Significance of Electronic Medication Administration Records

Wendy Kallaher, Rn, National Account Manager, Guardian Pharmacy Services, One Of The Nation’s Largest Long-Term Care Pharmacy Companies

Wendy Kallaher, Rn, National Account Manager, Guardian Pharmacy Services, One Of The Nation’s Largest Long-Term Care Pharmacy Companies

Advanced technology can be an indispensable tool supplementing clinical expertise and support to deliver the best patient care possible. In long-term care, where the main focus is resident safety, electronic medication administration records (eMAR) have played an important role in achieving optimal care.

eMAR systems provide extensive safety advantages over the paper medication administration records predominantly used by the healthcare industry prior to eMAR’s arrival and offer numerous benefits to long-term care staff, leading to their rising rate of adoption among communities. While some communities are still hesitant to make the change, eMAR platforms should be implemented for any facility seeking to improve resident outcomes and support staff.

eMARs are a vital tool in reducing med pass errors

eMAR platforms excel in protecting longterm care residents through a comprehensive monitoring system that mitigates med pass errors, incorrect administration or missed dosage. Research in the New England Journal of Medicine notes that these electronic systems can reduce med pass errors by 41 percent, decrease drug-related adverse events by 51 percent and lessen drug administration timing errors by 27 percent.

The substantial reduction in med pass errors can be attributed to an eMARs built-in verification system assuring the correct medication and dosage are given at the proper time and to the right individual through barcode scanning and other safeguards. Alarms and notifications can alert staff when a medication must be administered, when the timeframe for the med pass is closing or when it has not been administered in time.

These protections are enhanced by interfacing with a long-term care pharmacy. A pharmacy can update their medication regimen in real-time, considerably reducing the risk for adverse drug interactions, ensuring medication therapies are initiated or discontinued without delay.

eMAR benefits are especially notable when compared to traditional, paper MARs, which are prone to human error — inaccurate administration logs, lost or misfiled records or regimens that are invalid because they were not updated.

EMAR platforms excel in protecting long-term care residents through a comprehensive monitoring system that mitigates med pass errors, incorrect administration or missed dosage

eMARs help ease the burden on longterm care staff

Investing in eMAR is a particularly effective means to keep residents safe, but the benefits also extend to long-term care community staff. And particularly in understaffed communities, these advantages can help retain staff and reduce caregiver stress points.

The med pass process through an eMAR system greatly reduces the chance for human error, bolstering confidence among staff knowing they have a safety net. In addition, the platform expedites the med pass process by eliminating tedious paperwork that can also be lost, misplaced or illegible, giving staff more time to focus their attention on other aspects of care.

eMARs also excel over traditional medication records by better organizing data for record keeping. This comprehensive information can give insight on the effectiveness of a medication or regimen and allows for easier review of patient history. In an emergency, eMARs can be accessed remotely, allowing staff to continue proper prescription administration even if an evacuation has occurred.

Implementing an eMAR system can seem like a significant undertaking for those considering the switch, but their safety, efficiency and convenience far outweigh the onboarding process. With resident safety as a top priority, eMARs are a worthwhile investment for community members and caregivers alike.