Managing patient care while tracking medication remains a challenge in health care today. Hospitals must ensure mistakes are not made, as they could be harmful to a patient’s health. In certain cases, a mistake could lead to a patient’s death.
To reduce the risk of medication errors, many hospitals today use Automated Dispensing Cabinets. What benefits come with using these cabinets? How do the cabinets improve patient care?
Improved Medication Access
When nurses and other members of a medical team have more access to medications, patient care improves. Patients receive the medication prescribed by the doctor rather than drugs designated for another patient. Members of a patient’s medical team must have access to the appropriate medication in the correct doses when needed. The cabinet provides them with these medications in the right doses as entered into the interface.
Enhanced Billing
Billing errors remain a problem in hospitals today, and automated dispensaries reduce these errors. When a healthcare team member obtains medication from the dispensary, this information goes to the patient’s chart. In addition, it’s sent to the billing department where the appropriate codes are added to the patient’s invoice. As a result, billing errors decrease. This saves the provider money, as they won’t spend time correcting billing errors or dealing with inconsistencies that could do harm to the provider’s reputation.
Inventory Management
Healthcare practices need to know what inventory they have on hand, as a medication that wasn’t ordered could lead to harm to a patient. Facilities must have enough inventory on hand for patients they currently see as well as those that may come in for treatment. The automated dispensing cabinet helps them track this inventory and determine when orders must be placed. Furthermore, it allows them to determine when medication has been lost somewhere in the system.
Reduced Theft
Narcotics remain at high risk of theft, as they have a high resale value. With the use of an automated cabinet, a facility finds it can prevent medical staff from engaging in unethical practices. The cabinet also prevents unauthorized individuals from accessing the medication. This includes patients and non-medical staff members. Only those individuals with the proper credentials can access the medications. Furthermore, these individuals only access the correct dosage for the patient.
Fewer Medication Errors
A medication error could lead to harm to a patient and possibly their death. This type of error often leads to a medical malpractice suit that costs the facility money. When a facility uses automated cabinets, staff members know they are accessing the proper dosage and the correct medication. The cabinet requires them to input the medication name before it is dispensed. This reduces the risk of lawsuits while reducing insurance premiums.
The healthcare industry continuously works to improve patient care, and the use of automated dispensing cabinets serves as one way to accomplish this goal. The facility using the cabinets provides a higher standard of care. Every healthcare facility should consider using these cabinets, as the benefits far outweigh the cost of the units. Learn more today to see how the purchase of these cabinets will improve your practice and standard of care.
