Hand Held Products® and Pharmitas Partner to Enable Compliance with the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act
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SKANEATELES FALLS, N.Y., and BELLEVUE, Wash., Aug. 8 / -- There's a growing epidemic concerning over-the-counter medicines containing the ingredients ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and phenylpropanolamine (PSE products), which are being used to produce the illegal drug methamphetamine.
The Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 (CMEA) regulates the sale and purchase of select non-prescription PSE products, and requires retailers to log, track and report these PSE product transactions. Logbooks must be retained for two years.
Pharmitas, Inc., and Hand Held Products have partnered to offer solutions that enable retailers and pharmacists to comply with the CMEA by electronically capturing and managing PSE product transactions.
Many retailers are using paper-based logbooks to manually record consumers' driver's license information, purchase details and signatures. But a paper system creates challenges for everyone involved. It's time-consuming for consumers, presents risks to retailers if logs are not secure and accurate, and is difficult and time-consuming for law enforcement to monitor and identify illegal activity.
The Pharmitas Pharmacy Solution allows retailers to replace their manual paper-based logbooks with its electronic data capture and management system. The Solution is driven by proprietary software developed by Pharmitas that can be used with the Hand Held Products Image Kiosk(TM) 8570 or the Dolphin® 7900 Mobile Computer.
"Through our partnership with Pharmitas, retailers can fully comply with the CMEA mandate while serving more consumers faster. By eliminating cumbersome paper-based processes, pharmacists and retailers increase their productivity and save time," said Garrison Gomez, Director, Mobility Systems Business Unit, Hand Held Products.
Using either the mini-kiosk or mobile computer, retailers scan the 2D barcode or swipe the magnetic stripe on the consumers' driver's license to auto-populate their ID information into the log. Retailers then scan the PSE product's UPC label, which automatically and instantly confirms if the consumer is within the legal purchase limit.
The consumer verifies the sale with an electronic signature, and the transaction information is sent and stored to a secure database and server.
"Hand Held Products' innovative technology and expansive customer base will provide unprecedented access to the pharmacy channel for our software solutions," said Chris Parsons, President and Chief Executive Officer at Pharmitas, Inc. "Given the potential growth opportunities, we expect this partnership to significantly expand our market share."
Powered by Adaptus® Imaging Technology 5.0, the IK8570 and Dolphin 7900 enable fast, omni-directional scanning of 1D and 2D barcodes. Plus, both have the option of an integrated magnetic stripe reader. The compact IK8570 has a small footprint ideal for the point-of-sale. The Dolphin 7900 is compact, ergonomic, wireless and rugged, providing ease of use and reliability.
About Hand Held Products
Hand Held Products is the global leader in the design and manufacture of image-based data collection and communication solutions for mobile, in- premise, and transaction processing applications for retail, healthcare and transportation. Call 1-800-582-4263 or visit handheld.com.
About Pharmitas, Inc.
Based in Bellevue, Wash., Pharmitas, Inc. is a technology company that provides comprehensive solutions for retail, healthcare and government organizations. For more information about Pharmitas, Inc., visit the company's Web site located at www.pharmitas.com.
Source: Hand Held Products
CONTACT:Laurel Case of Hand Held Products, +1-315-413-4244, lcase@mower.com; or Steve Kam of Pharmitas, Inc., +1-800-716-1897, ext. 707, stevekam@pharmitas.com
Web site: http://www.handheld.com/
http://www.pharmitas.com/
