Utilizing electronic health record data to determine the health of the medication process after the relocation of a children's hospital.

UNLABELLED: Hospital relocation is a highly complex undertaking, which has the potential to interrupt operations and poses risks for patients, staff, and providers. Little is known how hospital relocation impacts on workflow and communication. METHODS: Using existing Electronic Health Record (EHR) data we determined time from medication ordering to first dose administration as a proxy for well-being of the medication process during a five months window surrounding the relocation of a 205-bed children's hospital. RESULTS: Overall performance of the medication process has declined slightly. We identified regional (unit) differences with the pediatric intensive care unit, which had the most significant changes to its workflow, experiencing a more than doubling of the time from ordering to medication administration. Overall, there was no significant difference in time-sensitive medication administration times. Evaluating the medication ordering-dispensing-administration process through readily available EHR data demonstrated that the impact of a hospital' s relocation on workflow and communication can be successfully monitored.

Medical devices; general hospital and personal use devices; classification of remote medication management system. Final rule.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is classifying the remote medication management systems into class II (special controls). Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, FDA is announcing the availability of a guidance document entitled, "Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff; Class II Special Controls Guidance Document: Remote Medication Management System," which will serve as the special control for this device type. The agency is classifying this device type into class II (special controls) in order to provide a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness of these devices.