Andalusia has patented an intelligent system for dispensing medicines and consumables in hospitals, under the trade name iPharma, which was developed by researchers at the Hospital of Granada, the Institute of biomedical research of Granada (ibs.GRANADA) and Andalusian spin off Naranjo Intelligent Solutions (NIS).
This technological solution R & D + i is “a step forward in terms of safety and efficiency in the administration of drugs to patients”, as stated by the Counsellor of Health, Aquilino Alonso during his visit to the Pharmacy Unit of the Hospital San Cecilio of Granada. The system, based on artificial intelligence, allows a better distribution and management control of medicines in hospitals, which is one of the key processes in the hospital pharmacy services, as it is required to follow a procedure for optimal efficiency, which ensures that each patient receives the correct drug in the prescribed dose, the appropriate route and at the right time.
For this purpose the system iPharma is composed of some electronic devices, which are placed in the boxes of medication of patients, and software that uses artificial intelligence. From the prescription, the system identifies both the drug and the patient that should receive it, and the pharmacy technician receives an audio order that indicates the number of doses needed. This information is recorded electronically and computerizes a process hitherto performed manually.
Minimization of errors
During 2015, the new system was tested in the Internal Medicine Unit of the University Hospital of Granada. Throughout the trial it was found that the dispensing system minimizes errors and increases patient safety, computerizing the procedure and preventing medication from being deposited in a location where it doesn’t belong; It also optimizes the time of preparation of drugs unidose carts and improves ergonomics in the workplace at the validation, performed at the same time when medication is deposited.
Similarly, it is also verified that the new technology facilitates the replacement of medicines, as the hospital pharmacy unit is aware of the amount and the time when a drug must be restocked, allowing for the continuous monitoring of stock and avoiding lack of a drug. In addition, integration with the Integral System of Logistics Management of the Logistics Paltform of the Andalusian Healthcare Service allows for intelligent order management.
In a first phase, iPharma will be implanted in public hospitals in the province of Granada and gradually be extended by hospitals of the Public Healthcare System of Andalusia.
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