SOP: eMAR Downtime Procedure

How to safely administer and document medications when the eMAR system is unavailable.

Trigger

eMAR login failures, system outage, or local network loss lasting more than 10 minutes.

Steps

1. Notify charge nurse and log outage start time.
2. Switch to paper MAR: retrieve from Downtime Binder.
3. Double-check the Five Rights before each med pass.
4. Record doses on paper MAR; initial each line.
5. Once restored, reconcile entries in eMAR within 24 hours; attach scanned pages.

Checklist

• Downtime start/stop time recorded
• Provider/family notified if clinically indicated
• Reconciliation completed and scanned

Download: Paper MAR Template (PDF)

Related Articles

• SOP: eMAR Troubleshooting Guide
• SOP: Controlled Substance Count & Discrepancy