What is medication administration in the UK? - eMAR
What is Medication Administration in UK?
Medication administration is the process of giving the right medicine to patients as the doctor ordered. It includes the steps like preparing the medicine, make sure medicine is for the right person, checking it is the right medicine, administering it correctly and writing down it was given. It is really important to do medication management carefully since its important in patient well-being. So simply medication management is all about ensuring patients get the right medicine at the right time and also at the right amount. Keeping track of medications, checking them, and making sure patients get better are all part of medication management. It is like looking into the doctor’s instructions carefully and efficiently helping patients.
What are the 6 rights of medication management in UK?
1) Identify the right person
Identifying the right person is really important. Caregivers should always make sure that the person getting treated is actually the right person that needs medicine. In order to check that nurses have to ask for the patients full name and check whether it is matching to the medical chart name and ID. Its not a good choice to only ask for first name or last name, since there will be similar names around. When it comes to psychiatric patients, we might not be able to find wristbands. Carers should find another way to make sure it is the right person.
2) Verify the right medication
Before giving a medicine, it is important to check if it is the right medicine. Caregiver have to check for the right medicine name and amount before giving it to patients. Nurses can also use the Electronic Medication Administration Record to double check. This category also includes the expiration checking of the medicine. Homecare professionals have to make sure that it is not expired. Some names of products might look or sound almost the same because they share similar beginnings or endings, like having the same letters at the start or end.
3) Verify the indication for use
Doctors can give medicines to patients in lots of different ways. Each way can affect how quickly the body takes in the medicine, how long it takes to start working, and what side effects it might cause. Some of the forms include,
a) Medicine in liquid form
b) Tablets
c) Capsule
d) Medicines you put on your skin, like creams, lotions, or ointments
e) Eye, ear, or nose drops
f) Inhalers
g) Injections
4) Calculate the right dose
Carers have to always be careful of the doses of medicine they are giving. There are chances that nurses give too much or too little medicine to the patients. This can happen by mixing up different units of measurement. It's important to check the dosage that doctor mentioned before giving it to the patient. If there is a mistake or confusion about the dosage it should be sorted before giving the medicine.
5) Make sure it's the right time
Giving the medicines at the right time is really important. Some medicines have to be given at the right time to keep them working well in the body. It's a rule that medicines have to be given at the mentioned time. Caregivers should not wait more than half an hour after the scheduled time. When medicines are given through drip, like IV medicines they should make sure to give it in the right speed, otherwise it can be harmful to the patients. Giving medicines too early can also be harmful to the patients.
6) Check the right route
Every individual has the right to say no to taking medicines. If a patient is saying no to take medicine it cannot be given against their will. If a patient is refusing to take medicine even after knowing the consequences they are making a choice. In those situations it’s a better to make them understand why they need it, and also try to understand why they are refusing to take it. Carers have to document the entire information including the reason patients are refusing to take their medication. Also, they have to inform the details to the doctor about patients’ choice.
What is a medication administration record?
A medication administration record in UK is like a to-do list for homecare workers. It is used to keep track of the medicines they give to patients. Medication administration record in UK helps to make sure patients get the right medicine at the right amount. A medication administration record has the below details in it,
a) Recipient's name for medication administration
b) Name of the medication
c) Dosage of the medication to be given
d) Specific time when the medication should be given.
e) Signature or initials of the homecare professional who administers the medication.
This helps homecare professionals stay organized and makes sure patients get their medicines safely.
If a medicine isn't given the way the doctor said, it's written down and there might be a space for a note to explain why. Sometimes the provider, nurse or patient might need to sign every time a medicine is given.
Explain what is eMAR?
The eMAR in the UK is a technology that records when medicine is given electronically. It does this by using special sensors like radio frequency identification. This information gets stored in certified electronic health record systems in UK. eMAR is a digital system for giving medicine that saves time on paperwork. Hospitals using eMAR have seen a big drop in errors, by about 35%, and paperwork time has gone down by about 45%. With eMAR, experts can also record important signs and observations.
What do eMAR systems generally include in UK?
a) Information about a person
b) Any assistance required by the individual to manage their medication.
c) A facility to make notes
d) Specifics of individualized care plans
e) Management reports
Feel free to reach out to us if you're in search of caregivers in UK who can provide top-notch care for yourself or a family member. Nurses Group Homecare Yeovil UK is renowned for delivering exceptional care services, with experienced and skilled caregivers dedicated to meeting your requirements, particularly for elderly individuals.