Zuyderland Medical Center will implement the MedEye medication safety system hospital-wide to (double) check patient medication. This system verifies all medication right before administration to the patient and supports nurses throughout the medication process. The system seamlessly aligns with the hospital's strategy to ensure safe care while also providing relief and support to nurses.
Pioneering Medication Safety
Zuyderland is a pioneer in medication safety. Safety is not only considered extremely important throughout the hospital but is also actively pursued. The hospital has many years of experience with scanning medication barcodes but recognized there was room for improvement in safety and efficiency, especially for nursing staff. Peter Dekkers, the established hospital pharmacist, explains the choice to implement a system like MedEye: “With our current method, the use of barcodes on medication was always required. This sometimes creates a false sense of security and limits the nurse's flexibility when scanning is not possible. The MedEye system also offers the ability to provide targeted support to nurses through safety rules.”
Pilot
After an extensive pilot on various departments, MedEye proved to offer significant added value. Dekkers emphasizes: “The added value of MedEye lies in its user-friendly design for nurses and the great flexibility in setting safety rules for specific drugs or departments. During the pilot period, feedback from nurses was closely listened to, as they are the ones who ultimately work with the system. Nurses find the use of the MedEye administration screen particularly pleasant and easy to learn. It provides a clear and innovative approach. Nurses also indicate that they need less time for medication verification.” Esther Hooft, Team Leader in one of the pilot departments, confirms: “Our nurses experience MedEye as safe and clear, efficient and user-friendly, and it contributes to accurate medication registration.”
Safer Medication Administration
The introduction of a digital, closed-loop medication process makes administering drugs safer. In addition to the final digital check of oral medication, MedEye is also used to take over the required visual double-check by a second nurse for parenteral drugs (medications administered by injection). MedEye ensures that any errors are recognized in time so that they do not reach the patient. This makes the administration of tablets and parenteral drugs demonstrably safer and easier. An innovative way to increase medication safety in the hospital and relieve nurses.
Future Developments
Dekkers is satisfied with the cooperation with the MedEye team and looks forward to future developments. Dekkers: “The communication lines are short, and the speed at which developments are processed is very pleasant. For example, we are currently working on designing a new method for controlling smart infusion pumps. Additionally, we aim to be able to use home medications in the future, even if they are not correctly identified upon delivery by the patient.” CEO of MedEye, Gauti Reynisson, shares the enthusiasm about the cooperation, “which is the foundation for groundbreaking innovation.”