Vertical Carousel Pharmacy Automation Systems Sets the Stage For More Efficient Patient Care
The application of automated storage and retrieval systems in pharmacy operations, with specifically integrated inventory management and control software and vertical carousel technology, offers hospitals, long term care and acute care facilities, the advantages of improved dispensing efficiency, a reduction in the potential for human errors, and optimal inventory management. "Automation provides a new level of inventory control for pharmacies, and positions them for bedside bar code scanning.
Vertical storage and retrieval systems, such as Sapient Avenger Vertical Carousels, are enclosed storage devices designed with rotating shelves that move up or down in response to operator commands. Stored items are delivered to an ergonomically positioned window for easy removal. Vertical carousels take advantage of unused overhead space to recover 60 to 85 percent of the floor space typically required by shelving and drawer systems, and often decrease total pharmacy storage space by 30 to 50 percent. The floor space recovered with the installation of vertical storage and retrieval systems can often be re-allocated from cost-associated functions of inventory to value-increasing operations.
Improved space utilization can also extend the useful life of existing facilities, eliminating the need for expensive square footage expansion to meet growth requirements. With their vertical design, these systems can be used to link multiple operations located on different floors, further reducing the amount of space required for storage and retrieval activities while improving workflow.
Conventional static storage systems like shelving require technicians to spend up to 70% of their time traveling aisles searching for items. Vertical automated storage and retrieval systems deliver items automatically to the operator, eliminating wasted walk and search time, reducing time-on-task and the number of staff necessary to fill orders. The access area of vertical systems is ergonomically designed to present stored items at an ideal height for picking, usually about waist high. Typically, a technician's walk and search time is reversed from that of conventional systems to 70% picking and only 30% dwell time. In many applications, this reversal of walk and search time can reduce labor requirements by up to 66%. Even with a smaller workforce, productivity can increase by more than 2.5 times, on average, in typical pharmacy applications.
With the addition of position indicators, information displays, bar code scanning devices, stocking and picking accuracy can improve to 99.99% while throughput can improve up to 500%. Redundant or non-essential handling can be reduced with vertical systems. Throughput improves, and the time saved results in less operating cost and improved patient care. Since vertical systems are totally enclosed and lockable, they protect products from external hazards and reduce product damage and pilfering. Because of this, inventories can often be reduced.
Better Inventory Control, More Cost Effective Patient Care
In these integrated systems, dedicated pharmacy inventory management and control software, such as AutoPharm3 from Talyst, gives pharmacies the ability to easily store, track and dispense medications, and enables barcode-driven pharmacist checks for improved patient safety and easier, more accurate recordkeeping and accountability. These systems can be integrated with ERP software to provide precise inventory management. More detailed and precise inventory management adds efficiency and security to pharmaceutical dispensing operations by:
Automatically tracking and documenting storage and retrieval activities.
Comparing inventory stock levels to par levels to facilitate accurate and timely restocks.
Automating receiving and put-away functions.
Recognizing priority orders with movement to the head of the line.
Automation of wholesale ordering to eliminate the need to walk the shelves.
Improved response time and accuracy for STAT and first dose orders.
Recalling medications and tracking lot numbers and expiration dates.
Reducing the time required for ADU replenishment and cart fills.
. "Using AutoPharm3 software, hospital pharmacies can set up a perpetual inventory tracking system that keeps technicians informed in real time of inventory status, not just in the main pharmacy, but in remote stock locations as well." Tighter inventory control allows pharmacists to better project medication demand and be better prepared for drug shortages.
Pharmacy automation systems can have a significant impact on medication storage and dispensing operations, and in the process can be the foundation for more efficient patient care. In today's unsettled health care market, more efficient care can go a long way to boosting bottom line performance.
06
29 сен 2024
