Boca Raton Community Hospital adds safety measures to distribution of medication.
October 12th, 2008
By Dale M. King
CITY EDITOR
Traditionally, hospital pharmacy departments have been viewed as a ‘behind the scenes’ unit responsible for delivery of medications to the patient floors.
This year, the pharmaceutical care department at Boca Raton Community Hospital (BRCH) has implemented changes designed to improve patient safety.
“Over the last three years, the BRCH pharmacy department has gone through major changes related to medication distribution, medication safety and operational efficiencies,” said Sam Genovese, executive director of pharmaceutical care at BRCH.
Transitioning the medication distribution process was a major step in the beginning of the redesign, he said. “The decision was made to use a hybrid model of utilizing medication carts for routine medications and Pyxis automated dispensing cabinets for narcotic medications as well as IV solutions. This model has positioned them for the anticipated roll out of barcode verification of medication for bedside administration.”
In August 2008, the bedside medication administration product, called Horizon Admin-RX, was introduced in the hospital pharmacy, he said. “The entire implementation process will take approximately three months. At that time, the paper medication administration record will transition to an electronic medication administration record. This electronic record will be viewable in clinical systems as well as the physician’s portal, a computerized medical record system that allows doctors to view hospital records from their offices.”
He said the Admin-RX system is the critical link which will allow a medication barcode to be scanned at the bedside in order to exercise the “five” rights of medication administration: right patient, right drug, right dose, right dosage form and right time.
The nursing staff will be able to scan the patient’s armband, the medication barcode, and their employee badge at the bedside, which will produce an electronic medication administration record with real time documentation.
“We will also be implementing a ‘pick to light system,’ a radio frequency badge computer application known as Intellishelf, at the main pharmacy in order to streamline our medication distribution and fill processes while enhancing operational efficiencies and safety,” said Genovese.
“We are excited to be an integral part of the new medication process as we focus on creating the safest environment and implementing best practices not only for our patients, but for everyone involved in the patient care continuum.”
| 
