Evidence briefings on interventions to improve medication safety: electronic medication administration records

Policy question: Do electronic medication administration records (eMAR) reduce medication administration errors and improve efficiency?

Current evidence shows: There is some evidence that eMAR systems in hospitals are associated with reduced dose omissions and improved medication administration documentation. However, there is a lack of evidence that eMARs are effective in reducing medication errors in residential aged care facilities. Studies measuring efficiency of medication administration following eMAR implementation present mixed results. All of the eMAR systems reviewed were implemented in combination with other information technology such as electronic prescribing or bar coding systems, thus isolating the specific effects of the eMAR component is difficult.