Member News Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 1, 2006
Silver Cross Introduces Bar Codes at the Bedside to Improve Safety
Silver Cross in the first area hospital to implement a new bedside
medication verification (BMV) system to ensure that the right patient
is the receiving the right medication at the right time. Using the new
system, nurses and other caregivers utilize bar code scanning
technology at the bedside in an effort to reduce possible medication
errors.
According to Frank Butler, Director of Pharmacy at Silver Cross,
the pharmacy processes approximately 600,000 orders and dispenses
around 1.5 million doses of medication per year. National statistics
have reported that anywhere from three to 15 patients per 100
admissions have medication errors of which 1 to 3% of these are
significant. “Although there is controversy over the accuracy and
significance of some of these figures, the fact is that medication
errors do happen and we need to work to reduce these. The system will
dramatically improve the safety of our medication system by reducing
the chance that a medication error will actually make its way to a
patient,” says Butler.
The BMV system uses a mobile computer that is equipped with a
scanning device. Before giving medication to patients, nurses scan a
bar code on the medication and the bar code on the wristband of the
patient. The system calls up medications that were ordered by a
physician and reviewed by a pharmacist. The medication that was scanned
is cross-matched to the patient’s medication profile through the
integrated computer system. If the scanned medication does not match
the order, the system alerts the nurse with a warning message that
needs to be resolved prior to the administration of that medication. In
addition to the safety component, the patient’s medication
administration records are automatically updated immediately in the
hospital’s information system.
Silver Cross is one of the several hospitals moving away from the
“paper-and-pencil” method of administering medications, which is
fraught with potential errors. “This new system improves the
integration of the information system which reduces medication errors
and improves the safety and outcomes of our patients, says Butler.”
"Patient safety is always at the top of our minds and with every
action we take," said Paul Pawlak, President/CEO of Silver Cross
Hospital. “Our actions to improve patient safety is part of why we have
been named one of the top 100 hospitals in the nation by Solucient for
two consecutive years. It is a part of culture.”
According to the 13th edition of Solucient’s 100 Top Hospitals:
National Benchmarks for Success study, the 100 Top Hospitals, including
Silver Cross have better patient safety as indicated by risk-adjusted
Patient Safety Indicator rates. The rates at these hospitals were
significantly lower than non-winners for nine of the 11 Patient Safety
Indicators studied.
Silver Cross has also recently implemented a bedside alarm system
that alerts nurses when patients are leaving the bed when they
shouldn't be. This technology is playing an important role in
preventing falls, especially with elderly patients.
For more information about how Silver Cross is improving safety for patients, visit www.silvercross.org
or call (815) 740-1100. Silver Cross Hospital has been creating
world-class health care experiences for the southwest suburban
communities for over 110 years. Silver Cross has been recognized as one
of our nation’s 100 Top Hospitals by Solucient and as one of America’s
Most Friendliest Hospitals by the American Alliance of Healthcare
Providers. Exceptional care. It’s not unusual. It’s simply the way you
should be treated.