Flaws in the barcoded technology used to reduce medication administration errors ...(echnology (HIT) came to national promine...),Health

Date:7/1/2008

echnology (HIT) came to national prominence a few years ago with a JAMA article on medication errors associated with computerized physician order entry systems (CPOE). But he has published widely on HIT, noting its many benefits as well as its problems. In the same July/August issue of JAMIA, in fact, he is also the first author on a paper that presents a way of using CPOE to detect and prevent medication errorsa decidedly pro-CPOE piece. Koppel remarked, "Many vendors and their supporters mistakenly believe I'm some sort of Luddite. That's the exact opposite of my position. I view these technologies as vital; that's why we must make them work to help clinicians and patients. Right now, the vendors and true believers focus on marketing HIT, and attack any criticisms as anti-technology. That's the worst way to improve these essential tools."

This study challenges assumptions of how these increasingly popular bar-coded medication administration systems are actually used in hospital practice. "It is not enough to tell the staff to "do it right", concludes Koppel, "rather repeated examinations and corrections of the technologies in actual use will help optimize their roles in preventing medication error and enhancing patient safety."

As noted, HUP does not use barcode medication administration systems, but requires staff to manually check identifiers to correctly match patient and medication. When HUP implements a medication barcode system, it will incorporate the findings from this research.

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Contact: Marc Kaplan marc.kaplan@uphs.upenn.edu 215-662-2560 University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine Source:Eurekalert

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