MAR Charting Simplified: A Guide to Automating Medication Administration Records

What Is a MAR Chart? 

The MAR is a report detailing the drugs administered to a resident by a healthcare professional or treatment center certified to dispense medicines. Not only does it track every medication given to a resident, but it also includes crucial details like allergies and medical history.

Components Of A Traditional MAR Chart

The traditional MAR chart looks like a calendar on the front and a table of information on the back. The key components of the chart include the most important information a caregiver or the person administering the meds should know about a resident. Here are the basic components:

Stakeholders’ Information

A MAR chart has all the necessary information on top of the page. The resident or patient’s name is mentioned front and center on the MAR chart. You can also find the pharmacy’s name, phone number, and address in the top left corner. Furthermore, the prescriber’s name and contact information are also mentioned against the medication’s name.

Prescription and Medication Details

A MAR chart must list all the details about the drug that has to be administered and its prescription. The chart will indicate the medication name, strength, and direction of use. Ideally, it includes an image and description (color and shape) to avoid confusion. the chart also mentions the pill’s quantity, expiration date, prescription number, the date on which it was filled, and the number of refills remaining.

Administration Log

The chart is marked with the day, day, and hours of administration. Caregivers should record an entry in this sheet when the medication has been administered. Traditionally, the person who administers the medicine writes their initials on the days and times the resident takes the medication.

Documentation

The back of the traditional MAR chart contains documentation where the medicine administrator indicates observations during the first three doses and succeeding reports after that. These details are necessary so that all healthcare providers have a record of what medication an individual receives during a period of care. 

Keeping Residents Safe with MAR

Being an essential document, the MAR plays a huge role in ensuring the safety of residents. Since the MAR contains necessary medical information, it allows for accurate resident monitoring. 

Here are just some ways the MAR is used to keep residents safe:

• Ensure Continuity of Care

The MAR provides a historical account of a resident's medication regimen, which is essential for continuity of care, especially when residents transition between different care settings or healthcare providers.

• Monitor Medication Adherence

By documenting each dose administered, the MAR helps healthcare providers monitor resident adherence to prescribed therapies and identify potential issues with compliance.

• Prevent Medication Errors

Accurate MAR documentation helps prevent medication errors, such as overdosing or missed doses, by providing a clear and accessible record of what has been administered.

• Enhanced Communication 

MARs facilitate effective communication among healthcare providers by offering a clear and consolidated view of a resident's medication history. This is particularly important during handoffs between shifts or when multiple providers are involved in a resident’s care.

• Legal and Compliance Requirements

MAR is essential for compliance with healthcare regulations and standards. They provide legal documentation of medication administration, which can be necessary in case of audits, investigations, or legal disputes.

• Resident Education

MAR can also be used to educate residents about their medications, including proper usage, potential side effects, and the importance of adherence to prescribed regimens.

Given the critical role MARs play in medication administration safety, many pharmacies often provide pre-printed MAR charts to customers and the communities they serve. However, this can be costly, as a single printed MAR sheet delivered to the pharmacy costs up to $5. Thankfully, the MAR Chart has evolved into a more efficient and cost-effective tool. 

Automating MAR Charts With eMAR Solutions

As healthcare management progresses with electronic storage and automations, the traditional MAR is now digitized for efficiency and accuracy. The digital MAR records are called electronic medication administration records (eMAR).

These records are quite beneficial to caregivers and healthcare providers. Recently, a study revealed that nurses experienced increased transparency with eMAR compared to traditional charts. 

eMAR software systems have become integral to medication management operations, allowing care workers to record the details of any medication given to residents electronically. In the last decade, these systems have become accessible on computers, laptops, and even smartphones. 

Benefits Of eMAR For Care Communities

Over time, the advantage of an eMAR has become more apparent. Here are some crucial improvements that eMARs have brought to care communities:

Improved Accuracy

• Reduces Human Errors: eMAR systems minimize the risk of manual errors in medication administration by automating documentation and providing real-time data.
• Precise Records: eMARs help ensure accurate dosage, timing, and medication details, reducing the likelihood of mistakes in resident treatment.

Enhanced Efficiency

• Streamlined Processes: eMAR systems automate repetitive tasks such as recordkeeping and medication tracking, allowing healthcare providers to focus more on resident care.
• Faster Access: Providers with an eMAR system enjoy quick access to medication records and resident data, improving response times in administering medications and adjusting treatments.

Real-Time Monitoring and Alerts

• Proactive Alerts: Automatic alerts and reminders for upcoming doses, missed medications, or potential drug interactions enhance adherence and resident safety.
• Immediate Updates: eMAR systems offer real-time monitoring of medication administration, allowing for immediate interventions if issues arise.

Optimized Resident Care

• Simplify note-taking: eMAR allows care providers to add to or access the necessary information about a resident’s care, from recent blood pressure readings to monitoring complex therapy results and other details. 
• Better Care: When healthcare providers have real-time insights into a resident’s medical state, they can focus on providing more precise and effective care. 

Regulatory Compliance

• Automated Documentation: eMAR helps facilitate compliance with healthcare regulations and standards by automatically maintaining thorough, accurate, and up-to-date records.
• Audit Trails: Comprehensive audit trails and reporting features simplify the process of compliance verification and audits.

The adoption of eMAR systems represents a significant shift in healthcare management, highlighting the industry's move towards greater efficiency, transparency, and resident safety. This is why companies such as DosePacker continue innovating solutions to streamline medication administration, reduce errors, and improve overall resident care. 

Optimized MAR Charting With CareCommunityOS

As a leading innovator in medication management and pharmacy solutions, DosePacker delivers cutting-edge services and technology that streamline medication organization, ensure adherence, and monitor medication administration with eMAR.

CareCommunityOS is a platform that streamlines workflows by bringing together care coordination, resident engagement, and data analytics. Designed for assisted living, residential care for the elderly, long-term care, and skilled nursing communities, this versatile platform improves the accuracy and efficiency of medication management.

Here’s how CareCommunityOS helps optimize medication administration:

1. Accurate and Real-Time Documentation: Ensures that medication administration is recorded instantly, reducing the risk of errors and ensuring that all records are current.
2. Customizable Workflows: Allows care providers to tailor eMAR processes to fit the specific needs of their community, improving efficiency and ensuring consistency in medication management.
3. Integrated Alerts and Reminders: Timely notifications help caregivers stay on top of medication schedules, reducing the likelihood of missed or delayed doses.
4. Secure Data Storage: CareCommunityOS offers cloud-based storage that protects sensitive resident information while ensuring it is always accessible to authorized personnel.
5. Verification of Administered Drugs: Our software stores the pictures of the pills administered and the caregiver conducting the med pass through our smart vision system. This automatically updates the MAR chart in CareCommunityOS.

Through these features, CareCommunityOS streamlines medication administration with other healthcare services. It also enhances overall care quality, making it a vital tool for any healthcare provider committed to delivering safe and effective care.

Experience The Future Of Medication Management

The shift from traditional MAR to eMAR simplifies medication administration and reinforces the commitment to accuracy and efficiency in resident care.

Beyond charting, tools like MyDoses and our multi-dose compliance packaging can help healthcare providers leverage real-time data and automation, ensuring higher standards for safety, transparency, and adherence.

Embrace these advanced solutions and transform the medication management landscape with DosePacker Pharmacy Solution’s Medication Management Solutions. Contact us to take your medication management to the next level of efficiency, compliance, and automation.