EAHP and UZ Leuven to host high-level meeting on reducing medication errors in hospitals

The technology of scanning a medicine at the patient’s bedside, prior to administration, has been demonstrated to reduce rates of medication error by as much as 40%. Yet, although commonplace in countries such as the US, the practice in Europe remains the exception rather than the rule. The event will consider why this is the case, and what can be done to overcome identified implementation obstacles.The one-day event, to be held on Monday 14 October, will include:

• Presentation of how bedside scanning at UZ Leuven reduces the possibility of medication error occurring at the point of administration;
• guided visits to hospital wards to see the technology in operation;
• presentations on the industrial, regulatory and international contexts to the issue, and;
• workshops to gain the perspectives and considered opinions of a variety of impacted stakeholders.UZ Leuven’s Department of Pharmacy Assistant Director Thomas De Rijdt said: “Since introducing bedside scanning of medication in our hospital we have observed an increase in patient safety by further preventing medication errors. In addition we can ensure traceability of drugs. However our success here in Leuven is not something we wish to keep a secret from the rest of Europe. When we know something works, we want to share it and see the benefits enjoyed elsewhere. That is why we are working with the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists to hold this meeting aimed at identifying and enacting solutions to the known obstacles to bedside scanning’s wider introduction.”

EAHP President Dr Roberto Frontini added: “Nowadays, we are used to seeing all manner of consumer products individually bar coded: from bananas to biscuits, from chocolates to CDs. Yet, we have still not achieved medicines bar coded to the individual pill or vial. This holds back the introduction of bedside scanning, and through this event I hope we can shine a light on what the obstacles are, and how they can be overcome. We encourage all stakeholders with an interest in this topic to participate in this event and play a part in achieving a potential major advance in the reduction of medication error.”