As noted in PP&P’s State of Pharmacy Automation issue, automated medication tracking systems are growing in popularity. While the current cohort of users is small at just 14%, the vast majority of these users give strong ratings to their systems and most plan to expand their usage. Activity is projected to be brisk in this marketplace, as 40% of those without a system in place plan to adopt one over the next few years. Our Buyer’s Guide details some of the available medication tracking options.

Manually restocking pharmacy kits, trays, ADCs, and shelved inventory is tedious, time-consuming, and error-prone. Kit Check helps pharmacists improve operational efficiency, patient safety, and medication visibility throughout the hospital. More than 300 hospitals have implemented a Kit Check RFID and cloud-based solution to track millions of medications annually.

Kit Check customers start by purchasing pre-tagged inventory or tagging their existing inventory. Tagged inventory is placed into kits, trays, or ADC liners and then scanned. The system instantly tells the pharmacist or technician if there are any missing, incorrect, or expired items in the kit. Recalls and drug shortages are effectively managed, thus pharmacists spend less time on manual administrative tasks. The solution can be implemented quickly with no IT involvement required.

From Kit Check

The Intelliguard Linked Visibility Inventory System (LVIS) is a medication and narcotics inventory solution that combines secure in-room storage and access with RFID-enabled automated data collection. An LVIS station in each operating room (OR) provides RFID-equipped drawers to securely store medications and narcotics; inventory automatically updates in real time when a drawer is closed, with no manual input required. Pharmacy teams have real-time visibility to accurate inventory data in every room at all times, which also enables quick, simple access for anesthesiologists, ensuring the correct medications are available as needed.

From Intelliguard

Swisslog’s Delivery Manager is a tracking application that provides a single point of control, accountability, and traceability throughout the entire medication delivery process. Transcendent of any single hospital department, the service combines technology and best practice workflow to track materials throughout the hospital with complete visibility of all order details via kiosk screens, including status, location, and delivery method. For automated transport, the Swisslog pneumatic tube system communicates directly to Delivery Manager software through RFID technology, instantly updating the status of any order being sent through the tubes. The system supports flexible transport methods, accommodating multiple types of transport, including manual and automated delivery.

From Swisslog