Medication Error

More than 7000 people are killed each year as a result of medication error1. Preventable adverse drug events (ADEs) injure and kill thousands of patients each year, and can cost upwards of $2 billion in direct hospital costs alone2. Medical insurers – both public and private – are increasingly responding by denying payment to providers who have made avoidable errors3.

Improvements in health care IT can help eliminate many types of ADEs, including that involving medication management2, 4-7. Medication Tracking and Inventory Management via RFID allow health care providers to:

• Improve patient care
• Reduce Costs, and
• Minimize Risk.

DCC’s Medication Tracking solution enables health care entities to monitor medication, equipment and supplies in real-time, addressing many industry “pains.”

ADEs can be largely eliminated from health care environments with the implementation of RFID medical tracking technology.

Our solutions offer interoperability with the software and systems you already have in place. This allows a seamless integration of information that:

• Avoids costly overstocking
• Eliminates errors
• Improves utilization of inventory
• Increases staff efficiency
• Links medication with staff and patients
• Tracks medication in real-time

The system can notify the proper personnel when:

• Expiry dates are impending
• Medication or supplies are missing
• Reordering is necessary
• Security is compromised
• Storing conditions are not optimal

The customer satisfaction, patient safety, staff efficiency and cost savings implications of medication tracking are substantial. Advantages are realized on many different levels of the health care organization once optimal visibility and management of medication inventory is facilitated via RFID.

Lack of funds, budget cuts and staff shortages are making it increasingly difficult for health care providers to achieve the three critical objectives of Improving Patient Care, Reducing Costs and Minimizing Risks. DCC has identified these key objectives with a thorough understanding of the unique challenges presented in the health care sphere. We have designed our RFID solutions to specifically address these challenges, or pains.

The cost savings achieved with medication tracking are manifold. This fact is driving RFID toward the norm in health care. The industry is becoming progressively competitive a greater proportion of health care providers realize these savings and advantages in the face of increasingly difficult economic times.

An example of the compounding benefits of just one of the many facets of medication tracking with RFID:

Medication can be linked with patients:

• Avoids legal risks of errors
• EHRs can be updated automatically, enhancing communication across the continuation of care
• Eliminates both stashing and stealing, or “shrinkage”
• Improves satisfaction, safety and care of patients
• Lowers some insurance premiums
• Eliminates risks of ADEs involving: patient identity, drug type, dosage, frequency and interactions
• Reducing staff time needed for accounts receivable
• Shortens billing cycle as the system can automatically initiate billing of medication dispensed to patients

The cost of implementing RFID to track medications is exponentially recuperated. ROI is rapidly realized along with the additional financial benefits of having the technology in place.

We are invested in the success of your project and will work with you from concept to testing, to full implementation of your medication tracking solution. DCC has an impeccable record as a systems integrator, meeting every client’s unique needs and guaranteeing their satisfaction.

Since 1979, we have demonstrated superior customer service and technical knowledge in providing IT solutions to business enterprises. We invite you to learn more about how we can apply our expertise to enhance the processes and systems in your organization.

1. Hampton T. Medication Errors. JAMA. July 26, 2006 2006;296(4):384-.
2. Cescon DW, Etchells E. Barcoded Medication Administration: A Last Line of Defense. JAMA. May 14, 2008 2008;299(18):2200-2202.
3. Mitka M. Public, Private Insurers Refusing to Pay Hospitals for Costs of Avoidable Errors. JAMA. June 4, 2008 2008;299(21):2495-2496.
4. Macario A, Morris D, Morris S. Initial Clinical Evaluation of a Handheld Device for Detecting Retained Surgical Gauze Sponges Using Radiofrequency Identification Technology. Arch Surg. July 1, 2006 2006;141(7):659-662.
5. Ursprung R, Gray JE, Edwards WH, et al. Real time patient safety audits: improving safety every day. Qual Saf Health Care. August 1, 2005 2005;14(4):284-289.
6. Szekendi MK, Sullivan C, Bobb A, et al. Active surveillance using electronic triggers to detect adverse events in hospitalized patients. Qual Saf Health Care. June 1, 2006 2006;15(3):184-190.
7. Franklin BD, O'Grady K, Donyai P, Jacklin A, Barber N. The impact of a closed-loop electronic prescribing and administration system on prescribing errors, administration errors and staff time: a before-and-after study. Qual Saf Health Care. August 1, 2007 2007;16(4):279-284.

DCC provides scalable RFID solutions that meet three key health care objectives: improving patient care, reducing costs and minimizing risks. Our solutions deliver rapid ROI on your nominal investment by integrating RFID technologies with your existing systems to automate operations and eliminate error.

DCC selects the best RFID hardware, software and tags in functionality and value, for the health care environment. With no vested interest in any particular technology or brand, you can rest assured that we have the right prescription to eliminate the "pains" in health care.