Technology-savvy hospital addresses the unique needs of the Operating Room; gets help in meeting regulatory requirements; increases revenue capture and improves operational efficiency MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Oct. 21
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Oct. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Omnicell, Inc.,
(Nasdaq: OMCL) a leading provider of system solutions to acute healthcare
facilities, today announced that Erie County Medical Center (ECMC), a 550-bed
Buffalo, NY-based facility, has installed Omnicell's Anesthesia Workstations
in each of its ten Operating Rooms (OR). The automated system addresses the
unique medication workflows and storage requirements for anesthesia providers
and assists hospitals in complying with rigorous patient safety guidelines and
regulations. The Anesthesia Workstations also help maintain low inventory
levels and maximize medication revenue capture.
"The implementation of Omnicell Anesthesia Workstations has been a really
nice feather in everyone's cap," said Randy Gerwitz, R.Ph., Department of
Pharmaceutical Services, ECMC. "We've been able to bring charge capture rates
up to 90 percent or greater for OR medications and supplies. The impact has
been dramatic."
Prior to removal, all medications stored in the Omnicell Anesthesia
Workstations are associated to a patient. Controlled substances, locked
within unit-dose bins, may be accessed through a touch screen. Other
medications and supplies may be withdrawn and scanned from drawers that unlock
upon login. All charges are sent automatically from the workstation to the
ECMC's Meditech billing system.
"Hospital ORs often lack automated secured storage at the point-of-care,
which leads to a breakdown in charge capture," said Kathryn Sullivan, product
manager, Omnicell. "Our customers recognize the benefits to bottom line
revenue after implementing Anesthesia Workstations. In addition to managing
inventory and costs, the product offers anesthesia providers the convenience
of medications and supplies reliably stocked in each OR suite."
Accurate documentation of anesthesia medication use is particularly valued
due to ECMC's 340B Drug Program eligibility. This federal program provides
discounted pharmaceuticals for use in outpatient procedures to hospitals that
offer care to the medically underserved. As nearly half of its OR activity is
outpatient, ECMC is pleased with the assistance in realizing 340B savings.
Omnicell Anesthesia Workstations have brought another benefit to ECMC's OR
-- a decrease in surgical case turnaround time. The in-suite cabinet has
eliminated mid-case calls as well as trips by the OR staff to the Pharmacy to
stock additional items between surgical cases. In addition, the unique
Anesthesia Work Drawer allows secure preparation prior to cases, a favorite
time-saving feature of the anesthesia providers. Medications and supplies are
now easily accessible -- literally at their fingertips -- and paper charge
documentation is a thing of the past. In turn, the Pharmacy staff spends less
time reconciling controlled substances.
About Omnicell
Omnicell, Inc. (NASDAQ: OMCL) is a leading provider of systems targeting
patient safety and operational efficiency in healthcare facilities. Since
1992, Omnicell has worked 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, OR, and patient bedside. Solutions range from complete
automation systems for the central pharmacy to nursing unit and bedside
dispensing cabinet systems. 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 healthcare 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, cath lab and operating room. For more information, visit
http://www.omnicell.com.
SOURCE Omnicell, Inc.
