Reference no: EM133669863
Assignment:
RESPOND TO THESE COMMENTS AND LEAVE REFERENCES
As we delve into the topic of eMAR (electronic medication administration records) and the scanner, I'd like to share my personal experience. This tool, which I'll discuss in detail, was not just a tool but a source of security during my early nursing career. The process involves assigning a unique barcode to each patient's wristband, which they must wear at all times. We then verify their identity by asking for their name and date of birth and comparing it with the barcode. Once we've logged into Meditech and selected the correct patient's eMAR page, we scan the patient's barcode on their wristband and scan their medications with barcodes. In one instance, I accidentally scanned another patient's medication while still getting used to the system. Thankfully, the eMAR and scanning system immediately alerted me and prevented me from continuing with the administration. This incident taught me the importance of organization and carefully comparing my side bag of medications with my written list. Still, it also reassured me of the system's effectiveness in preventing potential errors.
Our textbook, Handbook of Informatics for Nurses & Healthcare Professionals by Hebda, T. L., Hunter, K., & Czar, P. (2019), lists an essential aspect of EHR with eMAR, "The main goal of implementing technologies such as EHRSs is to improve the quality and safety of patient care through benefits such as: improving the accuracy and completeness of patient health information; increasing the speed at which care is provided; enhancing the coordination of care; and increasing transparency of health information for patients and their families" (p. 119). As healthcare professionals, we play a crucial role in this process. We drastically reduce medication errors by having multiple patient identifiers and using the eMAR and EHR systems of barcodes on patients' wristbands and barcodes on their medications. This improves patient care and highlights our importance in ensuring their safety.