Effect of barcode technology with electronic medication administration record on medication accuracy rates

Abstract

Implementation of BCMA-eMAR in two hospitals was associated with significant increases in total medication accuracy rates in most study units and did not introduce new types of error into the medication administration process. Accuracy rates further improved when wrong-time errors were excluded from analysis. The frequency of errors preventable by BCMA-eMAR decreased significantly in both hospitals after implementation of that technology. BCMA-eMAR and direct observation were more effective than voluntary reporting programs at intercepting and recording errors and preventing them from reaching patients.