File Type:	Name:	Publish Date:	Size:
	Adopting Bar Code Labeling in Hospital Pharmacies	01/01/2007	292 Kb

Description:	This paper gives hospital pharmacy departments the background information needed to start developing a bar code strategy. It summarizes JCAHO, FDA and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) bar code initiatives, describes pharmacy and medication administration applications, and provides guidance on strategy development, bar code format and printer selection.
Full Abstract:	Pharmacists should review their organization’s labeling needs in light of JCAHO requirements, ASHP recommendations, and patient safety goals. Bar code control systems for medication dispensing and administration provide proven and significant safety benefits and can be developed independently of larger and more expensive CPOE and EMR programs. Pharmacists can lead bar code-based patient safety initiatives by developing a comprehensive program that ensures all forms of medication are bar coded at the unit-dose level, implementing pharmacy labeling and scanning processes to prove the effectiveness of bar code control, and encouraging implementation of automated medication administration systems. This white paper will help develop a practical strategy by outlining the relevant issues and opportunities.