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AUTOMATION THE NAME OF THE GAME


It’s not that long ago since the introduction of robots to pharmacy was enough to create a frisson of excitement! Now, automation is par for the course for even the smallest of pharmacies...


has now reached a level where patients almost expect to see technology introduced into their local shop.


W


And for many good reasons….the benefits that automation has brought to the profession are many and varied.


Today, pharmacy automation covers a wide range of processes: handling and distributing medications, counting medication, measuring and mixing powders and liquids for compound, tracking and updating customer information, and inventory management.


Automation enables pharmacies to fill orders more quickly, effectively freeing staff up to carry out essential tasks that can’t be automated – most notably dealing with face-to-face interaction with patients!


Automation has also led to greater accuracy. In any profession, accuracy is essential to ensure


here once the introduction of a robot was enough to make headlines in the local paper, automation in pharmacy


optimum working practices, but in pharmacy it can be a matter of life and death. Automating the process of measuring out medication greatly reduces the chances of errors.


The increasingly ageing population means that many patients are now self-administering medications at home. As a result, automation - such as in-home medication dispensers - is proving popular for both patients, their families and their carers.


The introduction of new technology has also significantly increased the productivity of pharmacies by increasing the number of prescriptions filled: a process which was previously accomplished by manual processes.


Pharmacy automation eliminates the potential for medication waste that previously may have occurred during the filling and labelling of prescriptions.


In terms of labour costs, research has shown that the average pharmacist or pharmacy technician


walks around eight miles each day in a pharmacy, simply performing various tasks, such as filling, packing, labelling and dispensing technicians. By automating work practices, pharmacies are able to reduce the number of staff required, thereby reducing labour costs and simultaneously reducing stress in the work environment.


Accuracy within pharmacy is, naturally, of prime importance. Getting the right medication to the right patient at the right time is the core of the pharmacy business. As a result, the need to remove any chance of errors occurring has led to the rise in the use of automation.


In terms of stock control, the fact is that robots know the exact number of tablets that they have and also know what they’re dispensing. The combination of the two means that information regarding stock control is centralised and ensures that stock levels are ideal.


Over the next four pages, SP looks at that latest automation to hit the market, and shows what it can do for YOUR business….


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THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW TECHNOLOGY HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED THE PRODUCTIVITY OF PHARMACIES


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