Smart phones, smart lives: Magnifier applications to prevent drug errors.

Sir,

We read the article, “Magnification to avoid medication errors” with interest.[1] However, we believe there is a risk of misplacement or damage to the magnifying glass with usage.

We may not be exaggerating if we claim that most professionals nowadays own at least one smart phone. Smart phones have become an integral part of our lives (present within reach irrespective of our location). Even the recently released guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation by the American Heart Association advocate the use of mobile phones for rapid access for emergency medical care.[2]

We suggest clinicians to install the freely available application on “magnifying lens and microscope” (e.g., Cozy Magnifier and Microscope: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hantor.CozyMagandhl=en) for smart phones. This is not to undermine the importance of the physical availability of magnifying glass at all locations, but to compliment it in enhancing the chances that the drug labels are accurately read at all times.

Our online search for available free applications on magnifiers resulted in multiple applications with similar effects. Further, some of the smart phones were found to have integrated magnifiers in them. After going through many options, we felt the best would be to install the magnifier application that has integrated light source option as this enables reading of the labels clearly even in dark surroundings. Safe practice of anaesthesia involves storing the ampoules and vials that were used until the procedure is over, and the patient has safely been moved out of the theatre. The magnifier application in smart phones would be useful in this regard as it allows us to photo capture the vial or ampoule label, which enables storing the data such as manufacturing date, expiry date and batch number printed on the label.

However, doctors and nurses should have the inclination to use these regularly; only then, these measures can translate into enhanced patient safety.