Andalusia has patented an intelligent system for dispensing medicines and consumables in hospitals -under the trade name iPharma- that has been 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, which has tested the innovative model.
This 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 of optimum efficiency to ensure that each patient receives the correct drug in the prescribed dose, the appropriate route and at the right time.
For this, the iPharma system consists of some electronic devices that 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.
Advantages
During 2015, the new system has been piloted in the Internal Medicine Unit of the University Hospital of Granada. During this trial period it has been 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; optimizes the time of preparation of drugs unidose carts; and improves ergonomics in the workplace at the validation performed at the same moment when medication is deposited.
It has also verified that the new technology facilitates the replacement of the drugs since the hospital pharmacy unit is aware of the amount and timing of when a drug must be restocked, allowing for continuous monitoring of stock and avoid the lack of a drug. In addition, integration with the Integral System of Logistics Management of the Logistics Platform of the Andalusian Healthcare Service allows intelligent order management.
Another advantage is that professionals gain agility in the process of preparation of medicines, since the time spent doing dispensing related tasks is reduced.
All of this has a favorable effect on a decrease in costs arising from errors in dispensing, administration and breakage of stock of medicines.
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