title: Methodologies for sustaining barcode medication administration compliance. A multi-disciplinary approach.
abstract: Numerous recent studies have looked at how nursing workarounds and technology failures can undermine the patient safety benefits of barcode medication administration (BCMA) systems. This article will discuss how Solaris Health System in Edison, NJ, methodically addressed these challenges to achieve and sustain 95 percent compliance with BCMA, one of two major initiatives of the non-profit Solaris Patient Safety Institute, which was established to research best practices that could be shared with other organizations. Through meetings and interviews with frontline nurses and their managers, a multidisciplinary team (pharmacy, IT, nursing) identified 12 educational, technological and process-oriented issues, then developed concrete action plans to address each one (e.g., one-on-one software and device training, additional wireless access points, a "hard stop" to require scanning the patient's wristband). Key success factors included demonstrating executive dedication, creating a culture of ownership by engaging frontline nurses in solution design and providing a strong support system.
authors.affiliation: Solaris Health System, Edison, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McNulty
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Donnelly
authors.forename: Kris
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iorio
mesh_terms: D001330:Electronic Data Processing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D017751:Safety Management; D014481:United States