Electronic Medication Administration Record (eMAR) systems are great for reducing medication errors and improving treatment outcomes in healthcare facilities, including nursing homes. The software also offers a wide range of additional features for analytics and reporting. Administration staff trained in its proper functionality can use these features to further improve patient care. Here, we share how nursing home providers can effectively use analytics and reporting functionalities in eMAR.
- Define goals and areas of focus
Nursing home care staff need to determine the areas they are looking to improve by analysing eMAR data. Some common areas may include the usage of high-risk medications, adherence to prescriptions, and identifying drug interactions before administering them. They will also need to outline the exact goals they want to achieve.
- Use available reports
- Standardised reports: These trends can help nursing home administration identify medication error or medication usage patterns.
- Customisable reports: eMAR systems can also help in creating customisable reports based on specific criteria. This lets nursing homes generate reports that align with their predefined objectives.
- Analyse and interpret data
- Identify trends: eMAR data analysis can reveal trends and patterns in medication administration for specific populations or specific drugs. With such data and analysis, a nursing home can identify operational issues and rectify them.
- Drill down for insights: Data analysis can be used to get to the root of certain trends. For instance, if a nursing home faces higher-than-normal rates of medication errors, analysis can unearth the potential causes leading to these errors.
- Take actionable steps
- Develop improvement plans: Based on the analysis, nursing home administration can implement targeted plans to resolve the problems. This might involve offering training or educational programs for healthcare practitioners or adjusting medication scheduling practices.
- Monitor progress: After implementing changes, specific data should be monitored over a period to determine whether the solutions are effective. If not, slight adjustments can be made.
- Collaboration and communication
The results of the data analysis must be reported to doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and others. Effective communication ensures that everyone involved is aware of the findings and can contribute to ongoing improvements.
eMAR systems have become a popular tool in care homes because of their benefits. They can streamline medication administration, reduce errors, and enhance overall patient care. The analytics and reporting features offered by eMAR systems provide valuable insights that can help the staff deliver quality patient care. By effectively using these features, nursing homes can achieve better outcomes for their residents. It also helps the staff ensure compliance with healthcare standards and maintain high levels of operational efficiency
