Pharmacy Plus chooses Psion mobile handheld devices to help improve the delivery of drugs to care home residents
New Electronic Transport Management System operating on rugged mobile computers will further improve the distribution of drugs and enable expansion of UK network
29 November 2011
Benefits of the Electronic Transport Management System (ETMS) running on the Psion Ikon handheld computer
- Guaranteed deliveries to the right destination
- Real-time tracking of prescriptions and deliveries
- Audit of when each prescription was collected
- Audit of when each delivery was made
- Signature of staff at each destination
- Efficient journey times and prompt deliveries
London, UK. Pharmacy Plus has chosen rugged mobile devices from Psion PLC (LSE: PON.L) to deploy a new Electronic Transport Management System (ETMS) that will improve the way they manage the collection and delivery of drugs. The new system will ensure that drugs are always delivered when and where they are needed to care home residents that have an important medical requirement.
Pharmacy Plus is based in Bristol and has been a pioneer of pharmaceutical innovation since it was established in 1994. During the last few years, they have created an unparalleled model of service delivery specifically for care homes, which involves the management of prescriptions from the point of ordering and dispensing to the point of supply, using sophisticated IT systems.
Tariq Muhammad, Managing Director of Pharmacy Plus, said: "At Pharmacy Plus, we aim to offer a service which is based on quality, safety and efficiency. Our business has grown rapidly and we now provide services to over 800 surgeries and 400 care homes. In a typical month, we process over 100,000 prescriptions and handle 200,000 medication packets, so an efficient foolproof system is a must.
"Most pharmacies make collections and deliveries using manual paper-based systems. However these are not without their challenges. For example, if a prescription goes missing, as they sometimes do, it is very hard to trace where it has gone and this causes inconvenience to surgeries, care homes and not least the patient who is affected by any delays."
John McMeeking, Managing Director, Psion UK, said: "Our relationship with Pharmacy Plus is further evidence of our commitment to delivering ingenious solutions for our partners and customers. We believe that their groundbreaking drug collection and delivery technology is a striking example of how our devices can be used to help real people live their lives' in a more effective way."
The new Electronic Transport Management System improves the way Pharmacy Plus staff liaise with GPs surgeries as well as manage the collection and delivery of drugs to care homes. Each Pharmacy Plus delivery driver receives a Psion Ikon rugged handheld computer running the ETMS. The Psion Ikon resembles a large mobile phone and has a touch screen, barcode scanner, camera, SIM card and GPS as well a range of other features.
The new ETMS will enable Pharmacy Plus to deliver a number of benefits for doctors' surgeries, care homes and the company's delivery drivers.
For doctors' surgeries, there will be a near elimination of lost or misdirected prescriptions, which will reduce the pressure on GPs and surgery managers to reissue scripts. The ETMS will also ensure the security of prescription related documentation. In the future, surgery receptionists will provide an electronic signature via the Psion Ikon to confirm the pick-up of patient prescriptions. The devices can also act as a relay point for messages from the surgery to the Pharmacy Plus Customer Services centre.
For the care homes, the ETMS will lead to improved delivery performance with medications being delivered to the right homes and the right time, every time. The system also affords additional flexibility versus manual systems because it will enable drivers to be in constant contact with head office, which will enable them to re-route to pick up urgent drugs so that they can be rushed to care home residents as needed.
Finally, for drivers, the system will prevent drivers from being sent to surgeries that are closed. The Psion Ikon handheld computers also have a tracking device to help locate drivers at any time.
In keeping with couriers in other industries, the ETMS will provide drivers with their daily pick-up and delivery schedule without the need for them to travel into the office – saving time, fuel, money and inconvenience. When coupled with the launch of a new fleet of vehicles, equipped with satellite navigation, the ETMS will promote greater driver efficiency.
Separate to the ETMS, Pharmacy Plus vehicles have been fitted with a Dallas Key, which enables the company to download information on driver behavior (i.e. harsh breaking, excess speeding and fuel consumption) to identify areas for further efficiency.
Tariq Muhammad said: "Without constant change, Pharmacy Plus would not be where it is today. We want to ensure that we are maximizing efficiency and providing our support staff and customers with the best technology on offer today. The ETMS running on Psion Ikon devices is tailor-made for our needs and its focus on drug and prescriptions management will take our accountability to a new level. These types of systems do exist in organisations, such as DHL and others, but they have never been deployed in a pharmacy organisation before".
For further enquiries, please contact:
Psion PLC
Jonathan Brayshaw +44 7827 345388
Isabelle Tadmoury +33 6 85 85 81 90
Pharmacy Plus
Derek Seddon 0845 121 1001
Schwartz UK (agency) +44 207 0960371
Deepika Bharadwa dbharadwa@schwartzmsl.com
About Psion
Psion is the pioneer of quality mobile handheld computers and their application in industrial markets around the world. We have been innovators in the field of mobile computing since 1980, starting with the invention of the PDA, through to helping our global customers solve their business problems today. Our clients include Volkswagen, SNCF, RWE nPower, E.ON, BMW, Goodyear, Copenhagen Airports, BNSF and many others.
Through our open innovation business model, we have the ability to work directly with our customers and partners to co-create new variants of our mobile hardware, software and service that meet the specific needs of the marketplace. This collaboration is made possible by our open innovation community site,www.ingenuityworking.com.
Psion plc is a public company listed on the London Stock Exchange. It is headquartered in London with corporate offices located in Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Africa. For more information, visit www.psion.com
About Pharmacy Plus
Pharmacy Plus is a leading UK pharmacy group specialising in medicines management solutions. We deliver high quality patient services through innovation and the use of technology. Our products and services are cutting edge, unrivalled in the UK and in some cases are the first of their kind in the world. Our mission is to enhance patient safety, personalise care and improve quality of life. Our focus is on providing a specialist service to care homes, which we believe is the most comprehensive of any pharmacy in the UK and provides unique benefits.
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