David Wheeler RE: Barcoding partial doses

We are presently going down the path of bedside bar coding. We are also an institution that unit doses everything that goes out of the pharmacy. If a dose calls for a half tablet, we package a half tablet. I am struggling with whether to eliminate this practice and begin sending whole tablets. Our current system will warn the end user that a partial dose will need to be given when the medications is scanned. The only other option we have considered is building half tablet entries in our system which will then allow a unique identifier as a barcode. We are fearful of using the same identifier as the whole tablet since the warning will state to use a partial dose. Would a nurse then potentially use half of a half tablet?
What are others doing in these situations. Are you sending half tablets prepacked or whole tablets and allowing the system to warn the end user? If you are packaging half tablets, are you giving it a unique identifier?

David Wheeler
Operations/Technology Director, Pharmacy Services
Moses Cone Health System
Voice (336) 832-8108 Fax (336)832-7198
Pager 319-2179
DAVID.WHEELER@mosescone.com