Response to Debbie

Response to Debbie

            Hello Debbie, your post is increasingly informative, especially on previous studies on the incidence of medication mistakes as well as the use of barcode scanners in the prevention of faults in the administration of drugs. In this line, I agree with you, and I have learned that there is a high prevalence of medication flaws, which adversely affect patients’ life. Findings from surveys indicate that over 1.5 million Americans suffer from injuries occasioned by medication faults (Frequency and Cost of Medication Errors, n.d.).

Similarly, I am impressed by the fact that both of us have discussed the use of barcodes as a method of alleviating medication errors in the health organizations where we work. However, I would like you to clarify the efficacy of barcode scanners in the prevention of mistakes in the administration of drugs. Also, I would like you to elaborate on how a pyxis machine prevents medication faults.

Reference

Frequency and cost of medication errors. (n.d.).

Response to Terri

Hi Terri, your post is increasingly insightful. I can relate with your fear of the possibility of committing an error during the administration of drugs. The good thing is that this form of worry helps one to be extra careful when administering medications. Moreover, while we have presented different models of alleviating medication faults, I have learned a lot concerning the use of eMAR in avoiding mistakes in the administration of drugs. In support of this method, a survey carried out by Truitt, Thompson, Blazey-Martin, NiSai, and Salem (2016) established that the adoption of eMAR enhances patient safety by reducing the rate of drug-related complications and transcription errors. However, I would like you to clarify on the cost of implementing an eMAR method in a mid-sized health facility. Moreover, I would like you to elaborate on how separating the work of a nurse anesthetist and the one tasked with administering drugs can alleviate the commission of medication faults..

Reference

Truitt, E., Thompson, R., Blazey-Martin, D., NiSai, D., & Salem, D. (2016). Effect of the implementation of barcode technology and an electronic medication administration record on adverse drug events. Hospital Pharmacy, 51(6), 474–483.