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Page 4 Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Newsletter
Pharmacy Update...Continued from page 3
History on a patient, we have expanded
further to include indications for each
medication. A statement appears indicating
why the patient states he or she takes the
medication. This statement educates us
about the patient’s home medications and
importance of each in their drug therapy
regimen. After a profile is reconciled, the
interviewer’s name, date, and statement of
confirmation are updated on the med list.
This enables hospital staff to recognize when
the patient’s home medication list was last
reviewed and by what caregiver.
Electronic Documentation: Nursing,
Pharmacy, and the Medical Staff can now
utilize our clinical computer system as the
central source for every patient’s Best
Possible Medication History. Each caregiver
is given access to review and update this
information in order to maintain as accurate
a record as possible.
Pharmacy Rounds: A custom report is
printed prior to pharmacy rounds. This report
identifies where and when the pharmacy last
reviewed the patient’s medication history and
allows the caregiver to quickly focus on
patients not yet reviewed by pharmacy.
Results: So what is our staff saying? “I
personally love it. It is an efficient well-working
interdisciplinary approach” (Pamela Barrall,
RN Samaritan Hospital Emergency Room)
“Its Fabulous! Its wonderful! The best
thing we have ever done.” (Ann Weber, RN
Samaritan Hospital Emergency Room)
With special thanks to Holly Dill, Pharm D,
Medication Reconciliation Coordinator who
assisted with the contents of this article.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jon Nolin, Supervising
Pharmacist, Samaritan Hospital
and Pharmacy Information
Systems Administrator,
Northeast Health
Education & Development
Hello fellow alumni,
I was delighted to be approached by the Alumni Board to provide an occasional update
from the Nursing Division of Samaritan Hospital. I continue to be fascinated with the scope
of nursing service and pace of change in health care. Nursing care in today’s hospital is
surely different from when I entered the profession in 1980!
There are so many topics worthy of discussion, and at this time I thought I’d overview a
major project undertaken by the nursing staff this past year:
The Electronic Medical Record - Computerized Nursing Documentation
Meditech was first introduced to Samaritan Hospital in August of 1990 and has been used
to manage systems in admission, billing, lab, pharmacy, radiology and the like. Nursing staff
have used these Meditech modules for order entry (remember all of the individual lab slips
that were manually completed prior to 08/90?) as well as information retrieval (results for
patient tests, transcribed reports, etc.). As we continue on the path of a fully electronic
medical record (EMR), the nursing division implemented a significant component of
computerized documentation in the first quarter of 2007. In the planning and development
stage for well over a year, this system went “live” at the Samaritan campus on Tuesday,
January 16th.
Under the direction of Nancy Braaten, Clinical Analyst for Nursing Informatics, a committee
of about 20 nursing staff from both Samaritan and Memorial Hospitals participated in the
design of the documentation system. These staff dedicated significant work hours to this
project and demonstrated excellence in teamwork by coordinating many “pieces” of
paperwork into a sleek electronic system.
The components of documentation that were transitioned to the electronic system, on
what we are calling “Phase I” of this project, are: the Admission Database; the Daily Nursing
Assessment (includes the Braden Skin Scale and the Falls Risk Assessment); Vitals Signs;
Intake and Output; Weights; Fingerstick Blood Sugars; and Progress Notes. All of this
documented data is accessible to physicians and other health care providers through
Meditech’s PCI (Patient Care Inquiry) from any hospital computer or remote (home, office)
workstation.
On this phase of the project, many units went “live” simultaneously. Included were: Medical/
Surgical Units (6, 5, 4 and PCU), Maternity (GYN population), Behavioral Health (Geropsych,
MHU, MICA Inpatient), ICU (Admission Database only) and PATs in the Surgical arena. We
used a huge number of resources to provide clinical support 24/7 (for about a week) and the
staff did a phenomenal job of adapting to the new system.
What’s next? The good news is that staff is constantly asking this question. They are
eager to continue to move toward a paperless environment. Now that Phase I is fully
implemented at both hospitals, the nursing informatics committee will stay active to look at
the next steps for EMR. Projects will include: evaluating other paper forms for the electronic
system; transitioning the documentation systems of other specialty units; and designing the
electronic medication administration record (MAR). It will continue to be an exciting year!
Wishing you health, happiness and lifelong learning,
Teresa (Tre) Arakelian Pepe, (‘80) MS, RN Director of Education
DINNER MEETING – Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2007
Where: Foundation of NYS Nurses, 2113 Western Ave. Guilderland, NY. Take Western Ave. (Rt. 20) to intersection of Western Ave. and Rte.
155. Proceed through intersection, staying in right lane, (approx. .3 miles) to driveway for Veronica M. Driscoll Center for Nursing. (Driveway will
be marked by a green balloon)! Turn right into driveway. Parking available.
Program: 5:30 Gathering • 6:00 Buffet Dinner/Museum Tour • 7:30 Alumni Meeting • 8:00 Foundation Meeting
ANNUAL MEETING RESERVATION
Please return with $12.00 (member) or $20.00 (non-member) fee by Novemeber 7th payable to Joy Aloan, 12 Sharpe Road, Wynantskill, NY
12198. Buffet dinner will be catered by the Old Daly Inn. Guest Speaker/Guide: Rachel Donaldson, Archivist-Nursing History.
All reservations must be honored - Cancellations should be made by Nov. 7th to Joy Aloan at 283-1298.
Print Name: ___________________________________________________________________________ Class: ________________________