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BABIES SLIDESHOWS |
Babies Bar Coded To Prevent Medicine Mixups
Centennial Medical Center Reports System Works Well
POSTED: 6:24 pm CDT July 18,
2008
UPDATED: 8:18 pm CDT July 18,
2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- After several cases of children being harmed or even killed after being given the wrong dose of medication, a local hospital’s policy became more prevalent.
Video: Hospitals Bar Code Babies To Prevent Medicine Mistakes Centennial Medical Center switched recently to a bar coding system, which is similar to what is seen in stores and will match the correct medicine to patients."Once that baby's arm band is scanned and that particular medication order is compared to what's profiled through our pharmacy, the nursing staff would know immediately that this the incorrect dosage," said CMC spokesman Cornell Randle.In 2007, 1.9 million doses of medication were administered at CMC, but over 13,000 medical errors were prevented because of the bar coding system. Randle said it's all about reducing mistakes.In Texas last week, two newborn twins died and 14 other babies were critically sickened after receiving overdoses of the blood-thinning drug Heparin.New father Trevis Smith said the hospital's bar coding system made a big difference."With the medications and stuff, we don't have any worries or any problems to think about what might happen. We know we're in good hands," he said.The bar coding system is not only being used in Centennial's nursery, the hospital will be employing the technology in their neo-natal intensive care unit by September.Two twins were in the fight of their lives a few months ago. They were underweight and receiving around-the-clock care and all sorts of medicine."Because the patients in our NICU are in a little bit more of a critical state, it's going to be all that more important they receive the right medication at the right route at the right time," said hospital representative Marissa Murphy.CMC uses a bar coding system called EMAR, which stands for Electronic Medication Administration Record.Two months ago, actor Dennis Quaid urged lawmakers to require all U.S. hospitals to use a bar coding system after his children nearly died from a Heparin overdose last year.
Video: Hospitals Bar Code Babies To Prevent Medicine Mistakes Centennial Medical Center switched recently to a bar coding system, which is similar to what is seen in stores and will match the correct medicine to patients."Once that baby's arm band is scanned and that particular medication order is compared to what's profiled through our pharmacy, the nursing staff would know immediately that this the incorrect dosage," said CMC spokesman Cornell Randle.In 2007, 1.9 million doses of medication were administered at CMC, but over 13,000 medical errors were prevented because of the bar coding system. Randle said it's all about reducing mistakes.In Texas last week, two newborn twins died and 14 other babies were critically sickened after receiving overdoses of the blood-thinning drug Heparin.New father Trevis Smith said the hospital's bar coding system made a big difference."With the medications and stuff, we don't have any worries or any problems to think about what might happen. We know we're in good hands," he said.The bar coding system is not only being used in Centennial's nursery, the hospital will be employing the technology in their neo-natal intensive care unit by September.Two twins were in the fight of their lives a few months ago. They were underweight and receiving around-the-clock care and all sorts of medicine."Because the patients in our NICU are in a little bit more of a critical state, it's going to be all that more important they receive the right medication at the right route at the right time," said hospital representative Marissa Murphy.CMC uses a bar coding system called EMAR, which stands for Electronic Medication Administration Record.Two months ago, actor Dennis Quaid urged lawmakers to require all U.S. hospitals to use a bar coding system after his children nearly died from a Heparin overdose last year.- Popular WSMV Slideshows
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