Governors Conference and C-SPAN audience learns about DRMC technology

from Better Health magazine, Spring, 2005

At the National Governors Association meeting in February, the Medication Administration Check (MAC) technology used by Danville Regional was center stage - or more appropriately, center screen.

Our own Patsy Sublett, MSN, RN-C made a presentation to a Department of Health and Human Services committee in Washington, D.C. that was broadcast nationwide by the cable channel C-SPAN.

The MAC technology uses barcodes on medications, nurse badges, and patient wristbands to greatly reduce the risk of medication errors. These barcodes allow for verification of the five rights of medication administration - right patient, right dose, right medication, right time and right route.

"I was on the panel with a National Coordinator for the Department of Health and Human Services and the ClO of Harvard Medical School," said Sublett. "They spoke about theoretical improvements that could be made in the future. I was there to show a specific example of technology that's working now.''

Sublett used a PowerPoint presentation to show the system in use. "I explained that we've documented an average annual savings of $800,000 due to increased efficiency, while preventing an average of 116 potential medication errors each month," she said.

Ten minutes before the presentation began, Sublett found out that the proceedings would be telecast live on C-SPAN. "It was in the middle of the day and I thought no one here in Danville would see me," she said. "But when l came home, l was stunned by how many people called or told me they'd seen me on TV!''

"It was a great experience. And, since it was broadcast to millions of homes, now the whole country knows about the exciting progress we're making right here at Danville Regional Medical Center."