HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by DeYoung, J. L. Articles by Barletta, J. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by DeYoung, J. L. Articles by Barletta, J. F.

JACULINL. DEYOUNG, PHARM.D., BCNSP, is Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Medication Safety; MARIE E. VANDERKOOI, M.S.N., B.S.N., RN, is Clinical Nurse Specialist; and JEFFREYF. BARLETTA, PHARM.D., FCCM, is Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Critical Care, Spectrum Health, Grand Rapids, MI.

Address correspondence to Dr. DeYoung at the Department of Quality, MC 1C001, Spectrum Health, 100 Michigan NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (jaci.deyoung{at}spectrum-health.org).

Purpose. The effect of bar-code-assisted medication administration (BCMA) on the rate of medication errors in adult patients in a medical intensive care unit (ICU) was studied. Methods. Medication errors were identified in a community teaching hospital medical ICU using a direct observation technique whereby nurses were observed administering medications. Observations occurred for four consecutive 24-hour periods one month before and four months after the implementation of BCMA. Errors in the following categories were recorded: wrong drug, wrong administration time, wrong route, wrong dose, omission, administration of a drug with no order, and documentation error. Two evaluators reviewed all errors for accuracy. Medication error rates were calculated and compared by determining the number of medication errors identified per number of medications administered (observed) preimplementation and postimplementation of BCMA. Statistical analyses were conducted to determine significance. Results. A total of 1465 medication administrations were observed (775 preimplementation and 690 postimplementation) for 92 patients (45 preimplementation and 47 postimplementation). The medication error rate was reduced by 56% after the implementation of BCMA (19.7% versus 8.7% , p < 0.001). This benefit was related to a reduction associated with errors of wrong administration time. Wrong administration time errors decreased from 18.8% during preimplementation to 7.5% postimplementation (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in other error types. Conclusion. The implementation of BCMA significantly reduced the number of wrong administration time errors in an adult medical ICU. Index terms: Codes; Drug administration; Errors, medication; Hospitals