Barcoding Medications

saskrn · Jan 27, 2005

I've used the bar-coded meds in conjunction with the bar-coded ID bands. The system was called EMAR, and was used in conjunction with Meditech. I'm not sure if that's the sysytem you're referring to. I thought it was easy, but other nurses hated it and just couldn't seem to catch on.

As far as timing, we had a window of 30 minutes either way to give the med. If you gace it at a different time, you had to provide a reason. Computers/barcodes track everything.

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Jan 27, 2005

Our hospital is going to go to barcoding of meds real soon. I am wondering if some of you have experience with this. I would like to know some of the ups and downs about this type of a system and how to avoid common pitfalls with it. I am wondering if I will be hung out to dry for giving a 2100 med at 2015 or so. How tight is this big brother system. Thanks M

We've been using E-MAR/Meditech/scanning armbands for 3 years. I love it. It look getting used to. It seems very time consuming in the beginning but as you get used to it you see how much time and how much guesswork it takes out of your day. We have cut med errors drastically. In the past 3 months, our floor had 3 med errors, which were all agency who didn't scan per protocol and the CCU/ICU had "no" med errors at all. We have a 1 hour window for giving meds. It has never been a problem where I work. We don't have to supply a comment, although we can, if we give a med late. The nature of the floor, acute care med-surg, means we frequently don't give our meds within that 1 hour window. The only issue has been people not taking the time to scan the meds. Occasionally I'll have to pull something and give it immediately and am unable to scan but once the med comes up on my screen I do full document it with a comment as to why it wasn't scanned. Those aren't counted against our scanning percentage. I think you'll really like it once you give it a chance. It is literally a lifesaver.

HappyNurse2005, RN · Jan 27, 2005

both hospital systems my school does clinical at does barcode meds. one hospital (the one i want to work at) uses MAK. you have a 1 hour window each way to give meds, you scan the pt and the med, it pops up if you have wrong pt or wrong med, for insulins you have to put in accucheck, for dig you have to put in HR, if any med interactions are possible, it pops up on the screen, makes you put in reason for PRN meds, makes you say why you aren't giving a med ifyou aren't giving one, etc etc etc.

it really helps, in my mind.

the other hospital system uses the Meditech/EMAR system. i haven't been there long enough to form an opinion on the meds part of it, though i imagine its similar to the MAK system.