Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to install advanced Automated Drug Management System
Buchs/Aarau March 21, 2005 Cedars-Sinai Medical Center of Los Angeles, Calif., will install an automated system for the packaging, storage and dispensing of unit dose, bar coded medications in its main pharmacy. The PillPick® system, as it is named, is built by Swisslog, a leading producer of pharmacy automation systems. PillPick automates the packaging, storage and dispensing of tablets, capsules, injectables, cups and syringes. The system enhances patient safety in the hospital because all medications are packaged into bar coded unit doses in preparation for bedside verification, as well as reducing the number of steps involved in the manual dispensing process.
Once drug orders are approved, the robotic system automatically selects and packages medications for patients. Each medication dose is sealed in a package with a bar code and properly labeled. The high-density pharmacy robot can hold up to 44,400 unit doses. When requested, the appropriate packages can then be assembled into a unique 24-hour patient specific PickRing® for dispensing. PickRings can be assembled in chronological order of administering according to administration time. A customizable label on each PickRing contains ring-specific information such as the patient’s identification, room number, medications and administration times.
"We evaluated available technologies and selected PillPick based on its capabilities to further enhance the high quality of our pharmacy by providing orals, injectables and unit dose liquids in unit dose, bar code ready packaging," said Rita Shane, Director of Pharmacy Services at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Under the terms of the agreement, Swisslog will furnish Cedars-Sinai with a pharmacist for on-site training and coordination in the proper procedures and application of the system. In addition, Swisslog will provide complete technical support. The PillPick system should be installed and fully operational at Cedars-Sinai this year.
Financial Calendar:
May 18, 2005: Annual General Meeting
August 23, 2005: Swisslog half year figures 2005
Contact:
Swisslog Management AG
Nicole Schöwel
Head Corporate Communications
Tel.:+41 (0) 628 37 95 36
Fax:+41 (0) 628 37 95 55
E-Mail:nicole.schowel@swisslog.com
Web:www.swisslog.com
About Cedars-Sinai
Cedars-Sinai is one of the largest nonprofit academic medical centers in the Western United States. For the fifth straight two-year period, it has been named Southern California’s gold standard in health care in an independent survey. Cedars-Sinai is internationally renowned for its diagnostic and treatment capabilities and its broad spectrum of programs and services, as well as breakthroughs in biomedical research and superlative medical education. It ranks among the top 10 non-university hospitals in the nation for its research activities.
About Swisslog
Swisslog is a global provider of integrated logistic solutions for warehouses, distribution centers and hospitals.
The comprehensive portfolio ranges from building complex warehouses and distribution centres including Swisslog's software, in-house logistics solutions for hospitals as well as software and consulting services in the field of supply chain management. Swisslog's solutions optimize the customer's production, logistics and distribution processes in order to increase their flexibility, responsiveness and quality of service, while minimizing logistics costs.
With years of experience in the development and implementation of integrated logistics solutions, Swisslog provides the expertise that customers in more than 50 countries around the world rely on. Headquartered in Buchs/Aarau, Switzerland, Swisslog currently employs around 1 850 staff in 23 countries worldwide. The group's parent company, Swisslog Holding AG, is listed on SWX Swiss Exchange (security number: 1232462, Telekurs: SLOG, Reuters: SLOG.S). For more information, visit: www.swisslog.com.