For Better Patient Safety, Identify and Reconcile Drugs Prescribed with Drugs Dispensed, Using Drug Images
To elaborate an old saying: A picture (drug image) is worth a thousand words (of descriptive text).And with First DataBank’s Drug Images Module, you have immediate access to over 21,000 drug image NDC’s (National Drug Codes). These are high-resolution images of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, using state-of-the-art digital photography.
Part of the Patient's Five Rights
These images can help you and your patients identify drug products that are unpackaged, unlabeled or unknown. This database enables you and other healthcare professionals to visually verify that the medication being dispensed or administered is the right one, by comparing the screen image with the actual medication. If they don’t match, you have an opportunity to reconcile the two, thus possibly avoiding a medication error.
Extensive Drug Coverage
The Drug Images database includes images of solid oral drug products, including tablets and capsules. Also included are over-the-counter products and dosage forms such as liquids, wrapped suppositories, ampules, vials, ointment tubes, patches and unit doses. These images can be viewed on a color monitor or printed in black and white or color, as an education tool for the patient.
The database can be linked to any 11-digit NDC file, including those provided by First DataBank.
Many Varied Applications
Use of drug images can:
- Assist in reducing the potential for—and costs of—medication errors, by allowing the healthcare professional to match the drug being dispensed or administered with the description of the prescribed drug, anywhere throughout the drug therapy process
- Fit into virtually any healthcare workflow
- Become part of a medication administration safety program
- Assist in patient compliance by enhancing patient education as required by Medicare COP, JCAHO and OBRA '90 regulations
- Allow the patient or caregiver to verify the medication at home, when printed on a patient drug education leaflet
- Aid healthcare professionals in identifying a patient's unpackaged, unlabeled or unknown drug products
- Assist manufacturers and repackagers in verifying products dispensed using mass fill processes; also demonstrate good manufacturing practices for the FDA