Medication Administration

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the Medication Administration feature in the In-Patient Department (IPD) Dashboard. It covers the key functionalities, user workflows, and system behavior related to the administration of prescribed and emergency medications for admitted patients.

Prescription Orders

Prescription orders for IPD patients are created in the Medications module by the attending doctor. These orders contain detailed instructions regarding the medication, including dosage, frequency, and any additional instructions.

Once a prescription order is created in the Medications module, it is automatically displayed in the Treatments section of the IPD Dashboard. This section lists all active prescriptions for the admitted patient, providing a centralized view for healthcare providers.

If any ‘Instructions’ or ‘Additional Instructions’ are captured while creating the prescriptions, these are represented by a Notes icon. Clicking on the corresponding accordion expands the view to display the detailed instructions.

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Clicking on the corresponding accordion expands the view to display the detailed instructions

Treatments Section

The Treatments section includes a table that displays:

• Start Date: The date the medication is to begin.

• Drug Name: The name of the prescribed medication.

• Dosage Details: Information on the prescribed dosage.

• Status: The current administration status of the medication.

• Provider Name: The name of the prescribing doctor.

• Actions: Links and actions available for the medication, such as "Add to Drug Chart", “Edit Drug Chart”, “Stop drug”, “Add PRN Tasks”.

The Actions column features tags like:

• Rx: Indicates a prescribed medication.

• Rx-STAT: Signifies that the medication must be administered immediately.

• Rx-PRN: Indicates a medication that is to be administered as needed.

• EMERG: Denotes emergency medications that were administered without a prior prescription.

Prescribed Medication Task Scheduling

Adding Prescribed Medications to the Drug Chart

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Prescription orders for IPD patients are created in the Medications module by the attending doctor

For all prescribed medications, an "Add to Drug Chart" link is displayed in the Actions column when the patient is admitted. This link is enabled only if the user has the necessary privileges and the patient is currently admitted in the IPD. If the patient is not admitted, the "Add to Drug Chart" link remains disabled.

Prescribed Medication Scheduling Options

Clicking the "Add to Drug Chart" link opens the "Add to Drug Chart" slider on the right side of the screen. This slider displays the medication name and its attributes (Dose & unit, Duration & unit, Frequency, Route, Start Date, and any Instructions or Additional Instructions) in disabled fields.

The following fields are enabled for user input:

• Start Time: Available for medications with frequencies such as once a day, every 30 minutes, every 1-12 hours, Nocte, or STAT.

• Schedule Time: Displayed for medications with frequencies of two, three, or four times a day. The fields are pre-populated with the Ward Medication schedules but can be edited.

Once a medication is added to the drug chart, it appears in the Treatments section with the Rx tag, indicating that it should be administered as prescribed.

Handling Edge Cases in Scheduling

If a patient is admitted after the scheduled medication times have started, the system adjusts the scheduling fields accordingly. For example, if a patient is admitted at 15:00 hours and the medication is to be administered three times a day, the system will disable the first two slots and pre-populate the third slot with the next available scheduled time.

Transition from "Add to Drug Chart" to "Edit Drug Chart"

Once a medication task is scheduled and the Treatments section is refreshed, the "Add to Drug Chart" link changes to "Edit Drug Chart". This allows the user to modify the scheduled times if necessary.

Editing Medication Schedules

Nurses can edit scheduled medication times by clicking the "Edit Drug Chart" link. This opens the "Edit Drug Chart" slider, where changes can be made to the Start Time, Schedule Time, or Notes fields. Once the first medication task is completed, the "Edit Drug Chart" link changes to "Stop Drug."

PRN Medication Workflow

Creating PRN Medications

PRN (Pro Re Nata or "as needed") medications are created in the Medications module by selecting the “SOS” checkbox during prescription. These prescriptions are then reflected in the Treatments section of the IPD Dashboard.

Reflecting PRN Prescriptions in the Treatments Section

Once a PRN medication is prescribed, it appears in the Treatments section with the Rx-PRN tag, indicating that it should be administered as needed.

Adding PRN Tasks

The "Add PRN Tasks" link in the Actions column allows the user to create a PRN placeholder card. This card does not include a scheduled time but serves as a reminder for the nurse to administer the medication as needed.

Administering PRN Doses

Nurses can click on the PRN placeholder card to capture the details of each administered dose. Each instance adds a completed PRN task tile to the Nursing Tasks section, which is updated accordingly. The PRN placeholder card will roll over to subsequent shifts until the prescription duration ends.

Emergency Medication Workflow

Administering Emergency Medications

In emergency situations where no prior prescription exists, the nurse may administer medication after consulting with the on-call doctor. This immediate action is critical to address the emergency.

Recording Emergency Medications

After administering an emergency medication, the nurse must record the details in the system. This can be done by clicking on the "Add Task" button in the Nursing Tasks section, which will open the "Add Nursing Task" slider on the right side of the screen. Here, the nurse can enter the emergency medication details, including the drug name, dose, route, administration date, administration time, acknowledgement requested from, and any relevant notes. After clicking "Save," a confirmation pop-up will appear to verify the medication administration. Once confirmed, the emergency medication will be displayed in the Drug Chart with an "EMERG" tag.

Distinguishing Emergency Medications in the System

Emergency medications are distinguished in the system with an "EMERG" tag, making it clear that they were administered in response to an urgent situation without a prior prescription.

Nursing Tasks Section

Display and Organization of Scheduled Medication Tasks

Once medication tasks are scheduled, they are listed in the Nursing Tasks section. This section displays the medication name, attributes, scheduled time, and corresponding tags and status legends. Tasks are organized in ascending order based on their scheduled time.

Updating Administered Tasks

When a scheduled task is administered, the nurse can update the task by clicking on the corresponding tile. This opens a slider where the nurse can enter the administered time and any relevant notes. The task is then marked as completed in the Nursing Tasks section.

Handling Skipped Medication Tasks

If a medication task is skipped, the nurse can update the system by clicking on the task tile and selecting the "Skip Drug" option. A mandatory Notes field appears, where the nurse must enter a reason for skipping the medication. The task is then marked as skipped and displayed accordingly.

Non Medication Task

This feature guide provides an in-depth exploration of the Non-Medication Task functionality within the In-Patient Department (IPD) Dashboard. This feature is essential for managing patient care tasks that do not involve medication administration. Non-Medication Tasks can be created manually by nursing staff or automatically generated based on specific events, ensuring that all aspects of patient care are systematically tracked and managed.

Overview

Non-Medication Tasks are specific actions required to be performed for a patient that do not involve administering medication. These tasks are critical for patient care and can include a wide range of activities, such as monitoring vital signs, repositioning patients, or other care-related duties.

There are two primary methods through which Non-Medication Tasks are created:

1. Manually Created Tasks: Initiated by nursing staff to address specific care needs of an admitted patient.

2. Automated Tasks: System-generated tasks triggered by events such as patient admission, shift changes, or patient movement.

Manually Created Tasks

User-Generated Non-Medication Task

To create a Non-Medication Task manually, navigate to the IPD Dashboard and locate the "Nursing Tasks" section. Click on the "Add Task" button to open the "Add Nursing Task" slider on the right side of the screen. Select the "Non-Medication" tab within the slider. Enter Task details like:

1. Task Name: Provide a descriptive name for the task.

2. Task Type: (Optional, configurable) Choose a type that categorizes the task. Task Types can be configured during setup and are useful for reporting and analytics.

3. Schedule Time: Set the time for the task in a 12-hour format.
   
   

Once the task is created, it will be displayed in the Nursing Tasks section with all relevant details, including the name of the task creator. This contrasts with system-generated tasks, where the creator's name is not displayed.

Automated Tasks

System-Generated Non-Medication Tasks

Non-Medication Tasks can also be generated automatically by the system when specific events occur, such as:

• Patient Admission: Upon admitting a patient, the system can automatically generate tasks like initial assessment or vital sign monitoring.

• Shift Changes: When nursing shifts change, tasks can be generated to ensure continuity of care, such as updating patient records or checking on patients.

• Patient Movement: If a patient is moved to a different ward or bed or on discharge, tasks related to this transition, like updating patient status or notifying relevant staff, can be created.

These automated tasks are fully configurable during system setup, allowing healthcare facilities to tailor the task generation process to their specific operational needs.

Updating Non-Medication Tasks

Marking a Task as Completed

Upon completing a scheduled Non-Medication Task, nursing staff can update the task status by click on the corresponding task tile in the Nursing Tasks section. The task details slider will open, where the nurse can record the exact time the task was completed, provide any relevant notes or observations related to the task. Once the task is updated, it will be marked as completed in the Nursing Tasks section, indicating that the care action has been fulfilled.

Handling Skipped Non-Medication Tasks

In situations where a Non-Medication Task cannot be completed and must be skipped, then click on the task tile that needs to be skipped. In the task details slider, select the "Skip Task" option. A mandatory "Notes" field will appear, where the nurse must document the reason for skipping the task. This ensures that all skipped tasks are accounted for and justified. The task will then be marked as skipped and displayed accordingly in the Nursing Tasks section.

System Configuration and Setup

Configuring Automated Tasks

During the system setup phase, administrators can configure which events will trigger automated Non-Medication Tasks. This includes specifying the tasks to be generated for each event and any associated task types or schedules. Proper configuration ensures that the system aligns with the facility's operational workflows and care protocols.

Conclusion

The Non-Medication Task feature and the Medication Administration process within the IPD Dashboard are essential components for managing comprehensive patient care in your healthcare facility.

By enabling both manual and automated task creation, the Non-Medication Task feature ensures that all non-medication-related patient care activities are systematically documented and managed. This functionality enhances coordination among nursing staff, improves patient care outcomes, and provides valuable data for reporting and analytics.

Similarly, the Medication Administration process is crucial for ensuring accurate and timely medication administration, which is vital for maintaining a high standard of care. By adhering to the guidelines and workflows outlined in this guide, healthcare providers can significantly improve patient outcomes and streamline the overall care process within the hospital setting.

This guide serves as a comprehensive resource for understanding and utilizing both the Non-Medication Task functionality and the Medication Administration process within the IPD Dashboard, ensuring that your facility maximizes the effectiveness of these tools for optimal patient care.