title: [A Program to Improve the Implementation Rate for the Barcode Medication Administration System].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fully implementing the barcode medication administration system has been shown to help improve medication safety. We have promoted the barcode medication administration system in our hospital since May of 2014. However, the rate of implementation reached only 32% initially. We identified the major obstacles to fully implementing the barcode system as: (1) the barcodes on patients' wristbands were smudged or broken; (2) the barcodes on transparent drug bags and infusion bags were difficult to scan; (3) nurses were not familiar with the scanner and lacked the skills necessary to conduct barcode scans; (4) poor wireless Internet access inhibited effective barcode scanning; and (5) the beep sound generated during barcode scanning disturbed patients' sleep. The present project was conducted to improve the implementation by nursing staff of the barcode medication administration system.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose was to increase the rate of implementation from 32% to 80%.
  
  
  METHODS
  The key members of the project were nurses, computer technicians, and pharmacists. The following procedures were conducted: (1) check the integrity of the wrist band and renew this band periodically; (2) print the barcode against a white background on transparent drug transfusion bags; (3) demonstration the skills of barcode scanning to nurses and inspect the function of scanners periodically; (4) increase the number of access points for the wireless network; (5) demonstrate the procedure for adjusting the sound volume on the scanner; and (6) provide rewards / incentives for using the barcode medication administration system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rate of implementation of the barcode medication administration system increased from 32% to 85.2%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This project significantly increased the use of the barcode medication administration system by our nursing staff. The procedures used in this project may be referenced by administrators at other hospitals with low rates of barcode medication administration system usage.
authors.affiliation: Student, Department of Healthcare Administration, I-Shou University, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Ying-Ting
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.affiliation: BSN, RN, Department of Nursing, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Shih-Fen
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: MSN, RN, Nurse Practitioner, Department of Nursing, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Kuei-Lan
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: BSN, RN, Supervisor, Department of Nursing, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chen-Ju
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Li-Ching
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: BSN, RN, Head Nurse, Department of Nursing, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, ROC. n6b@mail.hosp.ncku.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Yu-Chiung
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D001330:Electronic Data Processing; D006801:Humans; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital
keywords: barcode medication administration (BCMA); implementation rate; medication safety