Dosage errors, documentation errors and inefficient medical record-keeping are some of the common errors that can compromise patient well-being. Caregivers, who are primarily involved in the administration of medications, will benefit from understanding the rights of medication administration. As a leading Electronic MAR developer, we have rounded 8 Rs of medication administration:
Right patient: One of the most common medication errors in settings like care homes and nursing homes is administering medication to the wrong patient. To avoid confusion, always use more than one identifier. Caregivers can check the photo ID and ask the patient to identify himself/herself. In such cases, eMAR (Electronic MAR sheets) can help the caregivers or the nursing staff as the software provides medication records and a patient’s history for quick scanning.
Right medication: Before administering any medication, check the medication label to avoid confusion between similar drug names.
Right dose: Always check the prescription for the right dosage. You can also have more than one person to check the dose to leave no room of error. With eMAR, the nursing and the caregiving staff can rest assured that the right patient is receiving the right drug in the right dose at the right time.
Right route: The route of medication administration can vary from patient to patient. Check the prescription to verify the prescribed route. Before administering the medication, do check with the patient and verify the prescribed route for the second time.
Right time: The frequency of the prescribed medication and its timing are very crucial. Double check that you are giving the right medication at the right time of the day.
Right documentation: As a caregiver, it is your responsibility to document the medication administration processes properly. This will ensure a smooth handover to another caregiver. Sign for all the administered medication and make sure that start and end dates are clearly mentioned.
Right response: Make sure that the medication has led to the desired effect. If you notice any side effects or adverse reaction, you must record them properly. Also, have a system in place that allows residents to immediately contact a healthcare professional in case they experience side effects and other health-related changes.
Right to refuse: In most care homes, it’s important to have residents’ consent before administering medication. Residents, especially older adults and differently-abled, may at times refuse to take medication. You must record the reason and come back later to administer the medication.
Caregivers and the rights of medication administration
With eMAR you can reduce or eliminate gaps and errors in your MAR Sheets. Also, the time you spend doing audits and checking MAR sheets reduces significantly.
For proper adherence to these rights of medication administration, many care homes in the UK have already switched to electronic MAR. To book a product demo, get in touch with us today.
