BD STUDY HIGHLIGHTS BENEFITS OF MEDICATION MANAGEMENT AUTOMATION

BD announced new data from a research study evaluating the impact of deploying automated dispensing cabinets in long-term care facilities and an off-site, long-term care pharmacy.

This novel, peer-reviewed study, published in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association (JAPhA), assessed various endpoints related to the management of first, missing and emergency dose medications over a 90-day period after replacing manual emergency medication kits with the BD Pyxis™ MedBank™ automated dispensing cabinet (ADC) system at two long-term care facilities serviced by an off-site pharmacy.

Over a 90-day period in long-term care facilities, medication dispensing automation and the associated workflow changes led to a 71% reduction in medication retrieval time, as compared to manual emergency kits, improving medication availability when nurses used automation technology. The study also showed a 96% reduction in the cost of unscheduled medication deliveries across the two long-term care facilities, representing $8,900 in cost savings.

The study also highlighted pharmacy labour, time and inventory savings. Pharmacy technician medication preparation time and pharmacist check-time decreased by 59% and 80%, respectively. Standing medication inventory was reduced by more than $10,000, representing significant cost savings for the pharmacy, while concurrently increasing the number of different medications available on-site for urgent and emergency medical needs.

Finally, a perception survey of 40 nurses showed the majority preferred working with the ADC system and found it easier to locate and document medications, as compared to working with manual emergency medication kits.