2. BCMA
The goal of BCMA is to help dispense
medications to patients safely while
encompassing the “5 Rights” of
medication administration
3. 5 Rights of
Medication Administration
Right Patient
Right Drug
Right Dose
Right Route
Right Time
4. BCMA
• Medication Error
• Defined by National Coordinating Council for Medication Error
Reporting and Prevention (NCC, MERP)
• “Is any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate
medication use or patient harm…)
5. Intended Benefits of BCMA
• Increased patient safety
• Positive I.D. of patient
• Decreased medication errors
• Improved inventory control
• Increased billing accuracy
7. Human Factors
• Resistance from nurses
• Learning curve
• False sense of security
• Creating workarounds
• Scanning the medication after
giving it
8. History of BCMA
Comery-O’Neil Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC)
Topeka, Kansas 1994
RN conceived of the idea
Tracking of cars at a car rental business
Her idea was to help nurses
Not replace their clinical judgement
9. JCAHO
• JCAHO (Joint Commission on
Accreditation of Health Care
Organizations)
• Required any accredited organization,
hospital, doctor’s office, long-term care,
etc.
to implement bar code technology by
2007
10. How it Works
• Click on appropriate medication in the EMR system
• Scan the barcode on the medicine
• Scan barcode on pt’s. wristband
• Pay attention to any alerts that may come up
• Fill in required information
• Administer the medication to patient
11. References
Federico, F. ,RPh. (2015). The five rights of medication administration.
Retrieved from
http://www.ihi.org/resources/Pages/ImprovementStories/Five
Rouse, M. (2012). Bar coded medication administration (BCMA).
Retrieved from
http://searchhealthit.techtarget.com/definition/Bar-Coded-
Medication-Administration
Torres, A. (2012). The role of barcode technology in patient safety and
identification. Retrieved from
http://www.healthmgttech.com/online-only/the-role-of-barcode-
technology-in-patient-safety-identification
