First kay definition & History

A nurse at the Colmery-O'Neil Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in Topeka, Kansas is credited with the
initial idea of using bar coding technology for medication administration. In 1994, she thought the bar coding
used by a rental car company to track vehicles could also be used in a similar manner to track medications
ordered and administered to patients. Her idea of electronic checks and balances would augment, but not
replace, a nurse's clinical judgment.

“A prototype system was developed at the Colmery-O'Neil VAMC and later became the model for the award-
winning bar-code medication administration (BCMA) system used throughout the Veterans Affairs (VA) health
care system beginning in 1999. By 2003, throughout the VA health care system, all inpatient care areas were
consistently using positive patient identification at the point of care to document activities associated with
medication administration through the use of BCMA.”

Definition - What does Electronic Medication Administration Records

(eMAR) mean?
Electronic medication administration records (eMar) enlist bar coding technology to
submit and fill prescriptions with hand-held scanners that read bar codes and transmsit
them to the terminal/workstation using Bluetooth wireless technology.The eMAR relays
drug dosage data to the pharmacy, which is then connected to nursing stations. The
following prescription data is included in eMars: Medication dosages, number of refills
Medication types Medication classifications Patient refill history Real-time prescription
status tracking capabilities

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Mar speeds up the prescribing process for patients and physicians. It also complies with federal
regulations developed as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. U.S.
laws mandate that all health care facilities and doctors' offices move from paper medical records to
electronic medical records (EMR). By doing so, federal, state, local and private agencies can qualify for
and receive incentive payments over a period of time as outlined in the Health Information Technology
for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. eMar is just one of the many useful software tools that
can help to reduce prescription errors. The bar coding technology used is similar to that seen in
supermarkets. Electronic prescription forms such as eMar can save lives and improve quality care for
countless patients. They also require less manual data-entry and eliminate the need for paper
prescriptions, thus reducing costs. Quality assurance flags and audit tracking tools are in place in eMars
so that electronic prescription security is always attained and physician and pharmacy error rates are
kept to a minimum. Efficient operating systems and simplified eMar provide vast digital prescription
information, including medication history and refill history.

TAPOS MGA BENEFITS:

In today’s digital age, several types of software and other time-saving solutions are on the market to help
people in myriad industries achieve results in half the time. In the medical industry, that is no different.
With the implementation of eMAR (Electronic Medication Administration Records), those in the medical
industry can help patients in a fraction of the time and with less errors.

Some benefits of eMAR include the following: 

 Less emphasis on paperwork and more time spent with the patient, which increases efficiency;
 Less administrative errors, with changes being recorded instantly;
 More accurate documentation of a patient’s vital signs, problem lists, pain scales and other
information;
 More accurate medication records and other patient history, using medication and other barcodes
for quick scanning and reporting options;
 Reminders to pass along to the patients, including overdue medications, reports needed and
more;
 A friendly interface that multiple users can feel comfortable using;
 Modifications and settings that each user can change to accommodate their own industries and
preferences;
 Availability on wired and wireless networks and in several hardware options, such as desktop
computers, laptops and handheld devices with touch screens;
 Easier reporting to superiors and patients.

In addition, a streamlined status board within the software allows physicians, nurses and other medical
professionals to see a patient’s data in a more visual format, including graphs and charts. This information
can be accessed in online or offline modes and can be automatically shared with patients, medical
professionals internally and externally, pharmacies, insurance companies and more.

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Helping reduce medication errors

Electronic MAR is a hand held electronic medical records software that helps ensure medication is
administered reliably. The digital MAR Sheet template works as an App on Android smartphones and
tablets. It is perfect for residential care homes and supported living environments where compliance
and security are vital, and where reducing staff time taken to fill in and check MAR sheets and recording
errors helps the smooth running of your unit.
With Electronic MAR you always have a complete and precise picture of
medication issued. You can see some of the sectors we help in the mar
sheets for care homes section. Data is always securely backed-up,
Managers have an overview of activity in real time for efficiency, and
complete accountability in medications stock levels is maintained.
Staff time is saved in both everyday activity and end-of-period
calculations.

Tapos cons:

However, each method used in a medical environment has its pros and cons. Some cons of
eMAR are:

 With stored information and medical planning within the software, physicians may not do their
own research as often outside of the eMAR system;
 Some employees still may not feel comfortable with recording such medical records digitally and
may think the records’ security could be compromised on networks, etc.;
 Pulling notes forward could be glitched;
 Copy-and-paste issues.

While eMAR is a valuable tool, it cannot compromise the one-on-one level of care for patients. A
combination of in-person care and digital recording of information is the most efficient way physicians and
patients communicate and information is recorded. As the systems continue to evolve, more revolutionary
technology will aid medical professionals with providing solutions for everyday medical care and improve
patient care.

How it works?

A provider makes an electronic entry detailing a patient’s medication orders. The orders then appear in the
pharmacy software package of BCMA to be edited and verified by a pharmacist. Verified orders become
available in the nursing staff’s point-of-care BCMA. (Figure 2). A virtual list of medications due is used to
display medications and the appropriate administration time frame for each medication. Medications may be
scanned and administered, following a medication order verification by a registered nurse. As a handheld
barcode reader registers each medication, the software verifies the correct medication was ordered,
administered on time, and measured in the correct dosage, while at the same time documenting the actual
administration of the medication.

CRITERIA :
According to CMS, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the recent meaningful use definitions
(October 2012) under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, eMAR(s) should enable the user to
electronically verify the following before administering medication(s):

(A) Right patient. The patient to whom the medication is to be administered matches the medication to
be administered.

(B) Right medication. The medication to be administered matches the medication ordered for the
patient.

(C) Right dose. The dose of the medication to be administered matches the dose of the medication
ordered for the patient.

(D) Right route. The route of medication delivery matches the route specified in the medication order.

(E) Right time. The time that the medication was ordered to be administered compared to the current
time.

EXAMPLE:

Doylestown Hospital in Doylestown, Pennsylvania has implemented the Electronic Medication administration
Record (eMAR), which is a full integrated system that bring together bluetooth wireless and hand-held
scanners to read the bar codes of drugs. This systems tracks the patients drug dosage from the pharmacy to
the nursing station and finally to the patient bedside. All patients are given a bar coded wrist band that is used
for identification. The nurse scans the wrist band before the medication is given. When the nurse scans the
wristband and medication the eMAR will alert the nurse if any allergy or incompatibility.

The Medication Administration Process:

Physician writes the order then is sent the pharmacy

Pharmacist enters information into Meditech

Pharmacy bar code medication and is given to patients floor

Nurse review patients medication list

eMAR alerts nurses on next dosage and complication