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Automated
Medication Dispensing |
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Making Patient Care
Safer: Lake Hospital System First in Ohio to Implement Automated
Medication Dispensing Technology
Other Topics:
Pharmaceutical RFID, Clinical
Decision Support Tools
PRNewswire
April 23, 2007
Painesville, OH -- Getting the right medication to the right
patient at the right time seems a pretty straightforward
proposition. However, the medication administration process --
from central pharmacy to patient bedside -- is fraught with
possibilities for patient safety system failures.
"The missing link," said Dr. Becky Ohlsen, clinical pharmacist
at LakeEast Hospital, "has been a system that ties it all
together and extends the safety system into patients' rooms. The
more integrated technology we
use, the more accurate we become. All this results in increased
patient safety, which is always our top priority." |
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Earlier this
year, Lake Hospital System became the first hospital in Ohio to
introduce a unique, comprehensive solution for reducing
medication-related errors. The changes, which cost nearly
$750,000 annually, integrate a computerized medication order
system with AcuDose-Rx medication dispensing cabinets, an
automated storage and retrieval system, and a specialized
process for managing controlled medications and narcotics.
Instead of waiting for medications to be hand delivered from the
pharmacy, departments throughout the hospital now have stocked
medications in their AcuDose-Rx cabinet. Once a pharmacist has
verified medication orders for accuracy and safety, medications
are available for immediate use.
"The entire process is a great system of checks and balances,"
said DJ Orlando, RN, a nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at
LakeEast Hospital. "When we remove medications from the cabinets
using a private code, we compare them to printed lists. We take
the printed copy to the bedside and check the patient's armband
to make sure that the patient's information matches the medical
administration record we have for that patient."
An automated inventory control system, called MedCarousel,
ensures that medications are always in stock and heightens the
accuracy of replenishing medications in the AcuDose-Rx cabinets.
"Instead of having to run reports and place an order with our
wholesaler, the MedCarousel determines what medications we need
and automatically transmits the information to our wholesaler,"
explained Leslie Manzo, vice president of Clinical Informatics.
"The MedCarousel actually takes over the inventory control piece
for us."
Before dispensing medications to the AcuDose-Rx, a technician
receives a bar code label from the MedCarousel. The locator
indicates the proper bin on the carousel from which to obtain
the medication. Prior to taking any medication from the bin, the
technician must first scan the bin barcode and then the label
barcode to confirm the right medication being selected. The
staff then uses the bar code to restock the AcuDose-Rx cabinets
in the patient care area, further safeguarding the accuracy of
each patient's
medications.
Controlled medications and narcotics require even more diligent
tracking, primarily due to stricter regulatory requirements. To
ensure proper monitoring and restocking of narcotics and
controlled medications, Lake Hospital System has implemented the
NarcStation. NarcStation enables the pharmacy to electronically
manage, access, control, and track all controlled medications
and narcotics within the hospital system. With all of the
tracking the pharmacy conducts, the staff has been able to
distinguish between -- and avoid -- look-alike and sound-alike
errors, which can occur frequently. The entire automated process
streamlines
paperwork and handling of medications and provides greater
accuracy and accountability.
"Nationwide, medication errors are a large source of patient
injuries in the hospital setting. Lake Hospital System is
investing in this technology that reduces the chance of errors
when dispensing, restocking and administering medications," said
Manzo. "Ultimately, this system takes patient safety to new
levels by helping to ensure that the medications and dosages
that nurses administer are absolutely accurate."
About Lake Hospital System
For five consecutive years NorthCoast 99 has named Lake
Hospital System one of the 99 Best Places to work in Northeast
Ohio. In 2006, HealthGrades(R) also named Lake Hospital System
among the top five percent of all hospitals in the nation. A
leader in community-based health care in Northeast Ohio, Lake
Hospital System provides high-quality, accessible health
services for all stages of life. Lake Hospital System delivers
progressive, compassionate health care through eight
state-of-the-art facilities staffed by more than 500 physicians
and 2,200 health care professionals. |
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