Nursing Informatics and the Prevention of Medication Error
Discuss the role of informatics in the prevention of medication error.
Identify the history of the use of informatics in medication prevention.
Select and discuss a current issue within medication error and prevention related to the use of informatics
Take a stand and defend that stand on the topic issue
Discuss the future direction of the use of informatics in the topic area
Use correct mechanics/ spelling/ grammar and APA format
Include references and support with some diagram or graphs
Sample Answer
Nursing Informatics and the Prevention Medication Error
Currently, healthcare providers use healthcare technology extensively in executing most of their roles. This has been promoted by the increasing development of more efficient and innovative healthcare technologies, which have enhanced the ability of healthcare providers to provide high-quality healthcare services and products efficiently (Wang et al., 2019). Also, the increase in the application of technology in healthcare has been motivated by patients. There is a high level of reliance on technology in the current society. This is because of the enhanced access to technology and the change in demographics. For instance, millennials depend heavily on technology to execute most activities, including accessing healthcare services. This has, therefore, motivated the use of healthcare technology in providing healthcare services to the patients. Besides, various healthcare reforms, such as the shift to value-based care, have also motivated the use of different cost-effective and efficient healthcare technologies in offering care to people. The value-based healthcare system supports the application of healthcare technologies, which are cost-effective but also maintain high-quality care. Also, the use of technology has helped to reduce various medical malpractices, such as medication errors (Wang et al., 2019). Medication errors affect patient safety and therefore need to be addressed appropriately. This essay focuses on discussing the role of informatics in the prevention of medication error, the history of the use of informatics in medication prevention, and the current issues associated with the utilization of informatics in medication error and prevention.
Role of Informatics in the Prevention of Medication Error
The use of health informatics by healthcare providers has not only been motivated by the need to enhance access to high-quality, timely, and appropriate care, but also to need to promote identification, prevention, and reduction of medication errors. As a result, many healthcare leaders have encouraged the use of healthcare information technologies such as electronic health records, radio frequency identification, barcode medication administration, and computerized provider order entry to prevent medical errors to promote patient safety (Wang et al., 2019). These play various roles in preventing medication errors.
Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE)
This type of healthcare technology allows healthcare providers to mechanize the drug prescription procedure and provide a legible, correct, and standard instruction. CPOE has a significant effect on preventing the medication errors which occur at the prescribing step. They include using the wrong drug or dosage form and wrong dose calculation (Korb-Savoldelli et al., 2018). Thus, CPOE helps in controlling these medication errors by ensuring that the order is legible, complete, and accurate. It also enables providers to reduce medication errors by providing them with relevant laboratory results, dosage adjustment calculations based on evidence, updating the prescriber with the more current drug information, suggesting a proper dose, and checking for problems like drug allergies (Korb-Savoldelli et al., 2018). Besides, it has been discovered that CPOE has the largest impact on controlling medication errors. Evidence shows that this technology contributes to 55 to 83 percent of medication error reductions.
Bar-coded Medication Administration (BCMA)
This technology also plays a significant role in preventing medication errors hence enhancing patient safety. The BCMA system reduces medication errors by ensuring the five rights of medication are met. Therefore, this technology helps in ensuring the right patient receives the right dose, the correct drug, through the right route, and at the right time (Lin, Lee & Mills, 2018). When using the BCMA system, the nurse responsible for administering medication is required to scan the patient’s bar-coded wristlet containing information of identification after admission. The BCMA system alerts in case a mismatch of the patient’s identity, name, dose, or route of medication administration. Studies support that BCMA reduces the medication errors that arise during prescription and from incorrect prescribed doses by75.47% and 61.97%, respectively (Lin, Lee & Mills, 2018).
Electronic Health Record (EHR)
This technology is implemented in healthcare to replace the traditional paperwork system by ensuring the collection of health information throughout the patient’s lifetime is done electronically and transmitted securely. EHR collects various forms of health information including the one related to experiments, procedures, care plans, evaluations, and allergies (Hunt & Chakraborty, 2019). EHRs help prevent medication errors by allowing providers to detect abnormal test results, risky drug interactions, and the errors that may arise when integrating multiple information sources such as pharmacy and radiology.
History of the Use of Informatics in Medication Error Prevention
Medication errors are committed at various levels of practice, including during hospital admissions and outpatient visits. Besides, they can be categorized into transcribing, dispensing, administration, and prescribing (World Health Organization, 2016). These errors occur due to the wrong dose, route, or timing. Some of the medical errors are less likely to cause damage, while others undermine patient safety and can even cause death. Evidence shows that medication errors pose various threats of risk to the patient’s safety. In the U.S., medication errors affect about 1.5 million annually. Among these cases, 400 000 of them are due to preventable medication errors. Also, the healthcare practice issue can lead to death. Evidence reveals that about 98 000 deaths associated with medication errors are experienced annually (World Health Organization, 2016). Besides, medication errors committed in the U.S. hospitals and other healthcare institutions are considered the third leading cause of death in the country (World Health Organization, 2016). This has created the need for the prevention of medication errors in the country. As a result, healthcare leaders and health professionals engaged themselves in identifying the various effective strategies that can help address the healthcare practice issue. Many identified healthcare information technologies as one way of addressing the public health issue. Some of the healthcare technologies identified include electronic health records, radio frequency identification, barcode medication administration, and computerized provider order enter (Lin, Lee & Mills, 2018). The use of the healthcare technologies to prevent medical errors has been promoted by various factors which include the need to enhance access to high-quality, timely, and accurate care and the increase in the development of diverse healthcare technologies which play a significant role in improving patient safety.
