New Software Release Drives Down Medication Cabinet Stock Outs and Improves Pharmacy and Nursing Efficiency

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Reduced stock outs, better inventory optimization and improved nursing workflow are three of the chief benefits cited by hospitals using new software powering AcuDose-Rx® automated medication dispensing cabinets. New functionality, which will debut during the 46th annual ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting and Exhibition in New Orleans, allows pharmacists to track in real time the daily cabinet usage trends, preventing costly medication stock outs. This exclusive feature, named RightStock™, gives pharmacists far greater control over inventory management, ensuring that the medications nurses need are always available.

“With the new RightStock inventory management feature, we can dynamically adjust inventory levels to the ideal amount for each medication and cabinet,” said James Toohey, director of pharmacy at Aultman Hospital, Canton, Ohio. “The information and control we get with the system lets us better manage the amount of high-value medications stocked in each cabinet and has resulted in a 70% reduction in medication stock outs.”

The new software release also enhances cabinet workflow so nurses can more quickly and efficiently access patient medications. “Patient safety is a top priority,” said David Harms, pharmacy systems manager for Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee, Illinois. “The real-time information we get from features such as Dispense-by-Time means our nurses no longer need to rely on paper printouts that may be outdated. Only the medication orders that are due appear on screen, so there is no confusion.”

Other new safety features include exclusive functionality that integrates the AcuDose-Rx cabinet with McKesson’s bar-code medication administration solutions to display a time stamp showing when medications are dispensed and administered, supporting regulatory compliance. Smart Tab navigation organizes medications by category, allowing nurses to easily navigate the cabinet screen, to quickly find and retrieve the medications they need when they need them, allowing more time for better patient care. “The nurses love it because it’s a much cleaner, simpler process,” Harms added.

AcuDose-Rx cabinets operate on the latest version of the Connect-Rx® software, the platform that integrates McKesson’s full suite of automated medication dispensing products through a shared database. Connect-Rx gives healthcare professionals a central view of medication data, robust reporting capabilities and unique integration features.

“Hospitals are looking toward innovation to deliver both tangible patient safety and efficiency benefits,” explained Kraig McEwen, president, McKesson Automation. “We are continually working to ensure that our products anticipate customer needs, interoperate with our customers’ advanced clinical IT infrastructures, and offer unmatched durability and ease-of-use, all while keeping pace with technology changes to deliver the outcomes our customers expect.”

Software enhancements extend benefits across medication distribution chain

Other enhancements in the latest version of Connect-Rx extend to the operating room. Simplified dispense and restock scanning workflows for the Anesthesia-RxTM medication cart minimize screen interaction to reduce errors, and also provide the ability to dispense multiple medications at the same time, supporting a faster and easier workflow.

In the pharmacy, the new Connect-Rx software incorporates fast and easy reporting advances, improved order checking workflows and enhanced HIPAA compliance. Integration enhancements with McKesson Health System distribution centers via Fulfill-RxSM software streamline the ordering process and reduce stock outs during busy times, long weekends and holidays. Support for multiple package sizes also increases flexibility in use of bulk and unit dose forms of the same medication.

To learn more about ways the latest release of Connect-Rx supports the AcuDose-Rx automated medication dispensing cabinet for better medication management, visit www.mckesson.com/nomorestockouts. For more information on the full suite of medication dispensing solutions, visit www.mckesson.com/automationsolutions.

About McKesson

McKesson Corporation, currently ranked 15th on the FORTUNE 500, is a healthcare services and information technology company dedicated to making the business of healthcare run better. We partner with payers, hospitals, physician offices, pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies and others across the spectrum of care to build healthier organizations that deliver better care to patients in every setting. McKesson helps its customers improve their financial, operational, and clinical performance with solutions that include pharmaceutical and medical-surgical supply management, healthcare information technology, and business and clinical services. For more information, visit http://www.mckesson.com.



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McKesson Corporation
Yancey Casey, 404-338-2468
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