The clinician scans their own identification badge, scans the patients’ identification band and then scans the appropriate medication to access patient records to ensure that all information matches.
The software system will verify the "five rights"--confirming that the patient, drug, dose, time, and route administered all match.
The technology performs all checks for potential error before the medication reaches the patient.
Other highlights of the Bridge program include: accessing patient files for allergy cross-checks and verification, height, weight and age; checks for high-risk medications; eporting capabilities that track near misses; real time online order confirmation; online drug reference access, and the ability to communicate with the hospital pharmacy.
"Our patients’ safety and care is our first priority at North Shore Medical Center," said CEO Manny Linares. "This new advanced technology, the Bridge program, will be an excellent addition to our safety measures in regards to patient medications."
North Shore is one of the few hospitals in South Florida to implement this advanced technology for medication safety.