Have you thought about the use of bar-code scanning? This technology is available for use in ECS. The pharmacy formulary contains all NDC codes for medications so no matter what prescription medication the pharmacy supplies the code will be found in the system. If pharmacy dispenses an alternate dose form (for example instead of sending 1 10mg tablet they send a 20mg tablet) on a reorder, ECS can be updated through an HL7 interface.
Medication Management
Medication management can be extremely challenging for the assisted living community because the residents have many options available.
- Unlicensed staff assist with or observe the administration of medications.
- Licensed staff prepare pill boxes for tenants to take their own medications.
- Residents may order some of their medications while the assisted living community orders others.
- Utilization of multiple pharmacies for dispensing of medications.
American Data's Electronic Chart System (ECS) has a powerful medication management component. We have a full pharmacy formulary embedded within our system. This formulary is updated weekly so the list is current with FDA approved medications. ECS holds all the data a pharmacist utilizes when dispensing medications. Users are immediately alerted to drug interactions, allergy warnings and condition warnings. Complete lists of side effects are provided and may be accessed at any time. Medication reviews are more efficient in ECS because it cross references all medications and diagnoses on a resident's chart for the user!
