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BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company, (NYSE: BDX)), headquartered in Franklin Lakes, NJ, has developed new systems to reduce medical errors, specifically medication errors (BD Rx System) and specimen errors (BD Dx System). Preliminary studies conducted by BD have shown that the BD Rx and Dx Systems could reduce medication and specimen errors by as much as two thirds.

The BD Rx and BD Dx Systems combine easy-to-use, handheld data terminals and bar code technology. The BD Dx System is currently employed at a Northeastern hospital. The hospital is also in the process of implementing the BD Rx System.

"BD is pleased to have developed technology that will support the continued efforts of health care institutions to prevent medical error," says Sam Riccitelli, BD vice president and general manager. "The company's new BD Rx and Dx Systems could significantly reduce medication and specimen errors and have a lasting impact on patient safety," he added.

The BD Rx System
The BD Rx System is designed specifically to attack errors in the administration stage of the medication process, which can also reduce errors introduced in ordering, transcribing, and dispensing. The BD Rx System allows health care providers to automatically verify the "Five Rights" of medication delivery, namely right patient, right time, right drug, right dose and right administration route. It also allows for access of critical information about medication dosage and potential drug/drug interactions before drug administration, while built-in management reporting tools track missed doses, misidentifications and other errors to aid in continuous process improvement.

The BD Dx System
The BD Dx System is designed specifically to reduce errors in the collection stage of the specimen management process by positively identifying the patient and the phlebotomist/nurse collecting the specimen. It also confirms that tests have been ordered for the correct patient and verifies correct specimen container, correct order of draw and correct time of collection. The BD Dx System then prints the correct bar code specimen label at point of collection, and links all information back to the patient.

About BD
BD manufactures and sells a broad range of medical supplies and devices and diagnostic systems for use by health professionals, medical research institutions, industry and the general public. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 1999, BD reported total revenues of $3.4 billion and net income of $276 million.