Adopting digital technology for medication administration

Medication errors are a critical global health issue, causing significant harm to millions and resulting in substantial economic costs. Annually, these errors lead to about US$ 42 billion in healthcare expenses, nearly 1% of the total global health expenditure. This issue is prevalent worldwide, with more severe consequences in lower-income countries where the impact on healthy life years is greater. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes the severity of this problem and has initiated efforts to reduce severe, avoidable medication-associated harm by 50% in the coming years. This initiative focuses on improving how medicines are prescribed, distributed, and consumed and increasing patient awareness about the risks of improper medication use.

Amidst this backdrop, Bainbridge Health stands out as a pivotal player in the fight against medication errors. Founded on July 7, 2016, by Joseph Kaupp, Sam Wilson, and Sean O’Neill, the company is at the forefront of healthcare technology innovation. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Bainbridge Health was established with a clear mission to tackle the critical challenges of medication safety and management in the healthcare industry. By leveraging clinical intelligence and data analytics, the company plays a crucial role in enhancing patient safety and reducing the economic burden of medication errors on healthcare systems globally. Their work exemplifies the necessary collaborative efforts between healthcare providers, policymakers, and tech innovators to improve healthcare outcomes and patient safety.

Pain point addressed

Bainbridge Health zeroes in on a remarkably specific pain point within the intricate healthcare landscape: the management of infusion pump data, primarily in advanced healthcare systems. Infusion pumps, essential for precise medication delivery, are plagued by complexities that pose a significant risk to patient safety. Bainbridge Health’s laser-focused mission revolves around reducing medication errors linked to these pumps, a challenge that resonates deeply with healthcare providers, pharmacy staff, hospital administrators, and, most importantly, patients.

Within the healthcare value chain, the company targets the critical intersection of technology, nursing care, and pharmacy management. Nurses and physicians rely on accurate, real-time infusion pump data, while pharmacy staff require systems that ensure precise medication dosing and delivery. Hospital administrators oversee patient safety protocols and compliance with stringent standards, further underscoring the need for robust medication management solutions.

Bainbridge Health’s dedication to addressing this highly specific issue underscores its commitment to enhancing medication safety and patient outcomes within the healthcare sector.

Type of solution

Bainbridge Health’s digital solutions are designed to enhance medication safety by providing hospitals with advanced software tools for managing infusion pump data. These digital solutions enable healthcare providers to monitor and analyze medication administration in real time, identify potential errors, and take proactive measures to prevent adverse events. This software-driven approach aligns with the evolving trend in healthcare towards digital transformation and data-driven decision-making.

Type of input data leveraged

• Infusion pump data: Real-time data from infusion pumps, capturing information about medication dosage, administration rates, and delivery accuracy.
• Electronic health records (EHRs): Integration with electronic health records systems to access patient information, medical histories, and medication orders.
• Medication databases: Access to extensive medication databases containing information on drug interactions, dosages, and safety guidelines.
• Clinical protocols: Incorporation of clinical protocols and guidelines to ensure adherence to best practices in medication administration.
• Patient data: Data related to individual patients, including their medical conditions, allergies, and vital signs, to personalize medication management.
• Nurse documentation: Nurse-generated documentation on medication administration, providing insights into the nursing workflow and potential areas for improvement.
• Drug usage patterns: Analysis of historical drug usage patterns within healthcare facilities to identify trends and areas of concern.

Key technology involved

• Data analytics and machine learning: Bainbridge Health utilizes advanced data analytics and machine learning algorithms to process and analyze a vast amount of healthcare data. These technologies enable the detection of patterns, trends, and anomalies in medication administration, helping healthcare providers identify potential errors and risks in real-time.
• Artificial intelligence (AI): AI-powered solutions play a crucial role in predicting and preventing medication errors. Machine learning models are trained on historical data to recognize factors that contribute to errors, allowing for proactive intervention and decision support.
• Clinical intelligence: The company incorporates clinical intelligence into its solutions, providing healthcare professionals with evidence-based recommendations and guidelines for safe medication administration. This technology ensures that medication practices align with best clinical practices and standards.
• Data integration: Bainbridge Health excels in integrating data from various sources, including electronic health records (EHRs), infusion pump data, medication databases, and more. This seamless integration allows for a comprehensive view of patient information and medication management processes.
• Real-time monitoring: The company employs real-time monitoring technology to continuously track medication administration and infusion pump data. This immediate feedback loop enables rapid response to potential issues, reducing the likelihood of adverse events.
• Mobile and cloud solutions: Bainbridge Health offers mobile and cloud-based solutions, ensuring accessibility and scalability for healthcare providers. This technology allows for secure data storage, easy access, and remote monitoring of medication practices.

Key applications of solution

Bainbridge Health’s innovative solutions have a wide range of key applications within the healthcare sector, all of which contribute to enhancing medication safety and management.

Medication dosing accuracy and optimization

• Real-time dosing calculations: Bainbridge Health’s technology calculates medication dosages in real time, ensuring that patients receive accurate and safe doses.
• Personalized dosage: The system considers individual patient factors such as age, weight, and medical history, optimizing medication dosages for each patient.

Medication error prevention

• Early warning system: The platform acts as an early warning system, alerting healthcare providers to potential medication errors before they occur.
• Alerts and notifications: It generates alerts for deviations from prescribed medication regimens, reducing the risk of adverse events.
• Decision support: Provides decision support to healthcare professionals by offering evidence-based recommendations and guidelines to prevent errors.

Infusion pump management

• Centralized data management: Bainbridge Health offers a centralized platform for managing infusion pump data, streamlining the monitoring process.
• Data integration: Integrates infusion pump data with electronic health records (EHRs) for a comprehensive view of patient information.
• Data analytics: Utilizes data analytics to monitor infusion pump performance and detect anomalies that may indicate errors.

Medication administration workflow enhancement

• Workflow optimization: Optimizes medication administration workflows, reducing the time and effort required for healthcare providers.
• Streamlined documentation: Simplifies documentation of medication administration, ensuring accurate records.
• Enhanced collaboration: Facilitates collaboration among healthcare team members by providing a shared platform for medication management.

Implications for key stakeholders

Patients

• Patients benefit from reduced medication errors, leading to enhanced safety during their hospital stay. This translates into peace of mind, knowing that their medication is being administered accurately. Bainbridge Health’s patient engagement tools empower patients to actively participate in their medication management. They gain a better understanding of their medications and contribute to error prevention.

Healthcare providers

• Healthcare providers experience a reduction in the administrative burden of medication management. Real-time data analytics and automated alerts allow them to focus on patient care rather than manual tracking. The streamlined workflows and centralized data management improve efficiency. Collaboration among healthcare team members becomes more effective with a shared platform for medication management.

Pharmacy staff

• Pharmacy staff benefit from accurate medication dosing calculations, reducing the risk of errors during preparation. Integration with electronic health records and infusion pumps streamlines medication distribution processes, ensuring timely and accurate deliveries.

Insurers

• Insurers benefit from reduced costs associated with medication errors. Fewer errors lead to fewer hospital readmissions and complications, resulting in cost savings. Predictive analytics and risk assessment tools help insurers identify high-risk patients and take preventive measures to reduce claims.

Regulatory bodies

• Regulatory bodies can leverage data-driven insights to refine medication safety guidelines and policies. Continuous monitoring and reporting capabilities enable regulatory bodies to track compliance with medication safety standards effectively.

Current impact

• National Infusion Collaborative (NIC) growth: Bainbridge Health’s National Infusion Collaborative, established in partnership with Purdue University’s REMEDI, has rapidly grown, surpassing 300 member hospitals across the United States by the first half of 2023. This makes the NIC the largest national network of infusion practitioners in the country, emphasizing Bainbridge Health’s substantial impact on infusion therapy practices.
• Expansion of hospital network: In 2021, Bainbridge Health announced a 218% growth in its customer base, serving over 100 hospitals across the United States, including 15 free-standing pediatric facilities. This significant expansion reflects the company’s growing influence and the widespread adoption of its Med O.S.? platform for managing infusion pump data.
• Improvements in medication safety and efficiency: Bainbridge Health’s solutions have been instrumental in achieving key outcomes in medication safety and efficiency. For instance, their solutions have led to a reduction of clinically irrelevant alerts by over 70% and overrides by 60%, and a decrease in controlled substance dispensing by over 33%. They have also helped save over $400,000 annually by reducing medication waste.
• Optimization of clinical resources: The company’s technology has optimized clinician allocation, cutting the “data clerking” burden by 80% – 90%. This enhancement in efficiency has increased the ability of healthcare facilities to sustain quality and pharmacy operations initiatives.

Potential future impact

• Bainbridge Health’s potential future impact can be gleaned from their recent collaborations and strategic initiatives. One of their notable collaborations is with the ASHP (American Society of Health-System Pharmacists) Innovation Center, aimed at improving patient safety and increasing the use of standardized medication concentrations in health systems. This initiative focuses on optimizing the safety and effectiveness of medication use in various healthcare settings by standardizing concentrations for intravenous and oral liquid medications, which is a significant step in reducing medication errors, especially during care transitions. This effort can potentially lead to increased patient safety and decreased healthcare costs, thereby improving patient outcomes.
• Another significant collaboration is with Purdue University, focusing on standardizing infusion data management for the health system, medical device, and pharmaceutical industries. Through this partnership, Bainbridge Health will incorporate Purdue University’s REMEDI CatalyzeCare application into its Med O.S.? infusion management platform, forming the largest infusion network in the industry. This collaboration is set to enhance the infusion pump industry by developing advanced capabilities leveraging computing, advanced statistics, and artificial intelligence. The partnership will also contribute to clinical evidence and research, providing insights to device manufacturers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and compounders to standardize medication concentrations and dispense volumes. This collaboration is crucial for addressing supply chain constraints and improving forecasting and production planning.
• Given Bainbridge Health’s current focus on infusion pump data management and its recent strategic collaborations, it’s conceivable that the company might consider extending its reach into broader areas of medication safety and healthcare data analytics. They could potentially leverage their expertise in data management and collaboration with renowned institutions to develop more comprehensive healthcare solutions, addressing a wider range of medication safety issues and improving overall healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.

Business model

Bainbridge Health’s business-to-business (B2B) model, primarily serving healthcare providers, is founded on a robust Software as a Service (SaaS) approach. Through this model, the company offers software solutions that are instrumental in enhancing medication safety within hospitals and healthcare facilities. This subscription-based SaaS model carries distinct advantages that drive its success.

First and foremost, the SaaS model ensures a consistent and dependable stream of recurring revenue for Bainbridge Health. This reliability in revenue generation catalyzes sustainable growth and the continual enhancement of their technological offerings. It allows the company to allocate resources towards ongoing research and development, ensuring that their solutions remain at the forefront of innovation.

A key feature of Bainbridge Health’s B2B model is its commitment to delivering tailored and customized solutions. The company recognizes that each healthcare provider is unique, with its specific needs and challenges. By adapting their offerings to align precisely with the requirements of individual healthcare institutions, Bainbridge Health maximizes the impact of their solutions. This level of customization not only enhances customer satisfaction but also fosters enduring loyalty among their clientele.

Funding and key investors

Bainbridge Health has demonstrated impressive financial success, securing a total of $6.3 million in funding across five funding rounds. The company’s most recent and noteworthy achievement in securing funding came on September 29, 2022, through a Series D round. Key investors in Bainbridge Health include Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Alumni Ventures, BioAdvance, and Shahram Hejazi, who have contributed to various funding rounds supporting the company’s growth and innovation.

Relevant regulatory and compliance requirements

• HIPAA: This U.S. legislation provides data privacy and security provisions for safeguarding medical information. Any solution handling patient data must ensure compliance with HIPAA regulations to protect patient privacy.
• FDA Regulations: For medical devices and software that impact patient care, FDA regulations are critical. The FDA oversees the safety and efficacy of medical devices, including software that functions as a medical device or aids in decision-making in clinical settings.

Partnerships and collaborations

In 2022, Bainbridge Health embarked on a significant collaboration with Purdue University’s Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering, establishing one of the most comprehensive collaborations in the United States dedicated to advancing medication safety and stewardship. This partnership, known as the National Interoperability Collaborative (NIC), has set forth ambitious objectives to transform the landscape of medication management.

One of the primary goals of the NIC is to harness its exceptional network of healthcare practitioners and tap into a vast national dataset. This collective intelligence will be instrumental in driving unparalleled network benchmarking and fostering a culture of knowledge sharing. By pooling the insights and experiences of healthcare professionals across the nation, the NIC aims to set new standards for medication safety and stewardship.

This collaboration signifies a pivotal moment in the healthcare industry, where innovative solutions and expertise converge to address critical challenges. The NIC’s commitment to collaboration and data-driven advancements promises to drive positive change, ultimately enhancing patient safety and improving the overall healthcare landscape.

Testimonials and case studies

“Actionable data is what every change agent in an organization craves. We feel strongly that Bainbridge Health is the perfect partner to help us better and more efficiently utilize our medication data to improve outcomes.” Kris Young, Chief Pharmacy Officer, South Shore Health

Areas for continuous improvement

Real-time predictive analytics enhancement

• Medication safety solutions could benefit from enhancements in granularity, enabling the detection of even subtle medication safety issues with greater precision. This heightened sensitivity could offer a proactive approach to identifying potential concerns. Speed is of the essence in healthcare, and medication safety solutions could strive to deliver rapid predictive insights. The acceleration of data analysis could empower swift responses to emerging adverse events. Advanced algorithms could be developed to predict medication safety concerns at an early stage, allowing healthcare providers to intervene proactively before issues escalate.

Advanced machine learning models

• Harnessing advanced machine learning techniques, these solutions could delve deeper into the complexities of healthcare data, including patient profiles and intricate medication interactions. This could unlock new dimensions of understanding. Medication safety solutions could adopt adaptive models that continuously learn from real-world incidents, incorporating this knowledge into ongoing improvements.

References

https://www.bainbridgehealth.com

https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/bainbridge-health

Disclaimer: Please note that the synthesized opinions, content, and analysis in my posts are entirely my own and do not reflect the views of any current or past employers or institutional affiliations. These posts, based solely on publicly available information, are for informational purposes and should not be taken as professional advice. All insights and conclusions are my viewpoints and should not be considered representative of any organizations I am or have been associated with. This content is not endorsed by, nor does it represent the stance of any affiliated entity.