Simplifying Medication Management Allows Nurses to Focus More on Patient

Len Hom
Director, Product Marketing, Point of Care, Omnicell

With billions spent on electronic health records (EHR), healthcare providers need other technology to integrate seamlessly with the EHR to create a more cohesive workflow.

Simplifying medication retrieval allows nurses to focus on the patient, not the technology. When Omnicell partnered with Oracle Cerner for interoperability between the EHR and the XT Automated Dispensing System, the result was improved waste compliance, near 100 percent visibility of potential transaction discrepancies, and time savings for nursing and pharmacy. By working collaboratively, solutions were developed that fit the needs of various healthcare groups.

Standardizing an interoperability solution that supports information exchange creates better medication management practices for nurses and improved patient engagement. Before the integration, medication dispensing typically occurred without a conversation at the patient's bedside. Interoperability shifts these behaviors, allowing nurses to: 

• Locate alternative medication storage areas
• Remotely document waste
• Remotely queue medications for multiple patients so one can focus on other tasks

After nurses review the MAR for available medications, they can communicate with the pharmacy through PowerChart.

By cutting out extra steps in the workflow, nurses at one health system saved 52 percent more time when retrieving medications. More than 62 percent of nursing medication transactions are completed remotely through Omnicell's unique mPage. With transitional care unit nurses using it 80 percent of the time, this increases efficiency and accuracy at the health center.

The EHR-ADC interoperability automatically identifies variances between medications dispensed from the cabinet and those documented as being administered and drives action. The near-100 percent visibility of potential transaction discrepancies helped one health system in the following ways: 

• Finding areas where training is needed
• Saving time for nursing and pharmacy school students
• Providing individual accountability is key to success
• Improving waste compliance

Additionally, the integrated solution can unveil any system flaws. Not only will this help you keep track of items that may be wasted or not adequately documented, but it can also directly improve your practices.

The remote waste feature is a significant game changer for nurses. Instead of hunting down a witness and meeting them at the cabinet, they can now do it right from their workstations on wheels or wherever they are accessing the MAR. This makes documentation much easier and faster, freeing up valuable time for nurses to care for their patients.

As the digital transformation of healthcare continues, Interoperability partnerships like Omnicell and Oracle Cerner are becoming more Imperative. Learn more about Improving safety and efficiency at the point of care with Omnicell’s interoperability solutions.

The Omnicell Blog is the leading source for pharmacy care, exploring emerging trends, successful best practices, and ideas and insights focused on the digital transformation of pharmacy. Subscribe today.

Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other agency, organization, employer, or company. Assumptions made in the analysis do not reflect the position of any entity other than the author(s). These views are always subject to change, revision, and rethinking at any time and may not be held in perpetuity.