Easy access to the right tools and medications is crucial in healthcare, especially in emergency procedures. To ensure a high level of optimization when it comes to patient care, hospitals and medical facilities are constantly seeking ways to improve and optimize access to the right tools and resources. On top of the unpredictability of certain medical procedures in hospitals, issues can also arise when dealing with stock shortages or disruptions in the supply chain. Therefore, modern distribution systems are needed more than ever to overcome these challenges and increase the efficiency of patient care.
Automated dispensing cabinets are an important component of medication distribution systems in hospitals and pharmacies. These cabinets offer a wide range of benefits, such as improved inventory processes and decreased medication turnaround time. Moreover, it helps staff prioritize patient care and reduce administrative tasks. Usually, the process of monitoring medication turnaround time in inpatient settings allows hospitals to measure the impact of their IT systems in patient care.
Digital processes for medication ordering and dispensing are more efficient than paper-based systems. Prescriptions, for example, are instantly delivered to the pharmacy, are easier to read, and are more legible to the pharmacist, reducing the need for clarification phone calls to the provider.
The standard inventory values in automated dispensing cabinets used in pharmacies and hospitals are calculated based on the average dispenses per day and the desired stock period. The system that ensures the entire replenishment and dispensing process should also ensure that there are no stockouts. However, sometimes the actual medication usage exceeds the average utilization, resulting in stockouts, which leads to disruption in the workflow. Avoiding stockouts can be a significant challenge, as well as the increase in the number of automated dispensing cabinets installed in a certain facility.
To overcome these challenges is the implementation of advanced inventory management systems in automated dispensing cabinets. At SABS, we’re working with providers of automated dispensing cabinets and ensure the controlled, logged, and regulatory storage of medication and medical equipment, integration with public/private 3rd party services and devices, and the entire medication management system, from an infrastructure point of view.
