Document Detail


Effects of technological interventions on the safety of a medication-use system.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  17189586     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
PURPOSE: A study was conducted to assess the effects and outcomes of implementing new technology into the medication-use process. METHODS: A pharmacy computer system, automated dispensing cabinets, and point-of-care products were implemented. The hypotheses of the study were that system errors in each phase of the medication-use process would decrease with the implementation of each technological application and that workload measures, such as staffing and inventory levels, would increase. Using a scripted questionnaire, interviews of participating staff (registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nursing-unit clerks, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, physicians, and physician assistants) were conducted to determine their impressions of the safety of the medication-use system before and after the implementation of technology. All hospitalwide errors were reported monthly between November 2002 and July 2005 by the number of errors per 1000 patient days and were categorized by error type. The accuracy of the medication administration record was examined; the pharmacy dispensing process was evaluated for accuracy, timeliness, and system changes; the accuracy of medication administration was observed; and staffing changes were also evaluated. RESULTS: Because of the technology implementation, the accuracy of patient identification was introduced, process changes and technological design identified potential failure modes in the medication administration process, inventory increased, turn-around time to process medication doses in the pharmacy decreased, accuracy of medication administration increased, and the staffing of nurses and pharmacists increased. CONCLUSION: Implementation of new technology into the medication management system standardized the medication administration processes, decreased turnaround time for processing medication orders, and increased accuracy of medication administration to patients.
Authors:
Kathleen A Skibinski; Barbara A White; Lawrence I-Kuei Lin; Yuping Dong; Wenting Wu
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists     Volume:  64     ISSN:  1079-2082     ISO Abbreviation:  Am J Health Syst Pharm     Publication Date:  2007 Jan 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2006-12-25     Completed Date:  2007-05-10     Revised Date:  2007-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9503023     Medline TA:  Am J Health Syst Pharm     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  90-6     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53705-2222, USA. kaskibinski@pharmacy.wisc.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Diffusion of Innovation
Interviews as Topic
Medication Errors / prevention & control*
Medication Systems / organization & administration*
Missouri
Organizational Case Studies
Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care) / methods
Questionnaires
Rehabilitation Centers
Safety Management*
Technology, Pharmaceutical*

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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