Hospitals across Canada are leading the way in finding new and creative ways to improve the level of healthcare in this country. One such hospital is Providence Healthcare, who in November became the first Canadian hospital to adopt the Beacon Inventory Management System from TCGRx, a new automatic medication dispenser at its on-site retail pharmacy.
Beacon Inventory Management System
The system was chosen because it offers fully automated medication inventory management for improving patient safety and efficiency. A touch-screen display and a cordless scanner are used to locate medication through the use of light activation technology.
Bright LEDs find the right drawer for picking or stocking medications and numeric displays show the correct row and slot position within the storage area. Pharmacy staff use bar code technology to scan each order, making sure the right patient is dispensed the correct medication every time.
Providence Healthcare
Serving the people of Toronto’s east end, Providence Hospital offers inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation to adults of all ages, as well as palliative care, and is an active community partner and resource for the area.
In addition, Providence regularly holds clinics to improve recovery and health, provide caregiver support, an adult day program for dementia patients and long-term care for 288 residents. The retail pharmacy supports the organization’s 8,000 patients and their families as well as Providence’s 1,400 staff and volunteers.
The new medication dispensing system lets the hospital develop the ideal inventory for their customers by tracking what and how often they are dispensing, and what is expiring on its shelves, giving pharmacy staff a better idea of what they can keep in stock. Moreover, it helps to maximize the limited space they work in through high-density storage.
Providence Hospital’s new Beacon Inventory Management System helps improve inventory control, accuracy in dispensing, and the efficiency of its workflow. It also reduces the likelihood of human error in terms of medicine dispensary.
Source: Hospital News
