Anesthesia Workstation tracks controlled substances.
Press Release Summary:
Helping hospitals meet JCAHO and CMS requirements, Anesthesia Workstation operates as mobile unit for management of anesthesia supplies and medications. System documents withdrawal of any item not contained in controlled access medication drawers by scanning bar code at time of withdrawal. Anesthesia provider can electronically document wastes and total amount issued for controlled substances and other user-defined medications at end of surgical case.
Original Press Release:
Omnicell Introduces Enhanced Anesthesia Workstation
Easy Charge Capture and Controlled Substance Tracking Are Key Features
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Nov. 10 - Omnicell (NASDAQ:OMCL) today announced new features for its Anesthesia Workstation to help hospitals meet JCAHO and CMS requirements.
The system operates as a mobile unit for the management of anesthesia supplies and medications, while helping facilities meet regulatory requirements pertaining to medication management, according to Richard Caldwell, senior pharmacy product manager, who notes, "It also provides clinicians with the convenience and time to focus on patient care."
Easy to use with little training required, the Anesthesia Workstation automates government-required documentation of controlled substance use and pharmacy replenishment, Caldwell explained. Some other key features:
-- Documents the withdrawal of any item not contained in the controlled access medication drawers by using the attached scanner to scan a bar code at the time of withdrawal from the Anesthesia Workstation. All anesthesia medications placed in the anesthesia supply drawers can easily be documented and charged for without having to select each item from the touch screen. Item Scan saves time and enhances ease of use for the anesthesia provider.
-- Provides a continuous running list of all medications used during the case, including all items withdrawn for a patient, regardless of the method of withdrawal or by which anesthesia provider. Any medication taken from an anesthesia supply drawer can easily be returned for credit using this screen. Combined with Item Scan, this feature provides a safety check for the anesthesia provider: Once a medication is scanned, that medication will immediately appear on the Issued Items List and provide a visual confirmation that the medication selected and scanned is correct.
-- Allows the anesthesia provider to electronically document wastes and total amount issued for controlled substances and other user-defined medications at the end of a surgical case, on one screen. This feature helps healthcare facilities meet certain regulatory requirements of the Drug Enforcement Administration and state boards of pharmacy.
"A highly desired workflow, the Post-Case Reconciliation process allows the anesthesia provider to enter, on one summary screen, the total dose administered or wasted for each medication," said Caldwell. "The system then calculates the total administered or wasted based on the entries. When finished with documentation, the anesthesia provider saves the documentation on the system, and a configurable Post-Case Reconciliation receipt is printed."
A prototype version of the system was demonstrated at the American Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nev. last month.
About Omnicell
Established in 1992, Omnicell is a leading provider of patient safety solutions preferred by nurses. Improving patient care by enhancing operational efficiency, Omnicell solutions are used throughout the healthcare facility -- in the pharmacy, nursing units, surgical services, cath lab, and all the way to the patient's bedside. The company's MedGuard(TM) line of solutions for the medication-use process includes systems for physician order management, automated pharmacy retrieval, medication packaging, medication dispensing, and nursing workflow automation with bar code medication administration. For the medical-surgical supply chain, Omnicell's OptiFlex(TM) product line provides open bar code systems, cabinet-based supply management, integrated open and cabinet-based systems, and Web-based procurement. More than 1,500 healthcare facilities use Omnicell solutions to help reduce medication errors, operate more efficiently, and decrease costs -- ultimately contributing to improved clinical and financial outcomes. For more information, visit www.omnicell.com.
