Quality & Patient Safety

AHRQ study shows bar code technology reduces medication administration and transcription errors

Patient Safety Monitor Alert, May 12, 2010

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The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) recently funded a study revealing barcode technology with an electronic Medication Adminstration Record (eMAR) helps reduce transcription and medication errors. The study was published in the May 6 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

At Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, MA, researchers found that after the introduction of eMARs, the number of medication administrations went up, from 6,723 to 7,318. From this data, researchers also found a 41% reduction in non-timing administration errors and a 51% reduction in potential drug-related adverse events.

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