AUTOMATED DISPENSING SYSTEM

AUTOMATED DISPENSING OF DRUGS

Link for video explaination of this topic 👇👇

https://youtu.be/qh_Md4qdpKc

INTRODUCTION

Hospitals and pharmacies worldwide have increasingly embraced automated prescription dispensing technology since it’s introduction in US in 1980s. One of the main advantages of such system is the machine’s ability to dispense large volumes of medication quickly while eliminating the chance of human error. This has elevated patient’s safety level when the machine are used correctly.

The dispensing machine’s key function includes barcode scanning, medication labelling, tracking, controlled dispensing and automatic documentation. All these features are designed to reduce risk of human error, ensure safe dispensing of medication and handle administration quickly.

DEFINATION

An automated dispensing cabinet (ADC) or automated dispensing machine (ADM) is a computerized drug storage device or cabinet designed for hospitals. ADCs allow medications to be stored and dispensed automatically while controlling and tracking drug distribution.

ADVANTAGES OF ADM

• They can store and manage over 200 medications plus the patient information.

• Customers do not have to wait as long to receive medication and the machine can fill a prescription much faster than a human can.

• ADM enhances pharmacy workflow and efficiency.

• It reduce the risk of medication errors and provides high safety.

• Pharmacists get free time to talk to the patient about their medications, thus increases patient interaction time.

• It reduces cost and waste. Without ADM system, many times a pharmacist when draws 3ml from a 10ml vial, have to discard the remaining medicine as it becomes unsterile. But with ADM system, the medicine can be drawn from the same vial several times with proper sterility.

TYPES OF ADS

• Pharmacy based: ADS is used in pharmacy drug store where the mechanism of dispensing of medicine is carried out by the robotic arm or dispensing device.

• Ward based: This ADS is used in hospitals. The method involves accessing of medication by nurses by entering appropriate patient details, user name and password. The medication can also be accessed by room number or code given to the patient.

• Automated unit dose: The medication are stored in calibrated cabinet. After placement of dispensing order, the ADM ejects the medication from the cabinet. The methods followed by packaging and labelling the medication.