Android-based smartphone application simulation and systematic design to reduce medication administration error in prehospital emergency care.

Since 1999 when the report To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System was released, medical errors have come into focus (Kohn, 2000). In an effort to reduce medication administration errors in prehospital emergency care, an android-based smartphone application simulation was created. The app has components including QR barcode scanning, text to speech for medication cross-checking, weight-based medication dose calculations, and time stamped medication data wirelessly transferring to a database in real-time. Color standard identification was implemented, aiding to a designed systematic process for patient treatment to reduce medication errors. Direct observation was performed of emergency patient calls with Richmond Ambulance Authority’s providers for a preliminary assessment. Device testing was assessed with emergency medical interns and functionally tested in different light environments. Results showed how similar different pharmaceutical vendors created medication labeling and that 58.3% of medical experts would say this device served to reduce medication administration errors