Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA) is a barcode system designed to prevent medication errors in hospitals.
It consists of a barcode reader, a portable computer with wireless connection, a computer server, and some software. When a nurse gives medicines to a patient in a hospital, the nurse can scan barcode on the wristband on the patient and make sure that the patient is the right patient. The nurse can then scan the barcode on medicine to verify if it is the right medicine at the right dose at the right time by the right route ("Five rights").[1]
BCMA was first implemented in the Veteran Medical Center in Topeka, Kansas, USA. It was conceived by a nurse who was inspired by a car rental service using barcode. From 1999 to 2001, Department of Veterans Affairs promoted the system to 161 facilities.[2]. Cummings and others recommend the BCMA system for its reduction of errors. They suggest hospitals to consider the system first while they are waiting for RFID. They also pointed out that adopting the system takes a careful plan and a deep change in work patterns.[3]