A study by John Hopkins indicates that 250,000 people die yearly as a result of medical errors in the United States. This makes it the 3 rd cause of death (Makary & Daniel, 2016). Several interventions have been implemented to prevent medical errors, but they are not as efficient as bar-coding technology. This paper aims at discussing the importance of bar-coding technology in reducing medical errors.
Bar-Coding technology is increasingly gaining fame in most hospitals across the country. Gann (2015) argues that since its integration, deaths as a result of medical errors have reduced significantly. The technology also ensures patient safety through the verification of the 5 rights of proper medication; that is the right drug is being administered to the right patient with the right dosage at the right time and route (Shah et.al, 2016). The technology is implemented when an electronic order is made to the pharmacy by a provider. The pharmacists assess the order to ensure that the drug will not bring side effects or allergic reaction to the patient. Afterward, the order is approved and the dose scheduled. The eMAR (electronic medication-administration Record) is used to pass the information from the pharmacy to the nurse (Dalton et.al, 2015). As each medication is scanned, a system alert is retrieved which either warns the nurse or gives a go-ahead.
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Hutton, Ding, and Wellman (2017) agree that bar-code technology has positively impacted patient safety. Most people fear to seek medical help due to the many instances of medical error reported. Bar-coding has ruled out the need for traditional manual and unreliable methods that relied purely on the reaction of the patient. The technology has spurred controversies due to the nurses' rejection to change. However, ones they become accustomed to it, there is no turn back. It is justifiable to conclude that Bar-code technology has positively impacted healthcare by reducing medical errors and ensuring patient safety.
References
Dalton, B. R., Sabuda, D. M., Bresee, L. C., & Conly, J. M. (January 01, 2015). Use of an electronic medication administration record (eMAR) for surveillance of medication omissions: results of a one-year study of antimicrobials in the inpatient setting. Plos One, 10, 4.)
Gann, M. (January 01, 2015). How informatics nurses use bar code technology to reduce medication errors. Nursing.
Hutton, K., Ding, Q., & Wellman, G. (February 01, 2017). The Effects of Bar-coding Technology on Medication Errors: A Systematic Literature Review. Journal of Patient Safety, 1.
Makary, M. A., & Daniel, M. (May 03, 2016). Medical error—the third leading cause of death in the US. Bmj.
Shah, K., Lo, C., Babich, M., Tsao, N. W., & Bansback, N. J. (January 01, 2016). Bar Code Medication Administration Technology: A Systematic Review of Impact on Patient Safety When Used with Computerized Prescriber Order Entry and Automated Dispensing Devices. The Canadian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy, 69, 5.)
