Jeff Erbert | 30 May 2025
Patient Safety Remains a Top Concern
Healthcare providers, and those that support them, are under immense pressure to treat patients effectively, efficiently and safely. This requires a unique blend of process management, employee vigilance, and technology. The results are generally positive, as hospitals with the right technology are reaching new levels of efficiency. However, patient safety still remains a concern for hospital leadership.
It’s estimated that 1 in 20 patients still experience medical mistakes – with medication error one of the primary areas of focus. To help, some health tech innovators are looking to AI and augmented reality as a potential solution, but that’s only a slice of a much bigger approach to patient safety.
Medication Errors: What Does The Data Say?
Medication errors can mean a variety of things. It can mean a provider has mis-prescribed a dosage, there was an error filling the script at the pharmacy, or perhaps a nurse accidentally administered the wrong medication during a high-stress patient triage. Whatever the case, the World Health Organization approximates that 1.3 million Americans are injured annually by medication related errors and the cost associated with medical errors is estimated at $77 billion. For hospitals, specifically, the cost tallies at approximately $3.5 billion per year – making it a primary concern for hospital managers and healthcare administrators that are facing shrinking margins but want to improve patient outcomes.
How AI and AR Can Aid Providers
Artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) go together like coffee and donuts, but the adoption of these technologies are very much in their infancy. Still, Dr. Kelly Michaelsen at the University of Washington – an engineer and an MD – has a vision, and an augmented one at that. Thanks to a little support from the Computer Science Department, Michaelsen has been able to prototype a program that uses a wearable camera to read labels as they are being handled to provide an additional safeguard.
Of course, this required substantial data to train the model on the correct way to prepare medications, as well as the commonly made mistakes. Not long after that data was acquired, the approach showed great potential. A study published towards the end of 2024 confirmed that the solution was able to detect vial swap errors with 99.6% accuracy. Those close to the project say that there’s still some work to be done, and FDA approval is still pending, but the technology could be ready for real world applications very soon.
The Big Picture Approach To Patient Safety
The promise of this technology is exciting to say the least, and its value-add is unignorable, but reducing medication errors requires additional process development to support those who administer medications.
Whether it’s a lack of communication to compartmentalization issues within the internal supply chain, often times medical errors arise from a series of systemic failures. The good news is that there are technologies and organizational strategies that can help add layers of security (and efficiency) before an AI program makes the final check.
Not surprisingly, these technologies include:
Pharmacy Automation Solutions:
Modern pharmacy automation solutions can inventory, store, pick, and track upwards of 50,000 medications, drastically reducing the chances of a filling error in busy, large-scale, hospital operations. The increased efficiency also reduces pressure on staff, allows for additional checks, and improves job satisfaction.
Pneumatic Tube Systems with Badge Access and RFID Tracking
Modern pneumatic tube systems equipped with badge access and RFID technology ensure that medications are transported securely, tracked, and only accessed by authorized personnel. This reduces the risk of diversion, misplacement, or drug tampering. Badge access also provides an audit trail, enhancing accountability and traceability throughout the medication delivery process.
Bar Codes
Bar code medication administration (BCMA) systems have long been a cornerstone of error prevention in the hospital. By scanning both the patient’s ID and the medication, the BCMA helps uphold the “five rights” of medication safety: right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, and right time. This simple yet powerful tool significantly reduces drug administration errors.
Strategies to Reduce Medication Errors
Standardization of Protocol and Procedures
Standardizing medication preparation, labeling, and administration protocols across departments minimizes variability and confusion. Clear, consistent procedures help staff follow best practices and reduce reliance on memory. Again, this is another area where a pharmacy automation solution can help.
Encouraging a Culture of Safety
Creating an environment where staff feel empowered to report near misses and errors without fear of punishment is essential to refining drug procurement and administration processes. A non-punitive culture that educates and stresses the importance of drug safety encourages transparency and continuous improvement. Leadership should actively support safety initiatives and recognize staff whose contributions make for a safer environment.
Consider Centralizing Pharmacy Operations
Centralizing pharmacy services can streamline workflows, reduce redundancy, and improve oversight. Centralized operations often allow for better integration of automation technologies, such as robotic dispensing systems, which enhance accuracy and efficiency. This model also facilitates better inventory control and reduces waste.
Going Forward
Reducing medication errors is not just a clinical imperative—it’s a top priority. By investing in advanced healthcare technologies and fostering a proactive safety culture, hospital leaders can significantly enhance patient safety, operational efficiency, and staff satisfaction. The future of medication management is automated, secure, and standardized.
