New Studies Show 100 Percent Reductions in Serious Five Rights-Related Errors Using Barcode Point-of-Care System for Medication Administration

-Compared to Previous Studies, Larger Sample of Medication Passes and More Nurses Over Multiple Shifts Observed-

SAN DIEGO, CA, October 27, 2008 – IntelliDOT Corporation, a leading provider of wireless, handheld barcode point-of-care (BPOC) solutions to hospitals, today announced that the cumulative results of observational medication error studies at multiple hospitals using IntelliDOT Bedside Medication Administration™ (IntelliDOT BMA™) show a 100 percent reduction in preventable five rights-related errors.

Data from the direct observational studies is now complete for 10 of 46 IntelliDOT customer hospitals that participated in studies between June 2004 and September 2008. Initial data based on 2,389¹ medication administration observations reveals that serious five rights-related medication errors were reduced from 39 incidents prior to the implementation of IntelliDOT BMA to zero when follow-up observations were conducted 60 days after implementation. Serious errors are defined to be the administration of the wrong medication or the wrong dose, or administration to the wrong patient. In addition, incidents of patients not properly identified per hospital policy were reduced from 1,792 (75 percent) to zero as a result of IntelliDOT System barcode scans of wristbands to identify patients at the bedside before giving medication.

The IntelliDOT customer studies incorporate a similar methodology used in the healthcare industry’s well-known 2002 report, “Medication Errors Observed in 36 Health Care Facilities,” by KN Barker, EA Flynn, GA Pepper, DW Bates, and RL Mikeal, and published in the September 9, 2002, American Archives of Internal Medicine.

“The 'Medication Errors Observed in 36 Health Care Facilities' study based findings on one nurse observer and 50 medication passes at each hospital,” said Vicki D. McKendrick, RN, Executive Director and Chief Nursing Officer at IntelliDOT. “IntelliDOT is using a similar methodology, but we're looking at a much larger sample of medication passes and nurses based over multiple shifts. The results prove over and over again that a nurse-centric BPOC system, when used consistently by nurses, can eliminate 100 percent of serious medication administration errors.”

IntelliDOT worked with each hospital to conduct pre- and post-implementation studies of medication errors in order to establish baseline performance measures and validate subsequent performance improvement. At each facility, two registered nurses with extensive training in observational study methodology observed 250 medication administration events in each phase of the study¹, before and 60 days after the implementation of the IntelliDOT BPOC System. Each observer worked with multiple nurses throughout his or her shift. Between 20 and 30 nurses at each hospital were observed in the IntelliDOT customer studies.

Using a methodology similar Barker et al in “Medication Errors Observed in 36 Health Care Facilities,” the observers recorded a coded patient identifier, drug product, the dose, dose form, route of administration, time of administration, patient identification method(s), and medication-related procedures as specified by individual hospital policy such as taking medication specific vital signs or obtaining an additional witness for high alert medications. Prior to the medication pass, they compared each dose with the original medication order on the current medication administration record (MAR). In the cases of wrong patient, wrong drug, or wrong dose, the observer stopped the nurse from continuing with the administration to prevent potential harm to the patient. Following the medication pass, they compared each dose administered as written by the prescribing physician in the patient’s chart. If there is a difference, the error is described and categorized. One hour following the end of each shift, the observers checked the MARs for documentation of clinical observations as required by hospital policy.

“At one of the participating hospitals, two near misses were detected and averted by the use of the IntelliDOT System during the post-implementation observation,” McKendrick said. “A nurse attempted to administer a medication at 9 a.m. when it was supposed to be given at 9 p.m. Also, the IntelliDOT System prevented a nurse from administering an oral chemotherapy drug instead of a vitamin, averting a very serious mistake. This illustrates that barcode point-of-care systems can eliminate both timing and more serious errors involving the wrong drug, both of which were classified as 'potentially harmful' to the patient.

"It is interesting to note that pre-implementation results for the IntelliDOT studies echoed those found in the 'Medication Errors Observed in 36 Health Care Facilities' study,” said McKendrick. “Despite the widespread availability of BPOC solutions, there still is much work to be done in the ongoing quest for safer patient care.”

The IntelliDOT System is a best-of-breed wireless, workflow manager that connects caregivers with the information systems they need at the point-of-care. Designed by nurses for nurses, the IntelliDOT System enables clinicians to perform safety checks and safely administer and document medications at the bedside using a lightweight, handheld device. The IntelliDOT System satisfies Joint Commission standards for patient identification and assures accuracy by verifying the five rights of medication administration: right medication, right dose, right route, right patient, right time; as well as ensuring required follow-up documentation, such as pain scale, is performed in a timely manner and accurately recorded.

 

About IntelliDOT Corporation
IntelliDOT is a leading provider of wireless, handheld, barcode point-of-care (BPOC) solutions that connect to any healthcare information system to improve patient safety and nurse workflow. When using the IntelliDOT system, nurses can easily manage all tasks associated with five-rights medication administration safety checks and related documentation. Additional system modules that run on the same handheld device include: IntelliDOT Phlebotomy Specimen Collection™, IntelliDOT Blood Product Administration™, IntelliDOT Mother-Baby Breast Milk Matching™, and IntelliDOT Vital Signs Collection™. IntelliDOT was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in San Diego. More information can be found at www.intellidotcorp.com.

¹ 250 medication administration events were observed at 9 hospitals and 139 were observed at one hospital

Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with market acceptance of the CAREt System, whether the company will be successful in raising additional funds, the risk that sales of the CAREt System will not increase to target levels, and the effectiveness and marketability of healthcare information technologies, as well as other risks.

IntelliDOT is a registered trademark of IntelliDOT Corporation. Other product and company names in this news release are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

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Michael E. Donner
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