Evaluation of Medication Administration Timing-Are We Meeting Our Goals?

BACKGROUND: Per the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 482.23(c) regarding medication administration, hospital policies and procedures must identify time-critical scheduled medications which must be administered within 30 minutes either before or after the scheduled dosing time, for a total administration window of 1 hour. OBJECTIVE: The general objective of this analysis was to determine whether there was a difference in meeting medication administration goals when comparing time-critical to non-time-critical scheduled medication administration in both intensive care units (ICUs) and general medical floors at a large, academic medical center. METHODS: Data were collected in 6 inpatient nursing units (3 general medical units and 3 ICUs) during the month of June 2017. Electronic medical record charge data for medications were used to evaluate timeliness of medication administration. RESULTS: In total, 69,794 medication administrations were evaluated. Of 389 administrations of time-critical scheduled medications, 268 (69%) were administered on time. Of 69,405 administrations of non-time-critical scheduled medications, 58,099 (84%) were administered on time (P < 0.001). ICUs had a higher percentage of on-time administrations than general medical units (89% vs 77%, P < 0.001), and nurses had a higher percentage of on-time administrations than respiratory therapists (84% vs 63%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Non-time-critical scheduled medications were more commonly administered on time compared with time-critical scheduled medications. Staff education and optimizations to the electronic health record (EHR) are interventions that may improve administration of time-critical scheduled medications.

Electronic inventory systems and barcode technology: impact on pharmacy technical accuracy and error liability.

PURPOSE: To measure the effects associated with sequential implementation of electronic medication storage and inventory systems and product verification devices on pharmacy technical accuracy and rates of potential medication dispensing errors in an academic medical center. METHODS: During four 28-day periods of observation, pharmacists recorded all technical errors identified at the final visual check of pharmaceuticals prior to dispensing. Technical filling errors involving deviations from order-specific selection of product, dosage form, strength, or quantity were documented when dispensing medications using (a) a conventional unit dose (UD) drug distribution system, (b) an electronic storage and inventory system utilizing automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs) within the pharmacy, (c) ADCs combined with barcode (BC) verification, and (d) ADCs and BC verification utilized with changes in product labeling and individualized personnel training in systems application. RESULTS: Using a conventional UD system, the overall incidence of technical error was 0.157% (24/15,271). Following implementation of ADCs, the comparative overall incidence of technical error was 0.135% (10/7,379; P = .841). Following implementation of BC scanning, the comparative overall incidence of technical error was 0.137% (27/19,708; P = .729). Subsequent changes in product labeling and intensified staff training in the use of BC systems was associated with a decrease in the rate of technical error to 0.050% (13/26,200; P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacy ADCs and BC systems provide complementary effects that improve technical accuracy and reduce the incidence of potential medication dispensing errors if this technology is used with comprehensive personnel training.

Potassium and phosphorus repletion in hospitalized patients: implications for clinical practice and the potential use of healthcare information technology to improve prescribing and patient safety.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate potassium and phosphorus repletion in hospitalized patients. Assess the potential role for use of various methods, including healthcare information technology, to improve prescribing and patient safety. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Inpatient medication profiles were screened to identify orders for potassium and phosphorus replacement products. Electronic laboratory and medical records were used to evaluate efficacy and safety. Eligibility for oral therapy was defined by the presence of other scheduled oral medications on the medication profile. Appropriateness of prescribing was based on adherence to the hospital guidelines for repletion. RESULTS: Overall, 134 orders for potassium in 92 patients and 36 orders for phosphorus in 27 patients were evaluated over a 3-week data collection period. Intravenous (IV) potassium was prescribed in 73% of replacement episodes (46% as single doses and 54% within large volume IV fluids), with 85% for normokalemia or mild-to-moderate cases of hypokalemia. Phosphorus orders involved single doses of IV potassium phosphate (mean 13.1 mmol) in 75% of cases. Approximately 85% of doses were for mild or moderate hypophosphatemia. Eligibility for oral therapy was evident in 74% of normokalemic or mild hypokalemic cases receiving IV potassium products and in 33% of cases receiving IV phosphorus replacement. Six cases of mild hyperkalemia were observed. No hyperphosphatemia was documented. Study limitations include use of a retrospective design, inability to discern whether some electrolyte doses were given with a preventative intent, potential overestimation of the number of patients eligible for oral repletion, and lack of data on the accessibility of the laboratory serum concentrations or the awareness of serum values to the prescribers. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous potassium and phosphate products are commonly prescribed for mild or moderate cases of hypokalemia or hypophosphatemia. Many patients met eligibility for oral therapy. Efforts to enhance prescriber education and implement computerized prescribing and decision support systems have the potential to improve prescribing and reduce possibilities of adverse drug events and medication errors related to potassium and phosphate administration.