Here are examples: 1) Scanning a barcode label instead of the patient's wristband when administering meds. The wrong patient can be given the meds when scanning a label. Some facilities have put an extra character on their wristbands so the barcode on the label won't work when documenting meds. 2) Scanning the first pill of a two pill dose, but not the second one. The dose can be changed manually by the user at the dose field without scanning the second pill. The danger in this practice is if the second pill is stocked incorrectly, the user won't know they gave the wrong drug. We had two similar name drugs stocked together in our Pyxis machine recently. Fortunately, the nurse noticed the error when she removed the drug, but if she had not scanned the second pill, she could have given the patient the wrong med. 3) Full documenting med administrations that should be scanned. Full documentation is a way to document without scanning the drug and should be used when documenting a med as not given or when a med doesn't have a barcode to scan. The safety features of barcoded meds is completely circumvented when this feature is used inappropriately. Nurses that use workarounds are usually doing it for a reason. Workarounds are generally a symptom of a problem with the process or inadequate training. If nurses are scanning labels instead of patient's wristbands, it is usually because the wristband doesn't consistently scan. They typically won't tell you about the problem; they just find a workaround and go on with their day. That's just the nature of nurses-fix it and forget it! Watching for these workarounds will alert you to process problems or bad habits that need to be corrected.
Kim Frick, RN Project Coordinator Licking Memorial Health Systems Phone: 740-348-4114 Fax: 740-348-4769 [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.LMHealth.org -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Bowles, Jodi Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 10:53 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [MEDITECH-L] eMAR/BMV My facility is once again attempting to start BMV and eMAR. I have noticed lots of inquires on the "L" regarding workarounds with BMV. Can someone give an example of a "workaround". Is there anything that I can do in the planning and teaching phase of eMAR and BMV to help decrease workarounds? Thanks Jodi Bowles RN, BSN Clinical Systems Coordinator Princeton West Virginia
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