The Benefits Auto-Dispensing Machines Bring to Health Care

Dispensing machines in hospitals and medical facilities typically contain food and beverages. This is by no means the full extent of what dispensing machines can do for the health care industry. These machines can have more important and vital applications, such as the non-manned dispensing of medications and inventory management.

Is now the right time to explore these applications of dispensing machines for health care? The short answer is yes. The COVID-19 pandemic has proven that there is plenty of room for automation in hospitals. Data and patient management are the two areas in health care that often get the digital and automation treatment, but we at Volumetric Technologies would like to draw more attention to pharmacy services, specifically the application of automatic dispensing machines for medicines.

Enhance Pharmacy Services with Automatic Dispensing Machines

Let’s go back to how dispensers are utilized for selling snacks and drinks to visitors in hospitals. Automatic dispensing machines for medicines work the same way, except that there’s no need for payment and only the hospital staff would be able to use the machine.

Existing models of medicine dispensers work require pharmacists and other authorized personnel to input an authorization code or scan a key card to use the machine. They will input the dosage they need, as well as other information like the patient’s name, attending physician, and the like. The machine will then dispense the medicines in the quantities indicated by the personnel.

The Benefits of Auto Dispensing Machines

We’ve established that the use of automatic dispensers in obtaining medicines for patients is timely today. Here are more benefits that patients and hospitals can enjoy if hospitals invest in medical/pharmaceutical dispensing technology:

1. Flexible, scalable, and customizable dispensing capabilities – Hospitals may customize dispensing solutions according to the types of medicines that they want to make accessible through automation. These machines can dispense pills and tablets only, for example, or include syrup bottles and ampules. Hospitals sometimes work with compounding pharmacies, too. An automatic dispensing machine with a fluid dispenser nozzle and a powder scale and dispenser can help make their work easier and faster.
2. Fast and accurate dispensing of medicines – Speaking of making health care staff’s work easier and faster, automatic dispensers can cut down the time that it takes a pharmacist to go to the backroom and locate medicine that’s not displayed on the front counter. They can also reduce errors like giving the wrong prescription or dosage.
3. Efficient inventory monitoring and management – There will be no need for pharmacists to manually record medication counts at the end of their shifts if they work with a dispensing machine. Manufacturers can enhance their reporting capabilities, so it’s possible for hospital pharmacies to get daily inventory updates like how many were dispensed, how many in stock are past their expiration dates, and which medicines are in short supply and need restocking.
4. Monitor patients’ drug use patterns – The reporting features in pharmacy dispenser machines can also help physicians monitor their patients’ drug use patterns. Nurses, doctors, and pharmacists can keep track of how often a patient requested a refill, for example, and ensure that they are within appropriate levels.

There’s more that automatic dispensing machines can do for the health care industry. Investing in these solutions can facilitate accurate and efficient monitoring as well as other capabilities for safer, high-quality health care.

Volumetric Technologies has served the pharmaceutical industry for over 25 years. We understand your needs and are best-placed to offer solutions to your medical dispensing problems. Contact us today so we can discuss customization and the features you want to include in your dispensing machines.