Medication administration is vital for patient safety, to ensure that patients are given the correct treatment, and that it has been recorded for when it comes to the next dosage, or staff member on shift. Many hospitals are now discovering Barcode Medication Administration (BCMA) and are implementing this barcode solution into their patient bedside care routine, to help clinical staff to verify patient data and improve patient care and safety.

BCMA involves scanning medication barcodes, patient wristbands and the clinician’s ID badge to document administration events. Medication errors are said to be reduced by as much as 41%* with a BCMA process put in place due to the following benefits:

1. Follows ‘Patient Rights’ Guidelines

Right patient. Right drug. Right dose, Right route and all at the Right time. These guidelines were produced to help maximize patient safety, especially when it comes to medication administration. By using a BCMA process, you are abiding to these five rights.

2. Reduces Medication Errors

BCMA is said to be a reliable process for reducing medication administration errors. BCMA has said to reduce adverse drug events by 50%, wrong medication errors by nearly 60% and wrong dose errors by almost 50%.

3. Overall Better Medication Administration Processes

By implementing a BCMA, you are using a strategy that is easy to analyze, so that you can continue to improve the administration process and seek to find any other human errors that may still be happening.

For the BCMA process to work, it is to be combined of barcode scanners, mobile devices, patient wristbands and clinical ID cards, all technology solutions, that ourselves and Zebra Technologies can provide. These technology solutions are designed to provide the highest standard of accuracy, and reliability to ensure you are offering the best patient care within your hospital.

We know that clinicians need to capture medication data quickly and efficiently, and with Zebra’s barcode scanners offer the most accurate barcode scanning first time, every time. They are also engineered for healthcare environments, such as withstanding chemicals used for cleaning and disinfecting the devices. We recommend Zebra’s DS4608-HC Scanner.

With Zebra’s Handheld Computers, you are offering your clinicians a secure and reliable scanning device, with instant access to patient information. Just like their scanners, Zebra’s handheld computers can withstand the hospital environment, such as drops to concrete floors, with additional features of removing batteries to ensure they last a full shift. We recommend Zebra’s TC51-HC Touch Computer.

By providing your clinicians with barcode-embedded ID badges, you can offer a reliable way of identifying your clinicians. Zebra offers low, medium and high-volume models to give you single or dual-sided printing options, with included dependable security features, which are vital for your hospital. We recommend Zebra’s ZC100 and ZC300.

For more information on the medication administration process, feel free to contact us.

Labelman Ltd are Zebra Technologies Premier Supplier of Printers, Scanners, Handheld Devices, Barcode Labels, Ribbons and Support Services.