Sue Dutton, RN, scans a barcode on the wristband of patient Bill Nantz.  (contributed photo)

HONESDALE - When Bill Nantz of Honesdale was admitted to Wayne Memorial Hospital recently, his patient identification wristband had a barcode just like the ones on grocery store items.  This one, however, was for patient safety. Before administering any medication to Nantz, Registered Nurse Sue Dutton scanned his wristband barcode to make sure it matched information on his medication and on her computer screen.  

The barcode system is the cornerstone of Wayne Memorial’s new Bedside Medication Verification (BMV) program officially launched this month. BMV supports the “Five Rights” of Medication Management: Right Patient, Right Medication, Right Dosage, Right Route, and Right Time. Caregivers scan the patient’s wristband barcode and then scan the code on the medication to be administered to correctly identify that the right medication at the right dose is being given to the right patient at the right time and by the right route (intravenous, oral, etc). 

 “This is a real milestone for Wayne Memorial,” said David Hoff, Chief Executive Officer. “BMV is one of the most important steps we’ve ever taken for patient safety.”    

BMV works in concert with Meditech, a multi-million dollar hospital-wide information system implemented at Wayne Memorial last year. Meditech confirms patient identity and medication information against data readily available via an on-line Medication Administration Record.

Launching BMV didn’t happen overnight. In addition to months of training, a barcode from the National Drug Code had to be added to every prescription drug in the hospitals’ formulary, according to BMV Project Manager John Romano. 

“We’re talking thousands of drugs,” said Romano, who praised team members Len O’Hara/ Chief Pharmacist; Michele Chicoski/Pharmacy; Virginia Fries, RN/Director Patient Care Services; Trish Alessi, RN; Anna Williams, RN/Information Services; Kristy Tierney, RN; and Renee LaPoint, LPN.