Closing the loop of the medication use process using electronic medication administration registration

Recent reports and studies of errors in the medication use process have raised the awareness of the threat to public health. An essential step in this multi-stage process is the actual administration of a medicine to the patient. The closed loop system is thought to be a way of preventing certain medication errors. Current information technology can facilitate this process. This article describes the way in which barcode technology is being used to facilitate medication administration registration on several wards in our hospital and nursing home.