Beloit Memorial Hospital Adopts Bar Code Medication Administration System And Error Rate Plummets

Beloit Memorial Hospital has recently instituted a new medication administration system in its OB/GYN/nursery that utilizes wireless bar code scanning and identification technology to improvepatient safety. Equipped with a Symbol mobile PDA loaded with wCareMed, nurses at Beloit Memorial's Family Care Center ensure delivery of the correct medication and dosage by scanning eachpatient's wristband along with all medications. Nurses will also be able to input patient information and access medical records from this handheld computer — further enhancing their ability toprovide superior care without leaving the patient's bedside.

Beloit Memorial Hospital is a community hospital affiliated with the University of Wisconsin Hospital system serving a primary population of approximately 175,000 residents. The hospital and itsfour, offsite clinics provide personalized service while retaining a leadership position in using the latest technologies to enhance patient care. Since instituting the wCareMed solution this175 -bed hospital in Beloit, Wisconsin has experienced a dramatic decline in medication errors in their Family Care Center and, as a result, is expanding the use of this system throughout thehospital.