Case Study XL Systems For Today's Leaders

Sample Solution

Good morning, everyone. Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today to discuss the failure of the computerized medication administration record (MAR) project.

As you know, the MAR is a chart of all of the medications administered to a patient by a hospital. The goal of the MAR project was to computerize the MAR in order to improve patient safety and efficiency.

Unfortunately, the project failed. The computerized MAR was launched and immediately met with resistance from nurses and pharmacists. By 10:00 a.m., the system was down and the project was suspended.

Full Answer Section

I've assembled this presentation to discuss the reasons for the MAR project's failure and the structural changes that are needed to overcome the barriers to change and implement a successful MAR system in the future.

Why did the MAR project fail?

There are a number of factors that contributed to the failure of the MAR project. These include:

• Lack of user involvement: The project team did not adequately involve nurses and pharmacists in the design and development of the MAR system. As a result, the system did not meet the needs of the users and was not user-friendly.
• Technical problems: The MAR system was not properly tested before it was launched. As a result, there were a number of technical problems that caused the system to crash.
• Communication problems: There was a lack of communication between the project team and the users. This led to misunderstandings and mistrust, which further contributed to the failure of the project.

Why were the nurses resisting the MAR project?

There are a number of reasons why nurses were resisting the MAR project. These include:

• Fear of change: Nurses are naturally resistant to change, especially when it comes to something as important as patient safety.
• Concerns about patient safety: Nurses were concerned that the MAR system would lead to medication errors.
• Lack of training: Nurses did not receive adequate training on how to use the MAR system.
• Workload concerns: Nurses were concerned that the MAR system would add to their workload.

How to overcome the barriers to change

There are a number of techniques that can be used to overcome the barriers to change and implement a successful MAR system. These include:

• User involvement: The project team must adequately involve nurses and pharmacists in the design and development of the MAR system. This will help to ensure that the system meets the needs of the users and is user-friendly.
• Testing: The MAR system must be thoroughly tested before it is launched. This will help to identify and fix any technical problems.
• Communication: There must be clear and open communication between the project team and the users. This will help to build trust and understanding and reduce resistance to change.
• Training: Nurses must receive adequate training on how to use the MAR system. This will help to ensure that they are comfortable with the system and can use it safely.
• Pilot testing: The MAR system should be pilot tested in a small group of nurses before it is rolled out to the entire hospital. This will help to identify any problems that need to be addressed before the system is used by all nurses.

Conclusion

The failure of the MAR project was a setback, but it is not the end of the road. By addressing the factors that contributed to the failure and implementing the techniques outlined above, we can overcome the barriers to change and successfully implement a MAR system that improves patient safety and efficiency.

Thank you for your time. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.

Additional thoughts

In addition to the techniques mentioned above, it is also important to provide nurses with the resources they need to be successful with the MAR system. This includes providing them with access to technical support, as well as time and resources to learn how to use the system.

It is also important to create a culture of patient safety within the hospital. This means that everyone, from nurses and pharmacists to administrators, must be committed to preventing medication errors.

By taking these steps, we can ensure that the MAR system is a success and that it helps to improve patient safety.