IHN has partnered with ExactMed to offer a state-of-the art medication management solution for long term care facilities. Developed by long term care experts, the ExactMed eMAR solution provides real-time, secure medication dispensation and tracking at the bedside or wherever a resident may be located during their medication time.
ExactMed’s eMAR software application eliminates errors associated with administering medications at the point of care by ensuring adherence to the “5 Rights” of medication administration (Right Resident, Right Route, Right Dose, Right Time, and Right Medication). In addition, the application alerts nurses to dangerous drug interactions and automates the medication order and receipt process with long term care pharmacies.
A key component of ExactMed’s eMAR system is secure bar code-based technology that enables medication distribution from the pharmacy to the long term care facility, to the med cart, and finally to the resident. Bar code scanners are mounted along with a user-friendly, highly intuitive touch screen interface on the med cart. Minimal typing is performed by nurses during the process of administering medications.
At the time a resident is admitted to a nursing facility and the resident’s physician has prescribed medications, a healthcare worker at the facility orders medications through the ExactMed system. This process reduces faxing, prevents errors caused by misinterpreted handwriting, and minimizes delivery delays. If applicable, the system displays drug interaction, patient specific allergy, and formulary alerts so nurses can take prompt action to avoid an adverse event and prevent rework associated with ordering prescriptions. The system routes the medication order directly to the selected pharmacy from the nursing facility. Once the order is filled, a bar code that contains information about the resident, the drug, and the order is attached to the medication’s packaging either at the pharmacy or the long term care facility. The order is received into the system at the long term care facility by simply scanning the barcode, thus reducing errors and paper work.
At time of administration, the barcode on the medication’s packaging is scanned at the med cart. The system confirms the resident’s identity, matches the resident with the medication, and confirms that the administering nurse is authorized to administer the medications. If any one of the “5 Rights” does not match exactly, the nurse is notified via a combination of alerts and text messages on the touch screen display. If applicable, the system will display an alert for drug interaction or allergy, as well as prompt input of laboratory values, vital signs and other parameters that gauge the effects of medication. Every entry required on a resident’s eMAR chart is immediately recorded, updated, and stored on an electronic MAR (Medication Administration Record); thus eliminating the need for month end recaps. The chart can be viewed or printed at anytime.