Making the decision to convert from paper MAR’s (medication administration record) to electronic MAR’s can be very difficult. There are several options available that claim electronic MAR’s (eMAR’s) can solve documentation issues, but how do you know the right decision for your community?
As your pharmacy provider, Guardian Atlanta offers a few simple questions to ask before making a decision:
- First look at the stability of your staff. Do you have high turnover rates, especially among those staff that administer medication?
- Next, review your monthly med errors and documentation errors. What medication and documentation errors do you have on a regular basis?
- Review your pharmacy reports. What is your drug utilization average? Is it high as compared to national long term care numbers? Do you have frequent medication changes?
- Finally, assess your commitment to your pharmacy provider. Are the majority of residents using your preferred provider? Or do you have several pharmacies in your building and no loyalty or preference? And, don’t forget to test the wireless internet connection in your building, even around the corners and down the hallways.
If you answered “yes” to the majority of these questions, your community is probably not ready to convert to eMAR. Keep in mind that if your community cannot operate a paper MAR correctly, it will not be able to operate an eMAR any better. Electronic documentation will not solve all documentation and medication errors.
At Guardian Pharmacy Atlanta, we have expert pharmacists, nurses and pharmacy technicians that can assist you in making the right decision for your community. We understand the complex environment you live in day-to-day, and we provide the consulting and support that you need to collect data and answer the questions you need to answer when considering a conversion. For more information or questions, please contact our consultant pharmacist, Lori Newcomb, at 404-309-4958.