wrong concentration. These medications
help prevent that."
Pre-filled medications are more expensive,
he says, but they come in syringes with big,
bright labels noting their name and dose.
Not only does this packaging help prevent
medication errors, but the single-dose sup-
plies also increase safe injection practices
and help eliminate problems that can occur
when surgical teams are left to mix or dilute
concentrated medications. For example, he
says the concentration phenylephrine typi-
cally comes in would likely kill a person.
"The 1 cc vials contain 10,000 mg, but the
actual dose is 100 times less," says Dr.
Vitcov. "We now stock the correct, diluted
dose instead."
Even with clearly labeled medications,
there's still a chance of giving the wrong
medication to the wrong patient. Joseph
Moffa, MSN, BS, RN, NE-BC, CCRN, nurse
manager of PACU at the Hospital of the
University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia
says that's where his hospital's electronic
medical record system comes into play.
Here's how it works: A bedside nurse deliv-
ering drugs to a patient first must log into
the patient's EMR. Then, she can scan the
drug using an iPhone or special barcode
scanner connected to a mobile tablet. After
9 6 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6
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