WAL-MART SUPERCENTER SUPPORTS
NORTH COUNTRY HEALTH SERVICES FOUNDATION’S
CURRENT PROJECT, EXCELLENCE IN HEALTHCARE

       BEMIDJI, MN—The Bemidji WalMart Supercenter recently donated $1,000 to the North Country Health Services Foundation’s current project, Excellence in Healthcare. The donation supports new Bedside Medication Verification (BMV) system at North Country Regional Hospital. BMV technology is one component of the Foundation project as well as an important patient safety initiative throughout North Country Health Services.
       Scanning devices will be used at the bedside to help ensure patients receive the proper medication. The BMV system works like this: As patients check in, they are given an ID wristband with their own personal bar code linked to their computerized medical records. After review for allergies, interactions, duplicate therapy, and dosage errors, clinical pharmacists enter the doctor’s medication orders into the hospital computer system. The orders then appear on the patient’s drug profile.
       Whenever a medication needs to be administered, the nurse waves a handheld scanner over the ID bracelet to verify the patient’s identity. It also links to their personal medication profile. The drugs, which have their own bar codes, are scanned as well to confirm that the patient is receiving the right dose of the right medication at the right time.
       Pictured in the photo are (back row, l-r): Penny Echternach, North Country Health Services Foundation Executive Director; Danielle Grunz, Wal-Mart Supercenter Co-Manager; Darrel Johnson, WalMart Supercenter Manager; and Wal-Mart Supercenter staff attending the traditional morning meeting.
       Other items in the Excellence in Healthcare package include: GeneXpert System lab equipment, 12 room renovations, Same Day Surgery TV’s, an indoor and outdoor healing garden, and spoken menu technology.  Anyone interested in supporting the project may do so by contacting the North Country Health Services Foundation at 218-333-5515.