Western Baptist Takes Patient Safety to Next Level

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As a nationally recognized leader in patient safety, Western Baptist Hospital continues its commitment to patients by strategically implementing advanced technology. Recently, Western Baptist implemented the Admin-Rx system from McKesson Automation. Admin-Rx uses bar coding and other proven technologies to match medications to patients and significantly reduce the possibility of a medication administration error.

According to Nola Courtney, Vice President of Nursing at Western Baptist Hospital, Admin-Rx will yield many benefits to both staff and patients. “A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that 40 percent of all medication errors occurred at the point of administration,” says Courtney. “Common errors noted in the study included giving the wrong medication, giving the wrong dosage, and giving to the wrong patient.”

The Admin-Rx system uses bar coding to positively identify the patient and the medication. In addition, through other behind-the-scenes technical processes, the patient, order, patient information, and medication information are all automatically checked and verified to ensure that the following “Five Rights” of medication administration are correct:

Right Patient
Right Medication
Right Dosage
Right Route, e.g., by mouth, injection
Right Timing

Courtney explains that nursing staff at Western Baptist Hospital are now equipped with handheld devices, similar to a PDA, and are connected to Admin-Rx through a secure wireless data network. “At the point of medication administration, the nurse scans the patient’s bar code, the medication’s bar code, and his or her own bar code,” says Courtney. “This ensures that the five ‘rights’ are met. If all of the safety checks are passed, then the medication is given to the patient. If for some reason the transaction fails even one of the automated checks, then the medication is not given.” Courtney adds that there are many steps required to get the medication from the pharmacy to the patient, and Admin-Rx completely tracks the medication administration process from start to finish.

“The addition of Admin-Rx is yet another example of excellence in patient safety and care at Western Baptist Hospital,” says Courtney. “Our commitment to patients’ health and well-being is at the heart of every technology we implement.”

For more information on Admin-Rx, contact Baptist Health Line at 270-575-2918.