Technology is advancing greatly every day and whether we like it or not, it is here to stay, so we need to use it to our advantage. Technology is especially helpful in health care as healthcare is very fast pace and stressful. IV smart pumps were introduced years ago and have been very successful in many facilities across the country. Although there are many “brands” of IV smart pumps, they are all generally the same and have at least one thing in common; they decrease the workload of healthcare providers. With anything there are benefits, as well as cons of using these pumps which we will discuss. Interoperability is defined as the ability of a system to work with or use the parts of another system. An Alaris pump is one type of IV smart …show more content…
Interoperability of a smart pump is critically important. The ability to instantly capture as well as manage patient data takes on an increasing role for improving patient safety, staff productivity, and financial performance (Wellspan Health, 2015). The most important aspect of the smart pump is the added safety and efficiency of the use of the pumps to allow nurses to focus their attention on caring for the patient (Wellspan Health, 2015). Earlier this year, the Alaris was rated as the industry leader for interoperability with EMRs in the Smart pump/ EMR integration report that had been released from KLAS. KLAS is an organization who monitors the performance of healthcare organizations (Alaris, 2016). The Alaris contains advanced technology that notifies clinicians when an infusion is outside the normal parameters, helping to avoid errors related to medication infusion (Alaris, 2016). Some important features offered by the Alaris include: Guardrails Suite MX safety software with large volume pumps, PCA, respiratory monitoring through EtCO2, and/or pulse oximetry measurement of SpO2, syringe and bar-coding capabilities to help protect every type of infusion available (Alaris, 2016). The Alaris can be updated wirelessly with order parameters of the infusion directly …show more content…
The Sigma Spectrum achieved an average of 97% drug library compliance within the first 30 days of implementation (Sigma Spectrum Infusion System, 2016). Consistently using drug libraries is especially critical in identifying and preventing harmful medication errors (Sigma Spectrum Infusion System, 2016). Every year in the U.S. an estimated 1.2 million individuals are harmed by preventable medication errors (Sigma Spectrum Infusion System, 2016). The defining features of smart pumps are drug libraries. Drug libraries are created to help clinicians identify mistakes before they have a chance to harm a patient by allowing the clinician to choose from a list of medications/fluids within appropriate dose ranges (Sigma Spectrum Infusion System, 2016). Sigma Spectrum pumps automatically default to the drug library that is already installed when it is powered on, allowing the clinicians to remain compliant with every infusion in the drug library (Sigma Spectrum Infusion System, 2016). Errors associated with the use of all smart pumps are a possibility when not used appropriately by HCPs. Errors that occur are generally when a HCF chooses to bypass a dose error-reduction software in smart pumps or do not use smart pumps in all settings which may lead to a mistake that effects patient safety (Sigma Spectrum Infusion System, 2016). The ISMP recommends some best practices that include using smart pumps in all
This technology assist the nurse in confirming patients identify by confirming the patients’ dose, time and form of medication (Helmons, Wargel, & Daniels, 2009). Having an EHR also comes with a program that allows the medical staff to scan medications so medication errors can be prevented. According to Helmons, Wargel, and Daniels (2009) they conducted an observational study in two medical –surgical units one in the medical intensive care (ICU) and one in the surgical ICU. The researchers watched 386 nurses within the two hospitals use bar code scanning before they administrated patients’ medications. The results of the research found a 58 % decrease in medication errors between the two hospitals because of the EHR containing a bar code assisted medication administration
Lund, N., & Kass, L.R. (2013). Medication error reduction and the use of PDA technology
To begin, there are numerous advantages throughout the EHR system. Considering this, enhancing patient safety is priority in the healthcare industry. Reminders, alerts, and pop-ups are just a few of the safety features an EHR can provide. These items can prevent medication errors, by alerting a nurse or physician of a blood sugar that is out of range, or a medication with too high of a potency, such as a wrong dosage amount. Reminders can be as simple as an immunization reminder to get a flu shot. Another example could be a drug interaction between NSAIDS such as i...
Cell phones in hand, and laptops so small they fit in purses. Computers at our homes insure we can get on the internet and surf the web for answers for anything that may need to know. As the growth of technology has evolved the past twenty years we have become more dependent upon it for everyday things. From alarms, calendars, ‘googling’, counting our steps to make sure we stay healthy, connecting us to our friends and family; simple things that we often take for granted. Though our lives are often ruled by the various technology pieces out there to keep us ‘grounded during the day, some pieces of technology are not healthy for our bodies and minds.
Implementing technology in a clinical setting is not easy and cannot be successful without a well-organized system. It is important that healthcare providers understand the electronic medication administration record (eMAR) and its role in improving patient safety. One of the most significant aspects of healthcare is the safety of our patients. Medication errors account for 44,000-98,000 deaths per year, more deaths than those caused by highway accidents or breast cancer. Several health information technologies help to reduce the number of medication errors that occur. Once of these technologies is bar-code-assisted medication administration (BCMA). These systems are designed to ensure that the right drug is being administered via the right
Essential IV information management and application of patient care technology is an essential that I consider most important to my practice. My nursing skill and technology is challenged every day while working. The new technology, change in procedures, and new equipment are essential to working in the Cardiac Catheterization Lab. One must adapt and change daily in order to keep up and stay educated. New physicians join and we must learn their technique styles and equipment needs while still maintaining exceptional patient care.
Implementation of any new technology within a clinical setting that is designed to meet the needs of the patients and the clinical workforce, can impact clinical processes and improve work flow. The impact it makes can improve care delivery, create a safer patient environment, improve efficiency, decrease the number of errors and achieve compliance with federal mandates . Understanding and adequately performing a clinical work flow analysis and process redesign prior to implementation, should aide in the success of the technology. It is important that technology is not driving the clinical practice but that clinical practice drives the technology to become an effective tool for all nurses. A new technology can also help to identify problematic
Responsibility and accountability become important when medical staff gives or doses patients with medication. The chance for making a medication error presents itself at all times. Those passing medications must follow established policies and procedures developed and laid forth by t...
Precision of a patient’s intravenous medication is essential; it must be safe from. contamination, toxicity, and side effects. Most people believe these medications are compounded or mixed by a trained and licensed individual. However, this is inaccurate because the pharmacy technician actually compounds a large percentage of a patient’s medications. Compounding involves a technician’s math skills, aseptic technique, and professional ethics.... ...
of medical devices are used by millions of health care providers around the world.” (Powell-
while transferring patients between units. [After reviewing these events], “The Joint Commission identified “Improve the Safety of Using Medications” as one of the 2009 National Patient Safety Goals (Cleveland Clinic, 2009, p.1). In relation to this safety goal, hospitals created a medication reconciliation form that resides in the patient’s ch...
Administration of medication is a vital part of the clinical nursing practice however in turn has great potential in producing medication errors (Athanasakis 2012). It has been reported that over 7,000 deaths have occur per year related to medications errors within the US (Flynn, Liang, Dickson, Xie, & Suh, 2012). A patient in the hospital may be exposed to at least one error a day that could have been prevented (Flynn, Liang, Dickson, Xie, & Suh, 2012). Working in a professional nursing practice setting, the primary goal is the nurse and staff places the patient first and provides the upmost quality care with significance on safety. There are several different types of technology that can be used to improve the medication process and will aid staff in reaching a higher level of care involving patient safety. One tool that can and should be utilized in preventing medication errors is barcode technology. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how implementing technology can aid patient safety during the medication administration process.
One of many nationwide initiatives to help reduce the occurrence of unnecessary medical errors and adverse events is the use of the integrated Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS). A CDSS is a system that provides the right information to the right person in a right format through a right channel at the right time of workflow to facilitate better decision-making by clinicians, reduce errors, and also to prevent adverse events (AHRQ, 2008). This proposal is a case based CDSS system that provides point of care clinical decision support, ensures five rights of medication administration (right person, right drug, right dose, right time and right route), and is designed to prevent or reduce the occurrence errors and adverse events at Perpetual Order of Saints Hospital (POSH).
Electronic Fetal Monitoring Technology has had a very prominent influence on electronic fetal monitoring since its appearance in the 1960’s and 1970’s. For many years, fetal monitoring was simply done by listening to a fetal heartbeat through a stethoscope. Dramatic changes in the heartbeat, such as a long period or a drop in the rate or intensity, could be detected,. Now, not only is the electronic fetal monitor used on the outside of the womb by strapping electrodes to the mother’s abdomen but electrodes can also be inserted during the first stage of labor and placed directly on the baby ’s head.
Medication errors are the leading cause of morbidity and preventable death in hospitals (Adams). In fact, approximately 1.5 million Americans are injured each year as a result of medication errors in hospitals (Foote). Not only are medication errors harmful to patients but medication errors are very expensive for hospitals. Medication errors cost America’s health care system 3.5 billion dollars per year (Foote).Errors in medication administration occurs when one of the five rights of medication administration is omitted. The five rights are: a) the right dose, b) the right medication, c) the right patient, d) the right route of administration, and e) the right time of delivery (Adams). Medication administration is an essential part of the nursing profession, taking up to forty percent of a nurse’s time in providing nursing care (Fowler). Consequently, nurses are commonly held accountable for medication errors. To improve the safety of a vital aspect of nursing care, bar code scanning was introduced to reduce errors in medication administration. Although bar code scanning has its advantageous aspects, there are also disadvantageous qualities.