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Incremental bar code scanning and order administration

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Scan multiple strengths of a medication or scan multiple units of the same strength during order administration to achieve the ordered dose so that the patient's right of receiving the right dose is confirmed.

Incremental bar code scanning supports a patient’s five rights of medication administration to reduce medication errors and prevent harm to the patient.

  • the right patient
  • the right drug
  • the right dose
  • the right route
  • the right time

With incremental scanning you can use a locally installed RedBook database or use the Netsmart Cloud hosted Micromedex data.

Incremental Scanning Process

Scan multiple strengths of a medication.

  1. The clinician scans multiple strengths of a medication, and myAvatar eMAR will display the product strengths assigned for administration that are received from the pharmacy system (RxConnect).
  2. myAvatar eMAR will sum the total dose scanned, displayed in the Quantity / Unit fields on the administration window, based on what the pharmacy dispensed for the patient. As an example, the ordered dose is depakote 750mg and the product(s) dispensed are depakote 500 mg and depakote 250 mg.
    OR
    myAvatar eMAR will sum the total dose scanned, displayed in the Quantity / Unit fields on the administration window, based on the product retrieved from a dispensing cabinet (ADM). As an example, the ordered dose is depakote 750 mg and the product(s) retrieved from the ADM are depakote 500 mg and depakote 250 mg.
  3. The pharmacy system (RxConnect) will receive information from myAvatar eMAR on what was actually administered to the patient to support their inventory management and billing requirements.

Scan multiple units of the same strength of a medication.

  1. The clinician scans multiple units of the same strength of a medication.
  2. myAvatar eMAR will sum the total dose scanned, displayed in the Quantity / Unit fields on the administration window, based on what the pharmacy dispensed for the patient. As an example, the ordered dose is acetaminophen 650 mg oral tablet and the product dispensed is acetaminophen 325 mg oral tablet.
    OR
    myAvatar eMAR will sum the total dose scanned, displayed in the Quantity / Unit fields on the administration window, based on the product retrieved from a dispensing cabinet (ADM). As an example, the ordered dose is acetaminophen 650 mg oral tablet and the product dispensed is acetaminophen 325 mg oral tablet.)
  3. The pharmacy system (RxConnect) will receive information from myAvatar eMAR on what was actually administered to the patient to support their inventory management and billing requirements.

Alerts and Signing Medication Administration Events

myAvatar eMAR will alert the clinician and prevent them from signing medication administration event(s) in the following situations. 

  • When the sum of the scanned dose is less than what was ordered. The user will receive a visual notification the ordered dose has not been met, which prevents them from signing. This alert ensures the patient receives the right dose and prevents a medication underdose.
  • When the dose scanned is greater than the dose ordered. The user will receive a visual notification the ordered dose has not been met, which prevents them from signing. This alert ensures the patient receives the right dose and prevents a medication overdose.