New Castle News

Local News

Jameson awaits robotic pharmacist

Robots can build cars, aid in manufacturing and soon will be a vital component of Jameson Hospital’s pharmacy technology.

The McKesson PROmanager, a robotic centralized pharmacy system will complement the MAK barcode and mobile computer technology that is being used to promote patient safety.

The upgrade — to take place next year — will allow the pharmacy to order, store and dispense medications using barcode technology.

The robot technology selects medications prescribed for specific patients, and the prescription is then robotically pulled from the pharmacy and dispensed to the patient room. The MAK scanning system will provide positive confirmation that the medication is for each specific patient.

“We’re part of a huge nationwide initiative advancing hospital pharmacies to the next level,” said Ron Shollenberger, director of pharmacy at Jameson. “We will be in a position to reallocate resources to best serve the needs of our patients.”

The enhanced efficiency in the pharmacy will allow pharmacists to spend more time assisting physicians and nurses assessing the medication needs of the patients.

“It puts them in a better position to spend time communicating with patients about drug/drug interactions, medication side effects and information on their new medications.”

Related Photos

  • Jameson Hospital nurse Destin DiFrischia scans the barcode on a patient’s bracelet to match-up and confirm the medication/dosage is scheduled for this patient.

    MAK.jpg

Discussion

September 29, 2012

New electronic system helps ensure medication accuracy at Jameson

Lugene Hudson New Castle News

NEW CASTLE — Patient safety is of utmost concern at Jameson Hospital.

Making sure the proper medications are administered to the right person is crucial.

With a new electronic scanning system called Medication Administration Check or MAK, chances of errors occurring are greatly eliminated.

And both patients and family members can also feel more at ease.

Antoinette Reino and Diana Cupec, patient care managers, started developing the program in November and December of last year and began a pilot program in July. By mid-September, all in-patients departments except for the psychiatric unit, were using MAK.

“This is a product of Siemens and we developed the polices and procedures to adapt to Jameson,” Reino explained, adding that using computers and scanners is becoming a standard of care in all hospitals.

Previously, all tracking was done on paper, which was time consuming and created a better chance of mistakes occurring.

The electronic system is a work station on wheels — a computer on a cart allows for scanning the armband that all patients receive upon admission.

“After getting an assignment, a nurse chooses the patient, goes to the room, scans the medications and prior to giving those meds, scans the patient’s ID wristband,” Cupec said. “It’s all a matter of the right meds going to the right patient.”

Reino and Cupec agree that no system is 100 percent foolproof but believe that MAK will reduce a higher percentage of errors from happening.

All nurses received training with the system, but there is still a human element involved so if a nurse has difficulties with scanning, further education can be provided, Reino explained.

If a specific medication doesn’t match the patient who is to receive it, a red X appears on the computer screen and the issue must be corrected before proceeding further, she added.

“During the training periods, the nurses used the computers but had to return to the paper method temporarily, and said that was like coming from the Jetsons to the Flintstones.”

The MAK system is also beneficial because it allows nurses to see real-time reports and provide immediate feedback, Reino acknowledged.

After a doctor orders a medication, the hospital pharmacy enters that order, which is then verified by a nurse that it’s correct, she said.

Now, in essence, paper records for recording medications are a thing of the past.

“Jameson is moving forward in promoting patient safety,” Reino said. “MAK is one more step at making sure that is utmost in mind.”

(Email: lhudson@ncnewsonline.com.)

 

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local News
  • 04.jpg Movie Memories, Part 3: The Hi-Lander and Cinema theaters were the last two New Castle movie houses to go dark

    Although the downtown once was dotted with movie theaters, one of the last to close was well up the North Hill. The 750-seat Hi-Lander opened in 1952, the result of a joint effort by two pairs of area drive-in owners: Al Tate and John Wincek (Highway 51 near Darlington, and John Favorite and Joe Glorioso (Blue Sky near Zelienople).

    May 22, 2013 1 Photo 1 Slideshow 2 Stories

  • No tax hike in Union school budget

    The Union Area School Board has introduced a $10.6 budget with no tax increase. If the $10,585,494 spending plan is approved, it will be the third year without a tax increase in the district. The property tax is at 14.42 mills.

    May 22, 2013

  • STATE_JohnBorovilos.jpg Movie Memories, Part 2: Monsters, cowboys and ultimately, sex, were staples at State Theater

    Second in a series: Daily through Memorial Day, the New Castle News will be looking back at some of the city’s now-defunct movie theaters. These movie houses will be seen primarily through the eyes of New Castle natives with ties to them — including “Mister Movie” himself, Leo Mickey. Today: The State Theater
     

    May 21, 2013 1 Photo 1 Slideshow 1 Story

  • VICTOR_01.jpg Movie Memories, Part 1: Victor one of many long-gone local theaters

    First in a series: Today through Memorial Day, the New Castle News will be looking back at some of the city’s now-defunct movie theaters. These movie houses will be seen primarily through the eyes of New Castle natives with ties to them — including “Mister Movie” himself, Leo Mickey. Today: The Victor
     

    May 20, 2013 1 Photo 1 Slideshow

  • vote.jpg Our Opinion: Make the most of your power to vote by casting ballot tomorrow

    So what kind of turnout will there be for tomorrow’s primary? Recent history suggests somewhere between low and lousy. This year’s elections are devoted to local races, and there are few major ones being contested in the primary.

    May 20, 2013 1 Photo

  • Relay for Life set for next week

    New Castle’s Relay for Life will kick off at 7 p.m. May 31 on the track at Shenango High School’s Glen “Pop” Johnston Stadium. Relay for Life is an organized, overnight fundraising walk for the American Cancer Society.

    May 20, 2013

  • Sorg.jpg New Castle News names new publisher

    Sharon A. Sorg is no stranger to hometown newspapers. It’s no surprise, then, that she’s been selected to lead the newspaper in her hometown. Sorg has been named publisher of the New Castle News, which is just a few miles from her residence in Pulaski Township.

    May 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • Disney.tiff Rockin’ Recess: Laurel youngsters earn a morning of music, health education

    Hands clapping. Arms waving. Crowd chanting. That was the scene at Laurel Elementary School yesterday morning. Laurel beat out four other school districts in the UPMC For Kids and Radio Disney-sponsored “Attendance Counts” competition.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • Memorial service scheduled

    The annual Croton Memorial Service will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Croton Honor Roll. U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly will be the guest speaker.

    May 17, 2013

  • Russo.jpg John Russo Jr. Remembered: Colleagues salute former councilman

    Honest and dedicated. That is how those who knew John Russo Jr. well described him after his passing Tuesday. Russo served as a member of New Castle City Council for more than 17 years at four different times from 1985 through 2009.

    May 16, 2013 1 Photo