Drug Topics - December 12, 2008 - (Page 25)

INTEGRATED MEDICATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM INNOVATION Technology Ohio hospital automates pharmacy Leah Perry I n an effort to improve technology and security in its pharmacy operations, Ashtabula County Medical Center in Ohio recently began using QuadraMed’s Pharmacy Integrated Medication Management (IMM) system. The IMM system provides real-time wireless and point-of-care medication scanning. It also allows nurses to verify a patient’s identity, validate medications against active orders, and document medication administration online. The technology is designed to reduce medication errors and improve overall patient care. A key selling point for Ashtabula was “deﬁnitely the integration piece,” according to Wendy Nagy, RPh, a staff pharmacist and clinical coordinator at Ashtabula. IMM “has the nursing component along with the electronic medication administration record (MAR), physician order entry, and an electronic medical record,” she said. The facility is hoping to implement all the components eventually, providing a single fully integrated solution. Ashtabula went live with the pharmacy component in May, replacing a much older Cerner system. So far, the biggest advantage Nagy has experienced is reduced paper in the pharmacy. “There is definitely less paper involved and less duplicate stickers. We are able to record electronically who checks the identiﬁcations,” she said. “Our goal is to eventually go to bar-code medicine and online MARs.” The IMM solution is setting the Network Technology SEE INDEX PAGE 8 For more info on this topic, see www.drugtopics.com project manager, said. stage for that ultimate “The entire implestreamlined environmentation was accomment, Frank Caputo, plished by the director RPh, director of pharof pharmacy, the pharmacy, said. “IMM promacists, and pharmacy vides the functionality techs. Vendor and for automating our hospital had to work core pharmacy operatogether to meet the tional requirements, as Ohio State Board of well as the foundation Pharmacy IT requirefor bar-code medicaments — some of the tion administration.” strictest in the nation. Once fully impleMany of the requiremented, the unified ments were new and database will provide unfamiliar to the staff. seamless medication Among the mandates management and close was a requirement the loop from order for a specific sign-on entry to medication administration. Nurs- Ashtabula County Medical Center’s to identify the staff new IMM system provides real-time member entering the ing and pharmacy staff wireless point-of-care medication orders and performwill gain instant access scanning. to patient status records and clinical in- ing the key strokes. To meet that criterion, QuadraMed formation, which will further assist in reducing medication administration er- collaborated with a third-party vendor (Maxim Integrated Products), which rors and streamlining workﬂow. Ashtabula is the first pharma- manufactures plastic keys, called iButcy to implement the system since tons, that enhance system security. QuadraMed purchased it from Misys This security measure ensures that the in 2007. Once the purchase was com- person interacting with the application plete, QuadraMed immediately began and entering the orders is the person working on product enhancements. to whom the unique log-on and passAt that time, October 2007, Ashtabula word have been assigned. If the key is was already in the beginning stages of removed from the computer without implementation. The implementation proper log-on or log-off procedures, the team then worked for another eight application shuts down immediately. Although a fairly smooth implemonths to get the facility ready to meet mentation was accomplished, there its live deadline. “Because the system is a total phar- were some challenges along the way, macy system, the pharmacists played particularly working with a small IT a pivotal primary role in the whole department and a pharmacy staff that process, because they are the gate- had to continue with daily operationkeepers for the medication dispensing al responsibilities while performing a process and for patient safety,” Carol major IT system overhaul. Boehmer, QuadraMed’s manager of client services and Ashtabula’s IMM LEAH PERRY is a writer based in Atlanta. D E C . 15, 2008 COURTESY OF ASHTABULA COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER W W W.D R U GTO P I C S .C O M DRUG TOPICS 25 http://WWW.DRUGTOPICS.COM http://WWW.DRUGTOPICS.COM

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Drug Topics - December 12, 2008

Drug Topics - December 12, 2008 Contents Up Front Up Front In Depth Letters Health-System Edition Cover Story: Controlled Substance Disposal a Growing Problem for Hospitals Pharmacists Hope for Speedy Approvals Deaths from C. Difficile Increasing PharmMD Teams with HealthSpring RX Care Commentary Ohio Hospital Automates Pharmacy The Business Outlook for 2009 OTC The Pharmacist's Duty to Warn: Implications for Pharmacy Practice New Products Viewpoint

Drug Topics - December 12, 2008

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