Assessing Automation

INTRODUCTION

Automated hospital supply systems are designed to dispense pharmaceuticals and supplies, while simultaneously recording and reporting supply data information to the nursing, pharmacy, and billing departments. Using an integrated system that incorporates display terminals , a server, a control center, and locked point-of-service supply towers, they provide automated storage, dispensing, tracking, and reporting of patient medications and supplies. The supply system also can be linked with the hospital's other information systems, such as patient billing, admissions, pharmacy , materials management, and clinical records.

Automated supply systems were first used in hospital pharmacies. In the early 1960s, they were adapted to replace the medicine cabinets that were used in hospital wards. In the late 1970s, with the advent of manufacturer unit-dose packaging, hospitals began using a "centralized" pharmacy approach. This approach led, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, to the introduction of equipment to automate the dispensing of medication within the pharmacy.

Unfortunately, the centralized pharmacy approach often resulted in unacceptable lag times between the medication ordering from the pharmacy and delivery to the point of use. A desire for more timely delivery of medications prompted the introduction of ward-based (decentralized) automated dispensing equipment. The concept of decentralized automation is now being applied to hospital supplies.

Today, in an effort to improve decentralization, systems employ additional controls on dispensing such as Order or Patient Profile interfaces. The Order interface accepts orders from a pharmacy system in real time, and when received, restricts nurses to dispensing only medications that have a verified Order.

MedSelect® and SupplySelect® integrate with other AmerisourceBergen products and services such as the AutoMed line of automated pharmacy solutions. We combine the world's most advanced prescription fulfillment technologies with dispensing storage systems, workflow management, and pharmacy support services to help you maximize resources and improve patient care.