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© 2005 University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Department of Pharmaceutical Care

Pharmacy Automation


Acute Care Patients

I.      Point of Care Medication Dispensing Devices

Pyxis Medstation

Pyxis Medstaton 2000 Profileñ dispensing devices are present on all inpatient care units. These point of care dispensing cabinets interface with the Pharmacy computer system, allowing for more medications than in a  traditional floorstock system to be stocked.  The majority of medications cannot be accessed by nursing personnel until the physician order has been reviewed and verified by the pharmacist. Other advantages of the system are reduced time spent by nursing personnel inventorying controlled substances, more efficient and timely re-supply of medications on the patient care unit, increased medication security and controlled substance accountability, and quick access to first doses for stat medication orders.

A bar code restocking verification system (Par-X ñ ) is also utilized to add another layer of safety to the automated dispensing system. Bar code scanning devices are used within the pharmacy to ensure the correct item is removed from the stock shelves at which time a bar coded label is generated. When the items are delivered to the patient care unit, another bar code scanning device is used to ensure the medication is added to the correct location within the Medstation.

Pharmacy Technician using bar code scanning device at medstation

II.      Controlled Substance Dispensing/Tracking System

Pharmacy Technician using CII-Safe-NV system

The CII-Safe-NVñ system is utilized in the Central Pharmacy area. This system of hardware and software is designed to increase the accuracy and accountability of controlled substance transactions through the use of system access security controls, bar codes, and integration with the Pyxis Medstation controlled substance replenishment process. System software also enables a number of management reports to be generated including proactive diversion reporting.

III.    Centralized Robotic Dispensing Device.

 

Homerus robotic device

A centralized robotic dispensing device (Homerusñ) is utilized by UIHC to fill patient specific bins for the 24 hour cart fill. The center section of the robot can store up to 15,800 unit dose packaged medications with bar code identification on the labeling. The system is multi-functional with the ability to individually package and store medications from bulk supplies, unload the medications into 24-hour patient medication bins and place back into storage medications that are returned following patient discharge.

Besides automating a number of processes which increases the efficiency of medication distribution for inpatients, the system also significantly increases the safety of the medication distribution process through the use of bar code identification on the medication packaging.

Ambulatory Care Patients

Script-Pro device used to fill prescriptions in Ambulatory Care Pharmacies

The Ambulatory Care Pharmacies utilize state-of-the-art automation to process prescriptions with accuracy and efficiency. Currently, UI Hospitals and Clinics deploys two robots that prepare prescriptions to assist pharmacists in dispensing outpatient prescriptions. The ScriptPro SP200 Robotic Prescription Dispensing System delivers filled and labeled vials to the pharmacist for final approval. The system utilizes bar code technology throughout the various filling and checking steps for accuracy and quality control. Nearly 200 different tablet and capsule products are housed in SP200, each product in its own universal dispensing cell. The prescription vial the patient receives is labeled by SP200 with all required label components including instructions typed in by pharmacy staff. Automation improves the efficiency of prescription processing and allows pharmacists to focus on providing patients with education on their medication and working with prescribers on improving the selection and use of medications.


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Last modification date:  11/06/2005 09:44:22 AM