Bar-code technology and prevention of error in dispensing of drugs
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Descritores: Erros de Medicação, Serviço de Farmácia Hospitalar, Sistemas de Medicação no Hospital, Tecnologia FarmacêuticaAbstract
Objectives: To evaluate the application of bar code technology in a hospital pharmacy of a medium-sized hospital by checking the frequency of potential errors in the medication process of separation and detection of actual errors in dispensing drugs.
Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study conducted in June and December 2015 which evaluated the frequency of potential errors when reading bar code of 1765 drugs units separated by pharmacy technicians. In a second step, 1084 drug units were conferred packed in bags to detect errors of dispensation. Potential errors were classified according to the possible content errors that could be generated.
Results: We identified 51 potential errors of content by scanning bar codes. The event rate was 2.89% and 17 potential errors involved potentially dangerous drugs (MPP). There weren't detected dispensing errors of occurrence at the sample (errors that actually reach patients).
Conclusions: We observed that the bar code technology is effective in detecting potential errors in the dispensing process, resulting in the prevention of risks to patients and minimizing costs by erroneous dispensations, thus contributing to the safe and proper use of medications and giving credibility to services pharmacists.
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