Electronic med administration in Ia

debblynn13 · Sep 24, 2005

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 · Sep 24, 2005

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 · Dec 16, 2005

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 · Dec 16, 2005

I work at a rural 25 bed critical access hosp.

We use CPSI, not too bad, sometimes a pain.

RN5000 · Dec 18, 2005

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.

S.N. Visit, BSN, RN · Dec 24, 2005

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.

AnneDNP · Dec 30, 2005

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 · Jan 8, 2006

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

RN5000 · Jan 10, 2006

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.

FirePup · Mar 8, 2006

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.

Sorry I didn't see this sooner....as for your question though. I never worked at MGMC, but I did do a preceptorship there in ICCU. All in all it seemed to be a nice place to work they were friendly and welcomed me. I believe I enjoyed MGMC better than the Des Moines hospitals, just because they were very friendly there, as is the Ames community. Boy do I miss it!

S.N. Visit, BSN, RN · Mar 19, 2006

I'm currently doing a student rotation at the Ottumwa Regional Health Center, Ottumwa and they use the EMAR too. I think most hospitals in this area excluding Centerville (blue ink charting) use the EMAR system.

The monroe co hospital named their COW's (computers on wheels) cute little names like "Maybell", "Cowbell", I can't think of the the other names, but they were cute.