. It was great.

[RN5000]

Firepup,
That is great to hear. I went to ISU and lived in Ames for 10 years. Thinking of coming back to area, although these FL winters will be hard to leave behind. How long did you work there and what was your experience like at MGMC? How about other hospitals in the Ames/Desmoines area? Thanks in advance for the info.