Hospital Errors
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August 10th, 2005
"New invention could eliminate hospital medication errors"
A Brunel University student, Claire Dunne, created a new invention called the “Brilliant” bracelet. The bracelet was created to match medicines against the wearer’s prescription to help avoid hospital errors.
So far, the wristband has already been tested at St. Anthony’s Hospital in the UK. The bracelet contains a sensor and microchip to scan medicines and send a visual alert whenever an incorrect drug is placed next to an electronic sensor embedded in the bracelet. When a patient first arrives at the hospital, the chip is programmed with their details and drug requirements. After the drug is placed on the wristband’s sensor, the scanner checks the electronic tags built into the medicine’s packaging to make sure it is correct for that particular patient. The nurse is informed if the correct drug has been selected by a display on the wristband’s screen.
The wristband also displays the date and time of every dose, which is recorded by the microchip contained inside. By downloading the information, the hospital computer can also store the data. After deleting the information from the chip, the wristband can be used on another patient.
Medication errors are one of the most common medical mistakes.
