User:Toladep1/Bar Code Technology

Bar Code Technology is a system of encoding text which can be read by electronic readers. It has some bars with spaces in between which are parallel and adjacent to one another, these predefined bars and spaces are called symbologies. The electronic readers work by transferring a light source across the bar code to measure the intensity of the light which is reflected by the spaces in between each bar. The main purpose of bar code is item identification which is done by giving a specified item a code that contains a unique number. A rule to use bar codes for all medications used in hospital settings was passed by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in 2004 (FDA, 2008). Since then, many hospitals have been utilizing this electronic technology to administer medications and this has resulted in favorable outcomes on the sides of the patients and the health care providers.

Uses in Health Care Setting

Bar code is used in the hospital settings for proper client identification in order to ensure that the right client receives the right medications or treatments. This is done by attaching a bar code band that has been specifically made and coded for a particular client to the wrist or ankle of that client. It is scanned with a hand-held scanner each time a medication is to be given to that client in order to make sure that the right medication is given to the right patient. It is a system that helps the health care workers follow the five rights of medication administration which are to make sure that the right medication in the right dosage is given to the right patient through the right route and at the right time.

Advantages

Bar code technology has been found to reduce medication errors in many hospital settings because the scanner beeps whenever a wrong bar code is being scanned on a wrong patient, alerting the health care provider to recheck the five rights of medication administration before the medication is given. The beeping indicates that the information coded on the bar code is different from the one contained in the client's record, which means that the nurse needs to recheck the five rights.

It makes readily available to the health care workers the list of all the medications the client is taking. This is important because the list of all client's current medications needs to be reviewed before any medication is given in order to check for drug interactions, contraindications, or allergies before administering any medication to any patient to avoid medication errors. The nurse should never assume that a physician could not make mistakes since nobody is perfect.

Bar code may also be seen as a money-saving system for hospitals because of its error-reducing benefit. Any hospital may be sued by any client or his or her family if medication errors result in any harm to the patient, no matter how minor the errors may be.

It makes dispensing medications easier for the pharmacies by helping them process a large number of prescribed medications at a very faster rate compared with doing the same with no bar code. This also prevents errors that may be caused by the pharmacies while dispensing medications since bar code is being used as a verification tool before dispensing the medications. This saves clients from getting the wrong medications since medication errors could be caused by the physician, the pharmacist, or the nurse.

It reduces client's anxiety by providing them with the assurance that the right medications are being given to them. Therefore, the nurse needs to educate clients about this technology to allay their fear.

Disadvantages

Technical errors may be encountered while health care worker is trying to scan some bar codes during medication administration. This may delay administration of medications as he or she endeavors to figure out the cause of the problem and the alternative ways to administer the medications.

It costs a lot of money to have bar code system throughout the hospital units which is obviously an extra expenses for hospitals. This may be one reason why some have not been able to utilize the system since its invention.

Training of all nurses in the use of this technology results in paying the employees extra hours being spent on the training.

Bar code technology needs to be used in a wireless environment in order to ensure its effectiveness.

References

1. Milenkovich, N. (2010). Technology and Patient Care: Bar Code Technology Can Enhance Patient Safety, 154(8), 38.

2. Fowler, F.B., Sohler, P., Zarillo, D.F. (2009). Bar-Code Technology for Medication Administration: Medication Errors and Nurse Satisfaction. MEDSURG Nursing, 18(2), 103-109.

3. Kerr, G.J., Heelon, M., & Higgins, T.(2010). Bar-Code Technology to Reduce Medication Errors . New England Journal of Medicine, 363(7).

4. Paoletti, R.D., Suess, T.M., Lesco, M.G., Feroli, A.A., Kennel, J.A., Mahler, J.M., & Sauders, T. (2007). Using Bar-code Technology and Medication Observation Methodology for Safer Medication Administration: American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 64(5), 536-43.

5. FDA. (September 18, 2008). Medication Errors. In US. Department of Health & Human Resources. Retrieved May 19, 2011, from http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/DrugSafetyNewsletter/ucm120618.htm.