Pharmacy automation is a new way to control patient safety and ensure that accurate dosing is followed when providing medication. Hospitals and pharmacies review a multitude of options for lower the risk of errors and placing patients at risk. A major issue with dispensing medications is contamination. Reviewing the 4 clear benefits of pharmacy automation shows why hospitals and pharmacies protect patients and lower risks.
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Managing Customer Prescriptions
Managing customer prescriptions helps the pharmacy remain lucrative and offer fast service to customers. The automated system allows patients to enter the prescription number and fill a current prescription on the same day. Pharmacies don’t have to address higher than average calls just to fill existing prescriptions. Automation allows the pharmacy techs to address concerns and answer questions for customers who are present in the store. Pharmacies that aren’t using the pharmacy dispensing systems can review the integrations and explore the benefits provided.
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Preventing Medication Shortages
Preventing medication shortages helps the pharmacy serve hospitals and local patients more effectively. The systems evaluate the current supply of medications and start orders for medication that is low in supply. Automated orders prevent the pharmacy from running out of medications and facing a crisis. Pharmacies that need medications faster often turn to outsourcers that require higher than average costs that lead to a higher price for patients and medical facilities that use the pharmacy to fill prescriptions. A more proactive solution keeps the products in an adequate supply and prevents shortages that prove costly for everyone.
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Lowering the Cost Per Dose for Patients
Lowering the cost per dose for patients helps patients avoid out of pocket costs and improves the business relationship between the pharmacy and the hospital. A higher than average cost per dose occurs when pharmacies and hospitals order from outsourcers. The automated system prevents the need for a middle man and prevents sudden increases in the cost of medication. It is deals with outsourcers that increase the cost per dose for most pharmacies, and in turn, patients see excessive costs for medications they need every month.
Automation also provides medications that don’t lead to waste. For example, the new systems allow patients to reuse vials of medications without the risk of contamination. Ultimately, the integrations lower the risk of waste by allowing the patient to use the whole vial and get all doses instead of paying more for separate vials.
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Heightened Safety for Patients
Heightened safety for patients is possible when using pharmacy automation. The automated system doesn’t cause drug errors and performs the same function at all times. For example, some patients use automated tools that dispense their medication at regular intervals, such as an insulin pump. The option doesn’t require the patient to do anything beyond inserting the syringe. The system monitors blood glucose levels on a regular basis and dispenses insulin when the patient’s glucose levels are too high or low. The automated systems not only offer convenience, but the systems might save lives.
Pharmacy automation improves compliance with federal regulations and lowers risks to patients. It increases access for hospitals and pharmacies to automated tools and products that are helpful to patients and prevent dosing errors. The systems use automation to package prescriptions and prevent human error. Pharmacies that evaluate the benefits of automation find better solutions for patients and stop life-threatening events.