Digitizing Healthcare: Electronic Medication Administration Record (eMAR) and Bedside Medication Verification (BMV)

Abstract

Proliferation of the Internet and Information Technology (IT) has led to many innovations in the healthcare industry. Among such innovations are the Electronic Medication Administration Record (eMAR) and the Bedside Medication Verification (BMV), both of which have been widely implemented by hospitals around the world. In this regard, the goal of this chapter is three-fold. It first describes the underlying work-flow utilized in these systems by comparing it with traditional methods of medication administration. Then it investigates the adoption and implementation of eMAR and BMV in hospitals in the United States, the conversion from traditional medication administration to eMAR documentation, and how utilization of eMAR and BMV can promote patient safety. The chapter concludes with the exploration of future trends in medication administration through the utilization of eMAR and BMV, and highlights future research directions in the field.