ANSWER
Application of Course Knowledge: Using Health Information Technology (HIT) to Address a Safety Concern
1. Present Safety Issues in the Workplace
Errors in Medication Administration: A Safety Concern
Medication administration errors are a common safety problem in my practice. Errors frequently arise from poor communication, a lack of consistency, or mistakes made during manual entry. Examples of these errors include missing doses, incorrect drugs, and inappropriate dosages. This problem raises healthcare expenses and legal dangers in addition to endangering patient safety.
2. HIT to Address the Issue Barcode Medication Administration (BCMA) Systems are the suggested HIT.
By scanning the barcodes on patient wristbands and prescription drugs, the BCMA computerized system guarantees precise drug administration. It offers real-time verification to match the correct patient, drug, dose, time, and route, and it interfaces with electronic health records (EHR).
3. Using HIT to Improve Security
How Safety is Improved by BCMA:
Minimizes Human Error: Automates the verification process, guaranteeing that the “five rights”—the correct patient, medication, dosage, timing, and route—are fulfilled.
Enhances Documentation:
minimizes disparities in records by automatically updating the EHR upon administration.
Encourages Real-Time Alerts: Produces alerts for possible mistakes, like dosage inconsistencies or contraindications.
Simplifies Workflow:
minimizes the number of manual stages, reducing the possibility of oversight or misunderstanding.
For instance, a nurse scans the drug and the patient’s wristband. To avoid a mistake before it affects the patient, the system notifies the nurse if the drug is not taken correctly or if the timing is off.
4. Unexpected Repercussions of Using the HIT
Possible Repercussions: Fatigue on Alert
Users may become overwhelmed by many alerts for little inconsistencies or low-priority signals, leading them to ignore or miss important cautions. Even with the HIT in place, this could unintentionally result in mistakes.
The fifth strategy is to mitigate the unintended consequences. Customizing Alert Levels
The following tactics can be used to lessen alert fatigue:
Set Alert Priorities: Make sure that only important messages disrupt operations by designing the system to distinguish between high-risk and low-risk alerts.
Customizable Settings: Let users change the alert’s parameters according to clinical situations or patient-specific criteria.
Frequent System Evaluation: Review alert frequency on a regular basis and modify parameters in response to end-user input.
Instruction and Assistance:
Encourage user involvement and system trust by offering thorough training on the significance of alerts and suitable responses.
Limiting notifications for non-urgent delays in the administration of medications, for example, can assist draw attention to potentially fatal mistakes such extreme dosage differences or wrong drug types.
In conclusion
BCMA systems can successfully handle medication administration errors, a serious safety concern. By automating verification and lowering human error, BCMA improves patient safety; yet, it may also present problems, such as alert fatigue. Unintended effects can be minimized by adjusting alert thresholds and putting user-friendly customization into place, guaranteeing the system’s effectiveness and user acceptance.
Citations
Singh, H., and D. W. Bates (2021). An evaluation of advancements and new patient safety priorities twenty years after To Err Is Human. 1730–1737 in Health Affairs, 39(11).
Mastrian, K. G., and D. McGonigle (2021). The foundation of knowledge and nursing informatics, 5th ed. Bartlett & Jones Learning.
Vera, A., Sowan, A. K., and Malshe, A. (2020). effects on patient safety of barcode medicine administration. 16(2), 97-104, Journal of Patient Safety.
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QUESTION Application of Course Knowledge: Answer all questions/criteria with explanations and detail.
Describe a current safety concern in your practice environment.
Explain one HIT that could be applied to address the concern.
Explain how it could be applied to enhance safety.
Identify at least one possible unintended consequence of adopting the HIT.
Discuss at least one strategy for mitigating the unintended consequence.