| Ensuring the 'Five Rights' of patients is important | | | | quantities during the treatment period. Recording |
| for accurate bedside medication. Though the | | | | data using barcodes can help in maintaining the |
| healthcare system in United States is one of the | | | | consistency in the dose administered. This avoids |
| best in the world, medication errors are often | | | | further complications and side effects by reducing |
| reported. Medication errors are among the most | | | | overdose medications. |
| frequent medical blunders, harming at least 1.5 | | | | · Right method of administration (route) |
| million patients every year (According to The | | | | Right method of administration means |
| Institute of Medicine of the National Academies). | | | | administering the prescribed drug using the right |
| Barcodes ensures the 'Five Rights' | | | | method such as pills, syrup or intravenous |
| Medication errors can be avoided by using | | | | medication. This may also include special |
| barcode technology in bedside medication. | | | | instructions such as taking medication along with |
| Barcodes ensure the 'Five Rights' of the patients | | | | food or other supplements. Using barcodes will |
| i.e. the right patient gets the right medication in | | | | help in reducing the avoidable mistakes that might |
| the right dose through the right route at the right | | | | happen when the information is not properly |
| time. | | | | shared and coordinated. |
| · Right patient | | | | · Right time |
| Barcode scanning on patient's wristbands using | | | | The schedule of medication and the time interval |
| handheld barcode scanners enables to identify the | | | | is vital in medical administration. Especially when |
| right patient according to the Joint Commission on | | | | there is a situation where a missed or late |
| Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) | | | | medication has to follow a revised schedule of |
| guidelines. The wristbands with barcodes given at | | | | medication. In such situations, barcode technology |
| the admission point are vital in tracking the right | | | | will help to maintain the consistency by having the |
| patient throughout the treatment period in the | | | | accurate information. |
| hospital. | | | | The typical devices used in barcode enabled |
| · Right medication | | | | medical administration are a handheld scanner |
| Scanning the barcode label on the medications | | | | connected to a wireless mobile computer. These |
| prescribed to a patient enables accurate | | | | devices automatically communicate with other |
| treatment. In many cases, the ID of the | | | | information systems to record and update |
| administering nurse is also scanned to check the | | | | transactions. These devices also store medical |
| nurse's authority to dispense the medication to | | | | information as a result, it is possible to more |
| the patient. This avoids administering wrong drugs | | | | accurately check and confirm that the right |
| to a patient. | | | | medication process is being followed than is |
| · Right dose | | | | possible with a typical medication administration |
| Confirming the right dose being given to the | | | | record (MAR). Thus, the barcode technology will |
| patients is more complex than ensuring the right | | | | enable the Five Rights of the patients in the |
| medication is administered. The medicine dose | | | | bedside medication administration and ensure the |
| administered is prone to change at least in small | | | | patients' health is the highest priority. |