Good Samaritan Hospital Extends Innovative Medical Bar-Code System to Additional Hospital Units

Suffern, N.Y. (June 30, 2007) – Good Samaritan Hospital continued to strengthen its superior quality patient care with the continuing implementation of bar-code medication administration (BCMA) into its seventh unit as of June 26, 2007. The new bar-code implementation project began earlier this year with a single-unit system pilot project. The hospital plans to have roll-out to all 22 hospital units completed by December 2007. Good Samaritan is one of the first hospitals in the Lower Hudson Valley region to incorporate the bar-coding medication safety initiative, which has been mandated by the FDA.

The new bar-coding system is grounded in the goal of achieving advanced patient quality assurance. Utilizing wireless bar code scanning and identification technology to improve patient safety, nurses have been equipped with a mobile PDA loaded with Bridge Medical’s MedPoint™ software. The efficient, state of the art software allows for the delivery of correct medication and exact dosage through a simple scan of a patient's bar-coded wristband. Additionally, this handheld computer allows nurses to input patient information and access medical records without leaving the patient's bedside. Currently, about 1/3 of the hospital is now bar-coding operational, with the system being rolled out and implemented within a new unit of the hospital every two weeks.

“The growth of this system is enhancing our ability to provide superior care,” said Kathleen Lynam, RN, Vice President Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer. “The success that Good Samaritan has already experienced through the six bar-code equipped hospital units has been extraordinary. This technology has given us an effective and functional new way of doing our job with exemplary accuracy, efficiency, and timeliness.”

The Good Samaritan Hospital community is rapidly adjusting to and familiarizing themselves with the new patient care strategy.

“Staff, as well as patients, are impressed with the new system,” said Gabrielle Fried, RN, Nurse Manager of T3, the pilot unit at Good Samaritan. “It is wonderful to see how well, and how quickly, the staff has absorbed this new change.”

Fried was recently selected to make a presentation, “Implementing Medication Administration System Using Bar Coding,” to an audience of medical professionals from around the country at Premier™ Hospital’s Annual Breakthroughs Conference and Exhibition, in Orlando, Florida. In an interactive panel presentation, Fried’s discussion of Good Samaritan’s strategy and implementation plans was accepted by her audience with enthusiasm and interest.

Good Samaritan Hospital is a member of Bon Secours Health System, Inc., one of the nation’s leading Catholic healthcare systems. It is also part of the regional Bon Secours Charity Health System, which includes St. Anthony Community Hospital in Warwick, NY and Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis, New York. Additionally, Bon Secours Charity Health System provides the services of a Certified Home Health Agency, two long-term care facilities, an assisted living and adult home facility and several other medical programs.

For more information about Good Samaritan Hospital, or any of its programs, visit their website at www.GoodSamHosp.org, or contact Good Samaritan Hospital at 845-368-5000.
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