Safety is recognized as minimizing risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance. Please review the QSEN competencies related to Informatics (http://qsen.org/competencies/pre-licensure-ksas/#informatics) and Safety (http://qsen.org/competencies/pre-licensure-ksas/#safety). For this discussion, please respond to each of the following prompts:
- Describe a safety-enhancing technology that you use in your practice. Provide a full description that helps the reader understand its use and features.
- In your experience, has the technology described help reduce the intended safety risk for which it was intended? Strengthen your discussion by fully describing why or why not?
Please be sure to provide appropriate APA-formatted in-text citations and references to support your response.
Title: Enhancing Safety through Informatics: A Closer Look at Safety-Enhancing Technologies
Introduction
Safety is a critical aspect of healthcare that aims to minimize risks of harm to both patients and healthcare providers. Achieving safety in healthcare is a multifaceted process that relies on both effective systems and individual performance. The integration of informatics plays a crucial role in enhancing safety by leveraging technology to identify potential risks, streamline processes, and optimize patient care. In this essay, we will explore the role of informatics in improving safety by discussing a safety-enhancing technology and evaluating its impact on reducing intended safety risks.
- Description of Safety-Enhancing Technology: Barcode Medication Administration System
One significant safety-enhancing technology in healthcare is the Barcode Medication Administration System (BCMA). BCMA is a computerized system that utilizes barcode scanning technology to ensure accuracy in the medication administration process. This technology involves three key components: electronic medication administration record (eMAR), barcode wristbands for patients, and barcode labels on medication packages.
Here’s how BCMA works: When a nurse is ready to administer medication, they first access the eMAR on a mobile device or computer. The eMAR contains a list of prescribed medications and the patient’s schedule for administration. The nurse then scans the patient’s unique barcode wristband to verify their identity. Next, the nurse scans the barcode label on the medication package to match it with the patient’s eMAR and ensure it is the right drug, right dose, right route, and right time. If there is a discrepancy or potential error, the system alerts the nurse, preventing the administration of the wrong medication to the wrong patient.
- Impact of BCMA on Safety
In my experience, BCMA has proven to be an invaluable safety-enhancing technology that significantly reduces the risk of medication errors and adverse events. The introduction of BCMA in our healthcare facility has led to several positive outcomes:
a. Medication Administration Accuracy: BCMA virtually eliminates the possibility of wrong patient and wrong medication errors. The system’s barcode scanning ensures that the “Five Rights” of medication administration are strictly adhered to, reducing the potential for harmful drug interactions and administration errors.
b. Real-time Decision Support: The BCMA system is integrated with a clinical decision support system, which provides real-time alerts and guidance to nurses when potential safety concerns arise. For example, if a patient has allergies or potential drug interactions, the system notifies the nurse before administering the medication, prompting them to reassess the order and consult with the healthcare team if necessary.
c. Documentation and Reporting: BCMA improves documentation accuracy, ensuring that medication administration details are recorded electronically and readily available for review. In case of adverse events or near-misses, the system generates detailed reports, enabling a thorough investigation and analysis of the root cause to prevent similar incidents in the future.
d. Process Efficiency: While enhancing safety, BCMA also improves workflow efficiency. The electronic documentation reduces paperwork and administrative burden, allowing nurses to focus more on direct patient care and clinical decision-making.
Conclusion
Safety in healthcare is achieved through a combination of system effectiveness and individual performance. Informatics, particularly safety-enhancing technologies like BCMA, plays a pivotal role in minimizing risks of harm to patients and healthcare providers. BCMA’s barcode scanning technology, electronic medication administration records, and real-time decision support significantly reduce the potential for medication errors, ensuring the “Five Rights” of medication administration are consistently upheld. The implementation of BCMA has positively impacted patient safety in our healthcare facility, demonstrating the potential of informatics to enhance safety in the healthcare setting.