Effects of technological interventions on the safety of a medication-use system.

PURPOSE: A study was conducted to assess the effects and outcomes of implementing new technology into the medication-use process. METHODS: A pharmacy computer system, automated dispensing cabinets, and point-of-care products were implemented. The hypotheses of the study were that system errors in each phase of the medication-use process would decrease with the implementation of each technological application and that workload measures, such as staffing and inventory levels, would increase. Using a scripted questionnaire, interviews of participating staff (registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nursing-unit clerks, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, physicians, and physician assistants) were conducted to determine their impressions of the safety of the medication-use system before and after the implementation of technology. All hospitalwide errors were reported monthly between November 2002 and July 2005 by the number of errors per 1000 patient days and were categorized by error type. The accuracy of the medication administration record was examined; the pharmacy dispensing process was evaluated for accuracy, timeliness, and system changes; the accuracy of medication administration was observed; and staffing changes were also evaluated. RESULTS: Because of the technology implementation, the accuracy of patient identification was introduced, process changes and technological design identified potential failure modes in the medication administration process, inventory increased, turn-around time to process medication doses in the pharmacy decreased, accuracy of medication administration increased, and the staffing of nurses and pharmacists increased. CONCLUSION: Implementation of new technology into the medication management system standardized the medication administration processes, decreased turnaround time for processing medication orders, and increased accuracy of medication administration to patients.

Using failure mode and effects analysis to plan implementation of smart i.v. pump technology.

PURPOSE: Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) was used to evaluate a smart i.v. pump as it was implemented into a redesigned medication-use process. SUMMARY: A multidisciplinary team conducted a FMEA to guide the implementation of a smart i.v. pump that was designed to prevent pump programming errors. The smart i.v. pump was equipped with a dose-error reduction system that included a pre-defined drug library in which dosage limits were set for each medication. Monitoring for potential failures and errors occurred for three months postimplementation of FMEA. Specific measures were used to determine the success of the actions that were implemented as a result of the FMEA. The FMEA process at the hospital identified key failure modes in the medication process with the use of the old and new pumps, and actions were taken to avoid errors and adverse events. I.V. pump software and hardware design changes were also recommended. Thirteen of the 18 failure modes reported in practice after pump implementation had been identified by the team. A beneficial outcome of FMEA was the development of a multidisciplinary team that provided the infrastructure for safe technology implementation and effective event investigation after implementation. With the continual updating of i.v. pump software and hardware after implementation, FMEA can be an important starting place for safe technology choice and implementation and can produce site experts to follow technology and process changes over time. CONCLUSION: FMEA was useful in identifying potential problems in the medication-use process with the implementation of new smart i.v. pumps. Monitoring for system failures and errors after implementation remains necessary.