Risk of adverse drug events in neonates treated with opioids and the effect of a bar-code-assisted medication administration system.

Purpose: The risk of adverse drug events (ADEs) in neonates treated with opioids and the effect of a bar-code-assisted medication administration (BCMA) system were studied.

Methods: A prospective cohort study of neonates in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) was conducted. A BCMA system was operative for 50% of the study period.

Effectiveness of a barcode medication administration system in reducing preventable adverse drug events in a neonatal intensive care unit: a prospective cohort study.

Objective: Patients are at risk of harm from medication errors. Barcode medication administration (BCMA) systems are recommended to mitigate preventable adverse drug events (ADEs). Our hypothesis was that a BCMA system would reduce preventable ADEs by 45% in a neonatal intensive care unit.