Pharmacy-based automated medication records: methods, application, and a survey of use.

A literature review of articles describing the development and implementation of automated medication administration records is summarized, and the results of a survey undertaken of all hospitals in Missouri to determine the extent of an automated medication administration record (MAR) are reported. For hospitals with an automated MAR, the survey compiled information about the demographics of responding facilities and production and distribution, design, implementation, and procedures for use of automated MARs. The most frequently reported advantages of an automated MAR were a more legible document, increased accuracy, savings in nursing personnel time, and fewer medication errors. The most frequently reported disadvantages were increases in pharmacy personnel time, different interpretation of orders by pharmacy and nursing, and multiple entries required for a medication order to appear correctly on the MAR.