Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA)
Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA) is a point-of-care software solution that addresses the serious issue of inpatient medication errors by electronically validating and documenting medications for inpatients. Through the use of a bar code scanner, BCMA immediately validates the five “rights” of medication administration—right patient, right medication, right dose, right route and right timing—and provides real-time access to the electronic medication administration record (eMAR).
The BCMA system also visually alerts staff when the proper medication administration parameters are not met.
Awards
2010—The VistA BCMA, progenitor of Medsphere's own OpenVista BCMA, was recently honored by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices with its "Cheers Award." Click here for details.
2000—Implementation of the VistA BCMA at the (VA's) Eastern Kansas Health Care System was instrumental in earning the VistA BCMA Development Team the “Hammer Award,” a Federal Technology Leadership Award from (then) Vice President Al Gore. Since the software was implemented (through March 2001), the health system reduced its documented medication administration errors to zero and prevented some 549,000 errors while dispensing approximately eight million medication doses.
2000—Finalist for “USA Today—Rochester Institute of Technology Quality Cup Award.
Case Studies/Literature
Jan. 2002
Journal of Healthcare Information Management (HIMSS)—v. 16, no. 1
"Using BCMA Software to Improve Patient Safety In Veterans Administration Medical Centers"
By Connie L. Johnson; Russell A. Carlson, RN, BSN; Chris L. Tucker, RPh; and Candice Willette
Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA) software, as developed by the Veterans Health Administration, is an innovative, automated system that uses wireless, point-of-care technology with an integrated bar code scanner.The system can dramatically reduce medication administration errors by letting clinicians verify a patient’s identity and validate medications against active orders. Click here to access the full article.