Medication System Software helps improve patient safety.
Press Release Summary:
Featuring Scheduled Meds capability, Omnicell v11.0 provides filtered list of patient's medication orders that are due for administration. Users can identify when particular medication or medication order was issued at cabinet, and offers alerts at time of expiration date entry if date entered is in the past. Allergy Alerts feature warns users if medication selected has no allergy code.
Original Press Release:
Omnicell 11.0 Provides Powerful 'Scheduled Meds' Capability for Nurses
New Release a Big Boost to Industry Quest to Improve Patient Safety
ANAHEIM, Calif., Dec. 4 / -- Omnicell, Inc. (NASDAQ:OMCL) today introduced Omnicell 11.0, the latest release of its medication system software, which gives nurses a filtered list of a patient's medication orders that are due for administration.
"Scheduled Meds is a robust new feature of Omnicell's top-rated OmniRx® medication dispensing systems," explained Richard Caldwell, M.S., R.Ph., Omnicell senior product manager for medication systems. "This facility- configurable feature not only improves nursing workflow, saving time; it also enhances patient safety." The list of patient medication orders due for administration is based on frequency and lead/lag times (early/late windows), per hospital policy and pre-defined ranges of time. The Scheduled Meds feature works with cabinets that have patient medication profiling. In addition to providing the nurse with the list of due medications, any returned medication that is scheduled during that timeframe will reappear on the Scheduled Meds list for the nurse. The returned medication will remain on the due list through the pre-defined period of time.
The announcement of the release of Omnicell 11.0 was made during a news briefing held at the 41st ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting and Exhibition.
Enhanced Features
In addition to the new Scheduled Meds capability, Omnicell introduced a number of enhanced features for its OmniRx® systems that will benefit hospitals and improve patient safety:
o Omnicell offers an extensive and frequently updated library of
ready-to-run reports through the OmniCenter® system application. A
number of report enhancements are available with Omnicell 11.0,
including multi-select and view all options for improved reporting
efficiency.
o Omnicell's SafetyStock(TM) bar code confirmation feature can now read
16-character medication bar codes generated for McKesson's ROBOT-Rx®,
without additional bar code association by the pharmacy.
o Omnicell's Equivalent Dose and Dose Dispensing features for medication
orders are both supported when medication order restrictions such as
dose equals "0" (zero) and dose text is enabled are present. Certain
pharmacy information systems have restrictions, and Omnicell software
has been modified to meet these restrictions. "This enhancement to
existing functionality allows clinicians to return medications by dose,
reducing the number of unreconciled dose transactions," explained
Caldwell, a hospital pharmacist for 24 years before joining Omnicell.
"Now, during the return process, the user has the ability to document
the actual dose administered."
Customer-Driven Changes
In response to specific customer feedback, Omnicell modified its software to improve user workflow efficiency, including the following changes:
o The end-user warning message at the cabinet that the issue amount
exceeds the medication order dose amount can be disabled.
o Messages and business rules have been modified to allow the user to
clearly identify the last time this medication or medication order was
issued at the cabinet. If medication has been issued, the date and time
will be displayed; if not, "Item has not been issued" will be
displayed. When system-wide last issue is enabled and data are unable
to be obtained for both medications and medication orders, users will
be notified with a last issue message, displaying "Information not
available."
o At the cabinet, the user now has the ability to view the current
temperature within the FlexLock refrigerator at the logon screen,
providing on-demand, real-time information to the nurse and other
individuals. This supplements the FlexLock with TempCheck(TM) feature
that is currently available.
o Users can be alerted at the time of expiration date entry if the date
entered is in the past.
o To enhance the already-released Allergy Alerts feature, users can
receive a warning if the medication selected has no allergy code when
that order has not been reviewed by pharmacy.
About Omnicell
Omnicell, Inc. is a leading provider of systems and software solutions targeting patient safety and operational efficiency in healthcare facilities. Since 1992, Omnicell has worked with more than 1,600 health care facilities to enhance patient safety and allow clinicians to spend more time with their patients.
Omnicell's medication-use product line includes solutions for the central pharmacy, nursing unit, operating room, and patient bedside. Solutions range from large central pharmacy "smart inventory" carousels to small handheld devices. From the point at which a medication arrives at the receiving dock to the time it is administered, Omnicell systems store it, package it, bar code it, order it, issue it, and provide information and controls on its use and reorder.
Our supply product lines provide a health care institution with fast, effective control of costs, capture of charges for payer reimbursement, and timely reorder of supplies. Products range from high-security closed-cabinet systems and software to open-shelf and combination solutions in the nursing unit, catch lab and operating room.
Omnicell's mission is to provide the best customer experience in health care, helping hospitals reduce medication errors, operate more efficiently, and decrease costs. For more information, visit www.omnicell.com.
Source: Omnicell, Inc.
Web site: www.omnicell.com/
