Revolutionary Technology Automates Critical Workflows, Refocusing Pharmacists’ Time on Clinical Activities
Omnicell, Inc. today announced that several U.S. hospitals have adopted the Company’s newest robotic solution to automate critical workflows in the central pharmacy. First introduced at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) 2017 Midyear Meeting in December, the Omnicell® XR2 Automated Central Pharmacy System utilizes robotic technology to eliminate numerous manual tasks, allowing pharmacy to redirect resources to clinical contributions that have meaningful impacts on patient outcomes. XR2 is part of Omnicell’s industry-leading medication management automation platform.
According to the American Pharmacist Association (APhA), positive interaction with hospital pharmacists can significantly impact patient satisfaction survey scores. Pharmacists can play a key role in positively affecting patient outcomes with various clinical programs such as medication reconciliation, discharge management, and opioid stewardship.
Designed to meet the unique and evolving needs of pharmacy operations, XR2 is a key technological step toward the fully automated pharmacy. The system automates critical workflows in the central pharmacy with high capacity and formulary coverage, and significant efficiency improvements such as dispensing earliest expiring medications first and reducing the need for repackaging. With 100% barcode scanning, XR2 helps minimize human error and discrepancies, enabling more accurate management of inventory levels.
“Automation offers many benefits, including increased safety, efficiency, and cost savings,” said Patrick Ferguson, RPh, MBA, network director of pharmacy services at St. Luke’s University Health Network. “Automation also shifts the focus of our pharmacy staff from logistical tasks to a more active role in patient care, improving job satisfaction and supporting our commitment to patient-centered care.”
Other early adopters of this innovative technology include:
- Mercyhealth in Rockford, Illinois
- Sentara Healthcare in Charlottesville, Virginia
- Summa Health in Akron, Ohio
- UPMC in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
“At Omnicell, we’re dedicated to delivering solutions that will help our customers achieve the highest levels of success,” said Nhat H. Ngo, executive vice president, Marketing, Strategy and Business Development at Omnicell. “These leaders in pharmacy automation adoption are empowering their teams to perform at the top of their licenses, which directly impacts safety and satisfaction for both providers and patients.”