Medication Safety Issue Brief. Bar Code implementation strategies.

Abstract

Bar code technology is hailed as a tool to prevent medication errors from occurring where they could cause the most harm--at the point of care. It provides an extra layer of protection for front-line caregivers and helps hospitals comply with Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations' standards and patient safety goals. Specifically, it helps hospitals meet requirements to verify orders and patients before medication administration. It ensures that nurses administer the right drug to the right patient in the right dose at the right time and by the right route.