Evolution of BCMA within the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center implemented Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA) between 1999 and 2000 in 161 Medical Centers or Health Systems. BCMA has had a major impact on inpatient licensed nursing staff. Nurses have moved from manual to electronic medication documentation, increasing the complexity of medication administration.

Applied technology rounds out e-documentation.

Highlights of an electronic healthcare record include clinical reminders, progress note templates, and a clinical reference system.

Scan your way to a comprehensive electronic medical record. Augment medication administration accuracy and increase documentation efficiency with bar coding technology.

As a pioneer of patient safety, the Department of Veterans Affairs continues to develop a variety of computerized tools to reduce medication errors.