Medical errors comprise one of the major stagnant to healthcare initiatives. They are financially costly and may result in the death of the patients. It is estimated that there is at least one medication error that occurs in every hospital on a daily basis. Medical errors result from inaccurate data capture. When patients seek medical intervention, it is imperative that the medical practitioners reinforce accurate records to enhance efficiency. The advent of health information technology has eased the medication delivery process (Wideman, Whittler, & Anderson, 2005). The 410-bed hospital used to employ a homegrown provider order entry system in administering medications to the patients. However, it recently acquired a new bar code administration software, which was intended to scan and track patient medication. The bar-code scanner can be employed throughout the patient convalescence process. It ensures that accurate dosages and period of medication engaged by the patient.
Key Evaluation Question
Evaluation of the bar code administration software is intended to determine the efficiency of the bar code administration software scanning procedures. The prevailing question is on whether barcode administration software scanning will successfully mitigate the occurrences of medical errors in the subject hospital (Wideman, Whittler, & Anderson, 2005). The question seeks to determine the units within the hospital that will be initially wired with the system to determine their efficiency in 6 months. Automatic scanning of medication during delivery enhances the efficiencies of the medical interventions that are extended to the patients. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the best timeline schedule that will succinctly address the need for the bar code administration scanners in the hospital.[“Write my essay for me?” Get help here.]
The involved Stakeholders
The employ of the bar code administration software in the hospital involves several stakeholders. The first stakeholders comprise the administration of the hospital. The administration of the hospital is aligned towards the identification of a framework that can succinctly be employed to mitigate casualties that result from medication errors. Essentially, the administration is open to any intervention that can be used to control and reduce medication errors. The top-level administration comprises the next stakeholder in the employ of the bar-code administration software within the hospital (Wideman, Whittler, & Anderson, 2005). The top-level administration is concerned with the Joint Commission Accreditation Standards on health care intervention.
The use of the scanners should meet the criteria, which are set forth by the commission to assess the efficiency of the software, and innovations that are engaged in a hospital setting. Therefore, the administration has the role of ensuring that the nurses and practitioners involved are aware of the unethical elements associated with the use of the scanner. The IT department plays an integral role in enhancing the efficiencies of the bar code administration software within the hospital. The IT department is concerned that the bar code scanners may not be efficient and may constantly break down which would culminate in increased costs for the hospital (Wideman, Whittler, & Anderson, 2005). The IT department has the role of verifying the quality of IT components used for hospital operations prior to the applications. The increased breakdowns may negatively affect the health care interventions given the constant interruptions. Likewise, constant breakdowns result in increased costs for the subject company given the need to service the impaired tools.
The Most Appropriate Level of Theory
The most appropriate level of theory to be engaged in the evaluation is the micro-level of theory. In the micro level of theory, research evaluations are often aligned towards the evaluation of the prevailing factors. For instance, in the hospital, the micro level of theory will serve to determine the prevalence of medical errors in the hospital (Dubin, 2010). This will be intended to determine whether there is a need to engage an intervention mechanism that will serve to mitigate such occurrences. Likewise, the micro level of theory will serve to identify the stakeholders who will be affected by the employ of the bar code administration. It will determine ways through which the bar code administration software can succinctly be effected without posing a threat to the stability of any of the stakeholders. [Need an essay writing service? Find help here.]
The micro level of theory assesses all the aspects of the prevailing situation. It culminates in the determination of methods that can be engaged to enhance the implications of a given intervention. The engagement of the micro level of theory will result in the determination of a micro theory within the hospital frameworks that can be interlinked to the general theory on the impacts of the bar code administration software. The potential advantages of the bar code software will be determined through comparisons with the advantages that the intervention has on the entire industry.
The micro level of theory in the hospital enables the identification of the optimum conditions to be engaged in the effecting of a new intervention. In the case of the bar code administration software, the micro level of theory will serve to identify the appropriate resources to be aligned towards the intervention to preempt operational breakdowns. It will further address the concern of all the stakeholders to ensure that each individual within the hospital has a basic knowledge of the operations of the system.
The Specific Elements to Measure by Stakeholder Group
In assessing the concerns of the top-level administration, there is a need for the determination of a framework of integration that will be aligned to the Joint Commission accreditation standards. The efficiency of the barcode software administration scanning will be determined by the absence of cases and lawsuits that indicate a breach of the Joint Commission accreditation standards. The lawsuits may be institutionally inspired or undertaken by the patient. In the IT department, there is a need for the determination of the resources that are available to them and can be employed in mitigating the occurrences of operational breakdowns. This will enable the development of a response framework that can be engaged to mitigate the occurrence of a breakdown. In evaluating the administration’s concerns, there is need to determine a communication framework that will enhance the efficiencies of the responses of the patients who have benefitted from bar code scanning. [Click Essay Writer to order your essay]
References
Dubin, C. H. (2010). Barcode Scanning at Four Healthcare Facilities in the US. Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 35(4), 212-214.
Wideman, M. V., Whittler, M. E., & Anderson, T. M. (2005). Barcode Medication Administration: Lessons Learned from an Intensive Care Unit Implementation. Advances In Patient Safety, 3, 437-451.
