A quality improvement (QI) project evaluated the effect of PDSA-cycle interventions — including monthly scanning rate huddles, individualized staff reports, and a 2-day medication administration workshop — on bar-coded medication administration (BCMA) scanning compliance in a 17-bed emergency department.
Wristband scanning compliance rose from 67% to 97%, and medication scanning compliance rose from 69% to 96% after the interventions.
Single-site, 17-bed ED limits generalizability; no control group or statistical testing reported; long-term sustainability of compliance gains was not assessed.
Combining transparent reporting of unit-level scanning rates (via huddles and individual feedback) with structured education workshops can dramatically lift BCMA compliance in an ED setting. Organizations struggling with scanning rates below target should consider a bundled PDSA approach before accepting low compliance as a cultural norm.
Explore related topics
