LAS VEGAS, Dec. 7, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lancaster General Health in Lancaster, Pa., today released data quantifying the benefits of auto programming and interoperability of infusion pumps, bar-code medication administration (BCMA) and electronic health record (EHR) systems. In partnership with Hospira, Inc., (NYSE:HSP) and Cerner (Nasdaq:CERN), Lancaster implemented a fully auto-programmed smart infusion system at the patient bedside. With 56 percent of medication errors in healthcare due to improperly intravenously (I.V.) administered medications and, of those errors, 61 percent leading to serious or life-threatening consequences, the use of auto-programmed smart infusion pumps has been viewed as a tool that could help reduce numerous medication administration errors and improve patient safety(1),(2),(3). In recognition of Lancaster's success with auto programming, the hospital received the Best Practices Award In Health-System Pharmacy yesterday at the 2009 American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Midyear Clinical Meeting and Exhibition.
"As a Thompson Reuters Top 100 Hospital with Magnet designation, we are dedicated to ensuring the safest and highest level of quality care for our patients," said Amanda Prusch, PharmD, BCPS, Medication Safety Pharmacist, Lancaster General Health. "Our goal was to demonstrate that auto-programming provides an additional layer of safety than the stand-alone technologies and by streamlining the IV medication administration process, the potential for error would be reduced."
For Lancaster, device interoperability has shown advantages over the independent technologies. The success the hospital has seen post-implementation includes:
* Reducing the amount of time nurses spend programming infusion pumps by 24.8 percent. * Streamlining workflow by reducing the number of infusion pump programming steps from 17 to 7. * Reduction in manual pump programming edits, or reprogramming, by greater than 90 percent(4).
"Everyone is very excited and impressed with what has been accomplished at Lancaster," said Symeria Hudson, vice president, Medication Management Systems, U.S., Hospira. "It is an industry-changing step for the industry to have hard data showing the improved patient safety and efficiency benefits of auto programming, which we have known anecdotally for years."
This type of device interoperability integrates the EHR, BCMA and smart infusion pumps into a bar-code driven workflow that automatically populates pharmacist-validated, provider-ordered infusion parameters on the infusion pump. This integrated data flow is bi-directional, which allows infusion-specific data from the pump to be automatically charted in the electronic medication administration record (eMAR) within the patient EHR.
Using individual barcodes on the patients' hospital I.D. wristbands, I.V. bag and infusion pump, the auto programming process pulls information from the EHR allowing the nurse to confirm that the right drug and right dose is being administered to the right patient, at the right time and by the right route -- often referred to as the five rights of medication administration. Auto programming extends the verification process to ensure the infusion pump is programmed as ordered by the provider with additional pharmacist oversight.
"Working together with Hospira, Cerner has been able to help Lancaster implement a solution that removes a potential source of error from the medication administration process and streamlines workflow for clinicians," said Tom Herzog, Cerner's vice president for IT and healthcare devices. "The benefits recognized by Lancaster illustrate how seamless interoperability between the medication pumps, barcode technology and EHRs can improve patient safety."
This fully-integrated, seamless system was developed and implemented by Cerner and Hospira. The Hospira Plum A+(TM) infusion pump with Hospira MedNet(TM) safety software is connected to the Cerner Bridge(TM) Medication Administration solution, which enables five-rights checking through a series of barcodes.
The Hospira Plum A+(TM) infusion pump with Hospira MedNet(TM) safety software and Cerner Bridge Medication Administration solution will be demonstrated at the ASHP MidYear Meeting and Exhibition through Dec. 10 at the Venetian Hotels and Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas. The Hospira booth is number 123 and the Cerner booth is number 2603.
About Lancaster General Hospital
Lancaster General is a non-profit health system of more than two dozen health care locations including Lancaster General Hospital, Lancaster General Health Campus, Lancaster General Women & Babies Hospital and Lancaster General Medical Group. A Magnet hospital for clinical excellence, Lancaster General Hospital is the keystone of the health system and has been named one of America's 100 Top Hospitals seven out of the last nine years. For more information about Lancaster General, visit www.LancasterGeneral.org.
About Hospira
Hospira, Inc. is a global specialty pharmaceutical and medication delivery company dedicated to Advancing Wellness(TM). As the world leader in specialty generic injectable pharmaceuticals, Hospira offers one of the broadest portfolios of generic acute-care and oncology injectables, as well as integrated infusion therapy and medication management solutions. Through its products, Hospira helps improve the safety, cost and productivity of patient care. The company is headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., and has approximately 14,000 employees. Learn more at www.hospira.com.
About Cerner
Cerner is transforming healthcare by eliminating error, variance and waste for healthcare providers and consumers around the world. Cerner solutions optimize processes for healthcare organizations ranging in size from single-doctor practices, to health systems, to entire countries, for the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, and for the healthcare commerce system. These solutions are licensed by more than 8,000 facilities around the world, including approximately 2,100 hospitals; 3,300 physician practices covering more than 30,000 physicians; 500 ambulatory facilities, such as laboratories, ambulatory centers, cardiac facilities, radiology clinics and surgery centers; 600 home-health facilities; and 1,500 retail pharmacies. The following are trademarks of Cerner: Cerner, Cerner's logo, and Cerner Bridge. Nasdaq: CERN. For more information about Cerner, please visit the Web site at www.cerner.com.
(1) Vanderveen T. Averting highest-risk errors is first priority. Patient Safety and Quality Healthcare 2005. http://www.psqh.com/mayjun05/averting.html accessed on 8/3/2009.
(2) Hatcher I, Sullivan M, Hutchinson J, et al. An intravenous medication safety system: preventing high-risk medication errors at the point of care. Journal of Nursing Administration. 2004; 34;437-439.
(3) Ross LM, Wallace J, Paton JY. Medication errors in a pediatric teaching hospital in the UK: five years operational experience. Archives of Diseases in Childhood. 2000; 83;492-497.
(4) Prusch, Amanda E., et al. "Introducing intravenous interoperability: expanding the pharmacist's role in medication administration." American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Mid-Year Meeting and Exhibition Award Paper Abstracts (December 2009). http://ashpadvantage.com/bestpractices/2009_papers/Prusch.htm Accessed on Dec. 1, 2009