Closed-Loop Medication Management with an Electronic Health Record System in U.S. and Finnish Hospitals

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Patient Safety
• Hospital Pharmacy Operations

Background:

• Manual medication management processes are prone to errors in hospitals.
• Closed-loop Electronic Medication Management Systems (EMMSs) leverage technology to automate and improve medication safety.
• The U.S. has a mature, diverse EMMS landscape shaped by unique healthcare system factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the approaches and impacts of closed-loop EMMSs in U.S. and Finnish hospitals.
• To explore commonalities and differences in EMMS implementation from nursing and pharmacy perspectives.
• To provide a basis for international collaboration and benchmarking in EMMS development.

Main Methods:

• Comparative review of U.S. and Finnish closed-loop Electronic Medication Management Systems.
• Analysis of EMMS impact on medication workflows and safety.
• Examination of system perspectives from care/nursing units and hospital pharmacy operations.

Main Results:

• Description of the historical evolution and varied market manifestations of U.S. EMMS.
• Identification of specific commonalities and nuanced differences between U.S. and Finnish EMMS approaches.
• Exploration of impacts on both nursing unit and pharmacy workflows and safety.

Conclusions:

• Closed-loop EMMSs represent a significant advancement in hospital medication safety.
• International collaboration and benchmarking can accelerate the development and adoption of effective EMMS.
• The U.S. and Finnish experiences offer valuable lessons for other nations implementing EMMS.