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Medication errors are a significant issue in healthcare, accounting for 7,000 to 9,000 deaths annually in the US. Beyond these tragic losses, countless others endure adverse effects due to medication mishaps, often without reporting them. These errors typically stem from communication breakdowns, packaging mix-ups, choosing the wrong medication, or incorrect dosing.
The impact of these errors extends beyond the immediate health risks. Patients lose trust in healthcare workers and systems, while errors lead to extreme costs for organizations. According to recent reports, the financial strain on healthcare organizations is staggering, with medication errors accounting for an estimated $40 billion in extra patient care costs annually.
This backdrop highlights the critical need for robust medication management systems. A system plagued by complex procedures and insufficient safety measures is a recipe for failure, especially when patient lives are at stake.
In response to this challenge, the integration of NexsysADC and MedLink marks a promising development. Nick Baynes, a global medication management specialist at Capsa Healthcare, points out that this collaboration is more than a technical upgrade — it’s a step towards making medication administration simpler, safer, and more patient-focused.
The NexsysADC and MedLink integration merges data from the admission-discharge-transfer (ADT) feed with automated dispensing cabinets (ADC) and medication management software to create a closed-loop medication system. The ADC secures and tracks medications while the software retrieves and logs patient data. The combination links these two processes, creating an easier, more intuitive dispensing workflow.
The process is simple: log in to your NexsysADC at a secure filling station and scan the barcode on the NexsysADC screen with the MedLink scanner. A drawer will automatically open, and you can place the medication inside and close it. The workflow automatically attaches the drawer to the patient profile and links it to the patient’s wristband.
When you’re ready to administer medications, simply scan the patient’s wristband. The software retrieves the patient data and automatically opens the drawer with the correct medication. These steps simplify the workflow, improving real-time dispensing during a med pass.
Nick Baynes says the integration is a refreshing change from other software configurations. “Most current products have a very regimented and extended workflow with many steps, and they don’t work very well. This integration, however, creates a more free-flowing and paperless workflow with fewer things to go wrong.”
A well-designed sequence allows organizations to monitor medication administration and inventory efficiently while helping employees handle their assigned duties and navigate the complexities of managing multiple medications. The NexsysADC and MedLink integration removes extra steps from the process and improves the medication management sequence, allowing staff to administer medications efficiently and accurately.
The NexsysADC with the MedLink software integration automates the medication management workflow and allows you to remove unnecessary steps, streamlining the workflow. A typical flow involves moving back and forth between medication storage and EHR systems and printing out documents.
With the integration, data from the ADT feed auto-populates to both systems, which cuts down on extra steps. You no longer need to worry about loading medication details into Nexsys and patient data into MedLink, misplacing documents, or finding printers and paper.
Instead, you simply scan the code on the screen and instantly store or retrieve medications and update patient records. The integration builds connectivity between data streams and individual tools, creating a more efficient flow.
Nick Baynes says, “The workflow we created with this integration is faster; we’re saving around half the time because we’re not repeating any patient selection steps. It’s kind of all happening automatically.”
Integrated medication management systems also improve accuracy. The software, for example, creates comprehensive medication profiles for each patient, documenting dosages, frequency, and instructions.
It also connects directly with patient electronic health records (EHR) so healthcare providers can access patient information from secure files. Nursing staff can quickly retrieve prescriptions, making it easier to order and dispense drugs correctly to patients. Physicians can track each administration to verify patients receive the medications as prescribed.
The seamless order entry and automatic patient updates reduce manual data entry, lowering the risk of errors. The process becomes consistent and reliable with fewer weaknesses and potential for mistakes.
Patient safety is a significant factor in long-term care pharmacies (LTC), and organizations often search for new ways to mitigate risk. The NexsysADC and MedLink integration addresses weak points in the workflow, enhancing patient safety, privacy, security, and timely care.
According to Capsa’s medication management specialist, Nick Baynes, the integration directly impacts patient care. He says, “With more efficiency and accuracy, the workflow improves patient safety. There are fewer steps and things to go wrong.”
For example, there is less movement between cabinets, pharmacies, software, and patients. Staff can quickly and accurately prepare the cart for a med pass in advance and then scan each patient’s barcode during the pass. The correct drawer automatically unlocks, and the EHR automatically updates.
It eliminates the risk of accidental medication mix-ups and helps confirm that patients get the medication as prescribed. The result is increased drug and dispensing security with fewer errors and adverse events.
In addition, the ADC inventory monitoring, user tracking, and patient file updates safeguard against drug diversion. Pharmacy managers can remotely monitor and trace every interaction with medication and control medication access in real time. Managers can secure drugs with user profiles, individual access codes, and biometric scanners.
The NexsysADC and MedLink integration is entirely digital. With a paperless workflow, healthcare staff establish higher security and privacy protocols. There are no medication papers or labels to print, which means less opportunity for HIPAA violations.
Each system features user control and track and trace functions, showing every time someone logs on and off, opens a drawer, or overrides a control. Managers can limit access to records and storage drawers, maintaining patient privacy and controlled medication security.
At the same time, pharmacy managers gain increased visibility into the entire medication workflow while promoting personal accountability for each healthcare worker. These values translate to care and protection for the patient.
This integration brings a significant advantage: time savings. Long-term care facilities and other health systems can redirect the time saved into enhancing patient care. By streamlining and improving the accuracy of medication workflows, nurses and healthcare providers find themselves freed from the burdens of excessive paperwork and repetitive administrative duties.
These newfound time savings open opportunities for healthcare professionals to forge meaningful connections with their patients, ultimately improving care quality. In an era where workforce challenges are prevalent, fostering these personal connections and refining workflows becomes crucial. Innovative solutions that simplify processes and reduce paperwork while maintaining accuracy are key in tackling the high demands and resource constraints faced by healthcare workers.
Medication management is a complex process with many factors to consider. Organizations sometimes attempt to address weaknesses with myriad technologies, but it often creates process silos and disconnection. Staff must navigate multiple unrelated systems or software, leading to time-consuming and inefficient work.
The answer to this disconnection is integration. Unifying vital technologies allows healthcare systems to better communicate between programs, products, data points, records, and patients.
However, experts point out that the workflow must also be efficient, with fewer opportunities for problems. The integration between NexsysADC and MedLink achieves this seamless synergy, simplifying the process while connecting information and improving the user experience.
Ultimately, NexsysADC and MedLink together improve the quality of care. With greater workflow accuracy and security, healthcare providers can improve patient safety and deliver timely care.
As medication errors persist and management becomes increasingly vital, now is the time to invest in modern solutions. Embrace next-gen system integrations like the NexsysADC and MedLink medication management cart and stay at the forefront of technology and patient safety.