Electronic MAR?

Published

We are about to get an Electronic MAR. Does anyone have any insight or experience with them? We were told that if our medications are not given on time, the cart will lock. My personal belief is that the medications can not, and will not be given with in the two hour window. Do they reduce patient/nurse ratio's? Thanks guys.

Specializes in LTC.
We have eMar with a digipen. I love it!!! Yes technically the pharmacy knows what time each med is given...however, we are not locked out or in trouble if meds arent given at the exact time. We can also reorder meds just be signing our name below the med and 45 minutes before the end of shift we get a printout with any signatures we missed and all the prn administered to be sure we charted effectiveness. The benefits far outweigh the negatives :)

So if for example a 4:30pm med wasn't given until 7pm. It wouldn't be an issue? I really do want to know because.. that's reality where I work.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Vascular Neurology and Neurocritical Care.
So if for example a 4:30pm med wasn't given until 7pm. It wouldn't be an issue? I really do want to know because.. that's reality where I work.

No, it wouldn't be an issue, because you can override the computer by clicking "give anyway." You may or may not have to give a reason depending upon how your facility sets the program up.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC/Skilled Care/Rehab.
No, it wouldn't be an issue, because you can override the computer by clicking "give anyway." You may or may not have to give a reason depending upon how your facility sets the program up.

I would like to know what reason you would give in LTC. Is it free text or is there an option for "impossible med pass"? LOL

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Sometimes I just miss signing for a med...it happens. I have 32 residents to give out meds and a Tar to sign also. I end signing for a med at 10:30 that was due at 5. Never been an issue with my management.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I also dont have to provide a reason. I suppose if management were looking for a reason to write you up, they could use this info??

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.
I also dont have to provide a reason. I suppose if management were looking for a reason to write you up, they could use this info??

Most of us managers are far too busy with our own work to spend time 'looking for a reason' to write someone up.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Agreed :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics, WCC.

maybe it would help if you used an open med pass timing system. For examplea 3-4 hour window... I don't use it but several facilities I know does.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

We have used ChartMeds for several months and don't know what I would do without it now. We are a group of several very small (5-7 resident) homes so we have over 100 users and the training for each med-tech takes only about 15 minutes which is unbelievable.

We looked at several before settling on it and by far it is the easiest to use and tech-support is fantastic. I was turned on to it by a colleague and I had never really considered automation before. No more auditing of MAR's and no more worrying about getting dinged on an audit for a prn result missing, et al.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion