Omnicell is pushing interoperability with pharmacy information systems. Interesting stuff.
Check out the demonstration video below. I love the “vending machine” style dispensing idea. It’s something I’ve been waiting to see for a few years now.
Omnicell is pushing interoperability with pharmacy information systems. Interesting stuff.
Check out the demonstration video below. I love the “vending machine” style dispensing idea. It’s something I’ve been waiting to see for a few years now.
I spent some time recently speaking with the director of pharmacy (DOP) from a large acute care facility about operations and various dispensing models. In this particular instance, the hospital utilizes a cartfill model, decentralized pharmacists in satellites to handle first doses, batched IV’s and automated dispensing cabinets for pain meds and other “PRN†medications.
At one point the conversation drifted toward a discussion of using a cartless dispensing model. The DOP wasn’t a fan. The reason cited was a fear that utilizing automated dispensing cabinets in a cartless model would create a workflow logjam in the pharmacy as the entire day would be dedicated to “massive ADC [automated dispensing cabinet] fillsâ€. I understand the thought process, but have found through experience that this simply isn’t true. In a well-constructed workflow a cartless model is quite efficient.
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ISMP.org: “More than 80% of US hospitals have implemented automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs) as an important part of their drug distribution system, making the evaluation of practices surrounding this technology an essential step in ensuring patient safety. To help meet healthcare organizations’ growing need for assistance in this area, ISMP has introduced the first Medication Safety Self Assessment for Automated Dispensing Cabinets. The assessment contains 12 core elements that support the safe use of ADCs, which are based on guidelines developed by a national forum convened by ISMP comprising practitioners and vendors with expertise in the safe use of ADCs.** Many of the core elements represent system improvements and safeguards that ISMP has recommended in response to analysis of medication errors and problems identified during onsite ISMP consultations with hospitals. ” – ISMP offers some great resources and their self assessments are are a good way to see exactly where you stand against their “standards”. I would encourage every acute care facility using ADCs to complete the survey and submit their data to ISMP, confidentially of course.
Cardinalhealth.com: “The findings of this analysis demonstrated that in a decentralized medication distribution model, as the percentage of medications in an automated dispensing cabinet (ADC) is increased, there is a direct correlation with:
This is no surprise as many leaders in the pharmacy world have been trying to move to a decentralized distribution model for years. The biggest roadblock thus far has been cost and lack of automation. As automation improves and becomes more available and less costly, the decentralized scenario becomes more and more likely.