Bar coding and bar-code administation - Essay Example

A prototype was developed in the institution and later became the high quality model used throughout the health care system to enhance the quality and safety of medical care. Implementing a Bar Code Medication Administration system (BCMA) calls for drastic changes in work patterns and operations in a healthcare institution (Cochran, 2007). BMCA can be defined as a barcode system that is set up to minimize errors in a medical care system that is put in place to avert medical errors in the health care system.

In addition to, it is used to generate online patients’ records and improve accuracy. A BMCA is made up of a computer, a barcode reader, a barcode printer, software and a server (Paoletti et al., 2006). Hospital drugs are labeled with unique barcodes. Therefore, when a nurse administers drugs to a patient they can scan the barcode and use the software to determine whether it is the correct drug, dose and at the right time (Cochran, 2007). BMCA was devised as an additional check to assist nurses in administering medication and as earlier stated, it cannot replace the professional judgment of a nurse.

Impact on Healthcare Quality Introduction of the BMCA in the health care system had numerous benefits to the health care system. It has resulted in improved efficiency in administering drugs and a drastic reduction in medication errors. The system enables the display of lab results at the point of care. Implementing BCMA in a health care centre leads to improved communication and workflow thereby facilitating quality healthcare provision (Paoletti et al., 2006). BMCA implementations guarantees improved accountability and assessment of the medication administration system.

In spite of the optimism linked with BMCA, there are several disadvantages associated with the implementation on health care quality. The majors concerns are based on the effectiveness and safety of these systems (Paoletti et al., 2006). To begin with, there are no universally accepted barcodes. Secondly, the installation and maintenance are costly which can adversely affect health care provision since a substantial amount of funds is directed towards this project. Thirdly, there has been overreliance on the system by medical practitioners and this makes it prone to grave errors while administering medication.

Fourthly, after a long time of implementation of the prototype BCMA systems, there are prevalent variation in the way the systems are used (Cochran, 2007). The system has greatly influenced the work processes of nurses who administer medication in health centers. BMCA is more time consuming than computer based systems and paper based systems. Finally, implementation of the system may lead to frustrations to overly busy bedside system. Impact on Patient Safety The system facilitates the compliance of the five rights of administering medicine.

It ensures that patients get the right drug, right dose, right time and right way (Cochran, 2007). The system gives alerts for missed medications thereby improving patients’ health (Paoletti et al., 2006). Patients can expect improved safety from the application of such a system in the health care centers. The overall advantage of this system is improved patient satisfaction. Traditional methods included paper based and computer based records facilitated provision of more personalized care by nurses.

However, the introduction of BMCA prevents personalized ways for nurses to administer medicine and limits workarounds