BCMA
Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA) software provides a real-time, point-of-care solution for validating the administration of Unit Dose (UD) and Intravenous (IV) medications to inpatients in Veterans Administration Medical Centers (VAMCs). BCMA uses a Graphical User Interface (GUI), MS Windows-based Client/Server architecture, designed to improve the accuracy of the medication administration process, and to increase the efficiency of the administration documentation process. The end result is enhanced patient safety and patient care at VAMCs.
As a clinician scans each patient wristband and medication using a bar code scanner, BCMA immediately validates the patient and their medication, and that the medication is ordered, timely, and in the correct dosage. At the same time, BCMA electronically updates the patient’s Medication Administration History (MAH). The software is fully compatible with other VistA applications.
Features
The BCMA software provides the following features:
- Medication Tabs on a patient’s Virtual Due List (VDL) are designed for separating and viewing the different types of active Unit Dose, IV Push, IV Piggyback, and large-volume IV medication orders. Each Tab provides an “alert” light, which turns green only when the patient has active medication orders for that Tab.
- Patient safety tools include a Missed Medications Report, an alert when due medications are not administered, a notification when a patient is transferred, and an alert light to indicate that a medication order exists for the Schedule Type and Start/Stop Date and Time selected on the VDL. Other tools include a listing of Allergies and Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) that are documented for a patient in the Allergy/Adverse Reaction Tracking (ART) package.
- A Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) Med Order Button (or “Hot Button”) on the BCMA Tool Bar streamlines the workflow in ICU-type environments. This button links nurses directly to CPRS for electronically ordering, documenting, reviewing and signing verbal and telephone STAT and NOW (One-Time) medication orders already administered to patients.
- BCMA increases the amount and type of information available to nurses at the point of care, improves communications between Nursing and Pharmacy staff, Records Missing Doses for patients, sends an electronic Missing Dose Request to the Pharmacy, and supports Health Level Seven (HL7) messaging.
- Management and accountability tools identify PRN entries that require effectiveness comments and pain scores, list medications that were not scanned as administered during an administration time window, list early/late administration variances, and allow nurses to set site-specific parameters and defaults on their systems.
- Compiles reports by Patient or by Ward for Nursing, Pharmacy, and Information Resources Management (IRM). Reports available for printing include: a Medication Administration History, Medication Log, Missed Medications, Missing Dose Request, PRN Effectiveness Log, Medication Due List, Medication History, Medication Variance Report, Cumulative Vitals/Measurement Report, and Administration Times Report.
Manuals
On the wiki, the following manuals are available for this package
