Over 100 hospitals in New Jersey intend to implement bar code technology to prevent medication errors. A recent survey of the state's hospitals found that a few had implemented bar code technology and about half were "actively looking" to assess or install a system. From the Gloucester County Times:

[Bar code] technology is being integrated into the state's 113 hospitals, according to Aline Holmes, New Jersey Hospital Association director of quality institutes. With healthcare versions of bar-coding technology, patient wristbands encoded with prescribed treatments must pass through successful "wanding" before drugs can be administered.

"The computer system behind the whole thing says, this is the right patient at the right time at the right dosage," Holmes said, noting the new technology requires hospitals to evaluate nurse and pharmacist procedures. "If you don't look at the whole process … you have more confusion."

In its May 3 issue, Nursing Spectrum said bar-coding has been shown to reduce medication mistakes by as much as 87 percent because of extra checks put in place.