eMAR Implementation Begins
The final piece of the BWH move to the Electronic Medication Administration
System – bringing the electronic medication record (eMAR) on-line –
begins this month.
While other hospitals are just beginning the conversion to electronic medication
systems, BWH now leads the way nationwide with a comprehensive system that links
order entry, pharmacy and the medication administration record to improve patient
safety.
The last several months have seen final enhancements to the automated record,
based on suggestions from pilot test participants in the winter of 2004. Thanks
to the feedback of these users, eMAR medication carts will feature a full-size
laptop and wireless scanner. The pilot phase also turned up a list of needed software
enhancements that have been addressed by Information Systems.
The first phase of the rollout starts in early November on floors eight through
10 on the Connors Center and is expected to be complete by the end of 2004. Rollouts
for other medical and surgical units will be timed for after BICS Modernization,
with a goal of resuming in March 2005. Oncology units are slated to transition
to eMAR in the fall of 2005. To ease into the transition, all RNs will receive
four hours of eMAR training and will have as resources a “super user”
on their unit who will have received additional training learning how to troubleshoot
eMAR issues. Special online training courses have been developed for other eMAR
users to take at their own convenience.
But as important as getting the fully integrated system up and running is evaluating
its impact on patients. A multidisciplinary team has already taken baseline data
on medication errors that occurred prior to eMAR implementation. They will compare
these results to data taken at intervals of three and six months to trace the
effect of eMAR on patient safety.
Judy Hayes, RN, director of Professional Practice, Quality and Staff Development
said, “The eMAR rollout culminates a 10 year effort and represents a significant
step forward in medication administration safety. We have come far with the help
of Pharmacy, Medicine, Information Sys-tems and the many nursing staff who have
been so positive throughout the pilot projects,” she said. “I would
like to commend all who have helped. Thanks to their efforts, the program we are
introducing over the next year and a half will pay tremendous benefits in ensuring
the medication safety of our patients.”