Open Forum

Greetings! 

Our organization is facing the challenge of scanning multi-dose containers (MDC) versus single-dose containers (SDC). Because we don't allow MDC into patient rooms, our process is to prepare/label the container, barcode scan in the medication preparation area, satisfy any "hardstops" in our EMR, then go into the patient room, open the Medication Administration Record, verify patient name/DOB, medication, and then administer. The underlying issue is that the administration is technically being documented before the administration and not in the patient room for MDC. We also do not have patient ID wristbands for use in our ambulatory system. My questions are:

What is your barcode scanning process?
Do you have a separate process for MDC vs. SDC?

I would appreciate any additional tips or processes your organization uses for medication barcode scanning.

Thank you!

------------------------------
Sharon Peacock, MSN-Ed., RN, NPD-BC, AMB-BC
Nursing Professional Development
Sentara Ambulatory Services Division | Charlottesville, VA
Chair AAACN Staff and Patient Education SIG
sjpeacoc@sentara.com
------------------------------

Sharon,

Our company has a Wholesale Pharmacy that we order all our clinic administered medications through and they send a sheet of peel-off labels with any multi-dose containers (our system calls the labels tadpoles). Each label has a scannable barcode, medication name, lot and expiration date. When we draw up a dose, we pull off a label to take into the room with us to scan instead of the multi-dose container. 

------------------------------
Melissa Ropella
Fairview Medical Group
Burnsville MN
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 03-30-2026 12:17
From: Sharon Peacock
Subject: Barcode Scanning of Multi-Dose Containers and Single Dose Containers

Greetings! 

Our organization is facing the challenge of scanning multi-dose containers (MDC) versus single-dose containers (SDC). Because we don't allow MDC into patient rooms, our process is to prepare/label the container, barcode scan in the medication preparation area, satisfy any "hardstops" in our EMR, then go into the patient room, open the Medication Administration Record, verify patient name/DOB, medication, and then administer. The underlying issue is that the administration is technically being documented before the administration and not in the patient room for MDC. We also do not have patient ID wristbands for use in our ambulatory system. My questions are:

What is your barcode scanning process?
Do you have a separate process for MDC vs. SDC?

I would appreciate any additional tips or processes your organization uses for medication barcode scanning.

Thank you!

------------------------------
Sharon Peacock, MSN-Ed., RN, NPD-BC, AMB-BC
Nursing Professional Development
Sentara Ambulatory Services Division | Charlottesville, VA
Chair AAACN Staff and Patient Education SIG
sjpeacoc@sentara.com
------------------------------

Sharon,

Our company has a Wholesale Pharmacy that we order all our clinic administered medications through and they send a sheet of peel-off labels with any multi-dose containers (our system calls the labels tadpoles). Each label has a scannable barcode, medication name, lot and expiration date. When we draw up a dose, we pull off a label to take into the room with us to scan instead of the multi-dose container. 

------------------------------
Melissa Ropella
Fairview Medical Group
Burnsville MN

Original Message:
Sent: 03-30-2026 12:17
From: Sharon Peacock
Subject: Barcode Scanning of Multi-Dose Containers and Single Dose Containers

Greetings! 

Our organization is facing the challenge of scanning multi-dose containers (MDC) versus single-dose containers (SDC). Because we don't allow MDC into patient rooms, our process is to prepare/label the container, barcode scan in the medication preparation area, satisfy any "hardstops" in our EMR, then go into the patient room, open the Medication Administration Record, verify patient name/DOB, medication, and then administer. The underlying issue is that the administration is technically being documented before the administration and not in the patient room for MDC. We also do not have patient ID wristbands for use in our ambulatory system. My questions are:

What is your barcode scanning process?
Do you have a separate process for MDC vs. SDC?

I would appreciate any additional tips or processes your organization uses for medication barcode scanning.

Thank you!

------------------------------
Sharon Peacock, MSN-Ed., RN, NPD-BC, AMB-BC
Nursing Professional Development
Sentara Ambulatory Services Division | Charlottesville, VA
Chair AAACN Staff and Patient Education SIG
sjpeacoc@sentara.com
------------------------------

Hi Melissa!

Does the Wholesale Pharmacy supply a 2D barcode on the label that populates the NDC, lot number, and expiration date when scanned? 

Thank you!

------------------------------
Alison Isabelle MS BSN RN
Manager of Clinic Operations
UT Southwestern Med Ctr
Dallas TX

Original Message:
Sent: 03-31-2026 09:50
From: Melissa Ropella
Subject: Barcode Scanning of Multi-Dose Containers and Single Dose Containers

Sharon,

Our company has a Wholesale Pharmacy that we order all our clinic administered medications through and they send a sheet of peel-off labels with any multi-dose containers (our system calls the labels tadpoles). Each label has a scannable barcode, medication name, lot and expiration date. When we draw up a dose, we pull off a label to take into the room with us to scan instead of the multi-dose container. 

------------------------------
Melissa Ropella
Fairview Medical Group
Burnsville MN

Original Message:
Sent: 03-30-2026 12:17
From: Sharon Peacock
Subject: Barcode Scanning of Multi-Dose Containers and Single Dose Containers

Greetings! 

Our organization is facing the challenge of scanning multi-dose containers (MDC) versus single-dose containers (SDC). Because we don't allow MDC into patient rooms, our process is to prepare/label the container, barcode scan in the medication preparation area, satisfy any "hardstops" in our EMR, then go into the patient room, open the Medication Administration Record, verify patient name/DOB, medication, and then administer. The underlying issue is that the administration is technically being documented before the administration and not in the patient room for MDC. We also do not have patient ID wristbands for use in our ambulatory system. My questions are:

What is your barcode scanning process?
Do you have a separate process for MDC vs. SDC?

I would appreciate any additional tips or processes your organization uses for medication barcode scanning.

Thank you!

------------------------------
Sharon Peacock, MSN-Ed., RN, NPD-BC, AMB-BC
Nursing Professional Development
Sentara Ambulatory Services Division | Charlottesville, VA
Chair AAACN Staff and Patient Education SIG
sjpeacoc@sentara.com
------------------------------

Greetings! 

Our organization is facing the challenge of scanning multi-dose containers (MDC) versus single-dose containers (SDC). Because we don't allow MDC into patient rooms, our process is to prepare/label the container, barcode scan in the medication preparation area, satisfy any "hardstops" in our EMR, then go into the patient room, open the Medication Administration Record, verify patient name/DOB, medication, and then administer. The underlying issue is that the administration is technically being documented before the administration and not in the patient room for MDC. We also do not have patient ID wristbands for use in our ambulatory system. My questions are:

What is your barcode scanning process?
Do you have a separate process for MDC vs. SDC?

I would appreciate any additional tips or processes your organization uses for medication barcode scanning.

Thank you!

Hi Sharon,
We have turned on a function in our EMR that allows us to first scan the medication in the med room.  The staff then draws up the medication - still in the med room and in a clean space - and labels the vial. 
Like others mentioned, we also have the printed labels with the barcode, which they will bring to the exam room with the medication.  Then they scan the label prior to medication administration. 
We thought we would just do this for MDVs but the staff like the safety component of scanning in the med room first, so we are doing it for all medications. 
The way I think about this is that the first scan accomplishes verifying the right medication, right dose, right route, and right time.  Then the second dose verifies the right patient. 

Greetings! 

Our organization is facing the challenge of scanning multi-dose containers (MDC) versus single-dose containers (SDC). Because we don't allow MDC into patient rooms, our process is to prepare/label the container, barcode scan in the medication preparation area, satisfy any "hardstops" in our EMR, then go into the patient room, open the Medication Administration Record, verify patient name/DOB, medication, and then administer. The underlying issue is that the administration is technically being documented before the administration and not in the patient room for MDC. We also do not have patient ID wristbands for use in our ambulatory system. My questions are:

What is your barcode scanning process?
Do you have a separate process for MDC vs. SDC?

I would appreciate any additional tips or processes your organization uses for medication barcode scanning.

Thank you!

Greetings! 

Our organization is facing the challenge of scanning multi-dose containers (MDC) versus single-dose containers (SDC). Because we don't allow MDC into patient rooms, our process is to prepare/label the container, barcode scan in the medication preparation area, satisfy any "hardstops" in our EMR, then go into the patient room, open the Medication Administration Record, verify patient name/DOB, medication, and then administer. The underlying issue is that the administration is technically being documented before the administration and not in the patient room for MDC. We also do not have patient ID wristbands for use in our ambulatory system. My questions are:

What is your barcode scanning process?
Do you have a separate process for MDC vs. SDC?

I would appreciate any additional tips or processes your organization uses for medication barcode scanning.

Thank you!

Hello Sharon,

Our organization follows a similar process to yours. However, the guidance given is to mark the encounter incomplete, return to patient's room open EHR to verify name , date of birth, and medication order then administer medication.  This is ongoing process to remind our team to mark incomplete for any MDVs. In addition, for those meds with a QR code, we are insturcted to use the QR code on the syringe/vial/container because it populates a little more information into the medication administration field then the regular bar code. 

Greetings! 

Our organization is facing the challenge of scanning multi-dose containers (MDC) versus single-dose containers (SDC). Because we don't allow MDC into patient rooms, our process is to prepare/label the container, barcode scan in the medication preparation area, satisfy any "hardstops" in our EMR, then go into the patient room, open the Medication Administration Record, verify patient name/DOB, medication, and then administer. The underlying issue is that the administration is technically being documented before the administration and not in the patient room for MDC. We also do not have patient ID wristbands for use in our ambulatory system. My questions are:

What is your barcode scanning process?
Do you have a separate process for MDC vs. SDC?

I would appreciate any additional tips or processes your organization uses for medication barcode scanning.

Thank you!