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Navy Hospital 'Hires' Robotic Pharmacists
Story Number: NNS030613-01
Release Date: 6/13/2003 7:17:00 AM
By Operations Specialist 2nd Class Wendy Kahn, National Naval Medical Center Public Affairs
BETHESDA, Md. (NNS) -- National Naval Medical Center’s (NNMC) pharmacy has implemented an automated system for processing prescriptions, doubling productivity and improving patient safety.
This new technology guides the pharmacist or corpsman at each step in the prescription filling process to minimize human intervention and reduce errors.
“NNMC became the prototype for the robotic system,” says Lt. Philip Siebigteroth, staff pharmacist and division officer. “Before acquiring the system, pharmacists and corpsmen were filling between 500 to 600 prescriptions a day. The output has nearly doubled under the new system.”
The automated system is more efficient, because all prescriptions have bar code labels, according to Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Jeannine Aubin, leading petty officer of the robotic automation refill area. She says the chance of mistakes occurring with the system is significantly reduced.
However, robotic automation is just one element of a new way to prepare prescriptions. According to Cmdr. William Blanche, assistant director for administration, software is the critical element in ensuring patient safety in the pharmacy. It ties together both new and refill prescription processing, utilizing touch screens, digital counting scales and robotics.
The entire system uses bar code technology to check the activity. Unlike most pharmacies, which print the prescription labels first, the system only prints labels after the correct drug and dosage have been verified and is in hand.
The pharmacy has two robots. Each one can fill about 120 prescriptions in an hour. The robots have the ability to fill in two hours what a busy pharmacist in a community drug store can fill in one day. With the system, the pharmacy can process nearly 3,000 prescriptions each day. In a conventional pharmacy with no automation, errors are likely to occur.
The prescription process begins when patients call or e-mail the pharmacy. The prescriptions are input into the Combined Healthcare Computer System (CHCS), and a printout is generated listing the medications and their side effects.
Afterward, using the bar code of each medication, the robot will then fill the prescription. If the prescription is not located in the robotic system, the pharmacist or corpsman will manually fill it. Once completed, the bottle is scanned as it comes out of the robot and put into a packing basket. Each basket holds medications for one patient.
The pharmacist then matches the medication bottle with the screen’s picture and reads the label on the vial to verify the doctor’s written prescription. If the medication is located in an automated counting device, the software automatically counts the medication. For those medications not in counting devices, the technician or pharmacist scans the manufacturer’s drug bar code to confirm that the correct medication has been selected.
If correct, a blue screen appears and a prescription label is printed. A red screen indicates the wrong medication was selected and warns the technician of a possible error. When the correct medication is identified by the system, a prescription label is printed.
To further ensure patients receive their proper medication, the pharmacist scans the bar code printed on the prescription label for final verification. The software then retrieves all information necessary for that prescription. A picture of the prescription is included in the check if written by a civilian physician, and a picture of what the capsule or tablet should look like.
Finally, the pharmacist will scan his or her personal bar code to determine that the prescription has been checked. Once filled, the prescriptions are placed in a bag and stapled. A bag tag is printed with the patient’s name, social security number and destination (drive-through pharmacy, clinic, etc.).
Although the robotic system is more efficient and eliminates the potential for human error, Blanche emphasizes that robots do not replace the thinking ability, judgment or experience of the physician, pharmacist or technician. The system guarantees the patient will receive the proper medication, as ordered by the physician.
“It’s all about patient safety,” says Blanche. “Errors are easier to recognize with the system, because a red warning message flashes on the screen. The pharmacy serves nearly 900 patients each day, with medical errors being reduced by 80 percent.”
Of his robotic system, Siebigteroth says he is proud to use such state-of-the-art equipment. He believes it will reduce patient waiting time in the future through better utilization of human resources.
For related news, visit the National Naval Medical Center Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/nnmc.
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