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Automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs) were introduced in the 1980s to help with medication distribution, storage, security and retrieval documentation. Adoption of this technology started slowly, with only about half of hospitals using ADCs in 1999. However, by 2005, close to three-quarters of acute care facilities were utilizing ADCs, according to a 2006 survey published in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy.
At the heart of a good automated medication dispensing system is the ability to improve safety, medication availability and operations. According to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), ADCs offer a variety of benefits to an organization and to a user:
- "They can provide nurses with near total access of medications needed in patient care areas, which has been reported to decrease the delivery turnaround time from the pharmacy to the patient care unit of new medications ordered."
- "One of the most important ADC safety enhancements that has evolved over the last decade is profiled systems, which support The Joint Commission medication management standard for pharmacist review of all new orders. Profiled ADCs allows the pharmacist to review and approve medications before they are available for selection and administration by the nurse, respiratory therapist, or physician." (Note - medDISPENSE software includes patient profiles.)
- "ADCs also can ensure greater control of the charge capture of medications, support security measures, and potentially influence medication error rate."
Hospitals realize substantial operational benefits from ADCs, as well. For example, medDISPENSE customers cite improved reporting due to the system's ability to integrate with virtually any HL7-compatible system. Fully compliant with both HIPAA and ODBC, the medDISPENSE system can be used with Crystal Reports, as well as providing standard and custom reporting.
The ability to automatically capture dispersal for billing purposes has resulted in dramatic increases in charge captures for medications at some facilities. One hospital reported they had doubled their billings for medications by adding automated dispensing units in the ER.
With an affordable system, multiple ADCs can be strategically positioned throughout a larger facility and then networked together to maintain control and capture charges. For smaller facilities, a single ADC can be used for medications as well as supplies.
Other benefits can include:
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Reducing Drug Wastage
Drugs dispensed by the pharmacy and not used by the patient are considered "wasted." A 2003 Texas Department of Health study found the prevalence of drug wastage is approximately four percent of drug costs. An automated medication dispensing system can potentially reduce drug wastage in two ways:
First, medications needed for short-term conditions, such as mild pain relief and diarrhea, are dispensed in only the amount needed, rather than a full prescription that may be partially wasted if the patient's condition improves.
Second, because the system dispenses only the amount of a drug needed at one pass, switching or discontinuing a particular drug's use will not waste a full prescription.
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Patient Profile Interface
A patient profile interface displays pharmacist-approved medication orders accessed from the facility's pharmacy management software. The profile contains an overview of the patient including all approved medications for the patient, drug interactions, known allergies, times for the drug to be administered, and patient history.
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Patient Safety
The number of prescription drugs ballooned over 500 percent in the last decade. Keeping track of medications to avoid adverse drug events compounded with ever increasing patient loads is a constant issue not only affecting hospitals but extended care settings as well.
For instance, unit-dose packaging and dispensing systems enable LTC pharmacies to prepare patient-specific medication packages that are ready and easy to administer. Studies show that these systems increase resident safety by reducing errors in drug administration and are particularly critical in settings like long-term care, where most patients are taking multiple drugs.
Built-in safety checks, such as alerts about medications that are look-alike/sound-alike and potential drug interactions, support the nursing team and facilitate patient safety.
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