Patient safety must be at the forefront of healthcare. Medication errors can cost organizations a lot of money, especially when they lead to residents having to go back to the acute care setting. Driving out preventable medication related incidents should be a top priority.
We are seeing a decrease in overall funding in the long-term care sector, making it a challenge to provide quality care focused on outcomes. In particular, medication administration is a time consuming responsibility and a heavy burden on staff; organizations need the proper support, which includes a dedicated pharmacy partner and the right technologies. Bar-code scanning at the point of care is one of the best ways to ensure the “7 Rights”: right resident, drug, dose, time, route, reason and documentation. With so much pressure to reduce costs, adopting technologies that integrate the unique needs of both pharmacy and facility in real-time has become essential for decreasing medication errors.
The right documentation at the right time is definitely under the spotlight at the moment. Caregivers are under a lot of time pressures when administering medication, and that is only part of what is going on in facility-based care. Supporting nurses and caregivers by giving them timely access to the right information significantly increases safety and improves outcomes.
Bar-code scanning technology increases safety
Technology is playing a bigger role in ensuring that medication administration is as safe as it can possibly be. Bar-code scanning at the point of care for medication safety and to manage inventory is a must. For example, if a prescription is discontinued at the pharmacy it should be instantly reflected in the resident's medication administration record at the point of care. To support constant and timely communication, pharmacy and long-term care facility systems have to be linked.
Facilities should ensure they remain patient-centered
It is important for long-term care facility operators to partner with pharmacies that offer technology as part of their service and that have a deep understanding of medication management. Many pharmacies are adopting these types of technologies as it helps them control costs and improve quality both internally and for the facilities they serve. Through technology initiatives that support nursing practice, facilities are able to keep the focus on the patient.
Short-Cycle dispensing is a step in the right direction
Short-cycle dispensing, a 7- to 14-day cycle fill, has been working well in Canada for the last ten years. The adoption of technology drives efficiencies throughout the spectrum of care, from pharmacy to facility, to patient, to payer. Short-cycle dispensing decreases waste, and through the adoption of technology, both pharmacies and facilities are empowered to take a more active role in patient outcomes. It is possible to drive down costs while improving the quality of care, and all facility operators should be investigating the opportunities made possible by technology.
Shane Bishop is the President and CEO of Catalyst Healthcare