Scientist Calls for Federal Review to Protect Workers in Pharmacies Using Air Pressure-Driven Pill Dispensing Machines

— Dr. Ralph Keller in peer review reaffirms potential workplace dangers —

Overland Park, KS – A leading U.S. aerosol scientist released his analysis, adding further questions about risks posed to workers in pharmacies using air-pressure activated pill dispensing machines. Two machines of this type are presently in use – McKesson/Parata RDS and McKesson/Parata Max.

Specifically, Dr. Ralph Keller, PE, CIH reviewed and reported on the study titled “Investigation into the Impact of Air Pressure Driven Drug Dispensing Machines on the Environment of Pharmacy Workers,” issued in October of 2008. The study reviewed the concentration and size of particles generated by the most prevalent methods of dispensing in pharmacies: air pressure-driven dispensing (McKesson/Parata RDS robot), gravitational dispensing (ScriptPro SP 200 robot) and manual dispensing. It is estimated that these methods cover approximately 95 percent of all pills dispensed in retail pharmacies. <more...>

SP Datapoint Wins 2nd Design Award

Mission, Kan. — ScriptPro’s SP Datapoint has again received a significant design award. I.D. magazine recently announced the winners of its 2009 Annual Design Review and SP Datapoint was one of five winners in the category of Equipment.

The jurors describe the SP Datapoint this way: “A sleek and strong aluminum and steel case keeps the computer and detachable prescription label printer safe from dirt and dings, while a modular design lets pharmacists stack the components vertically to maximize counter space—not a revolutionary idea, but a nice one. The aesthetic will last as long as the technology will.” <more...>

Personal Exposure Monitors Show Pharmacy Workers Inhale Drugs When Using Air Pressure-Activated Dispensing Machines

— Scientist Calls for Federal Review of Exposure Issue —

Drexel, MO – AlburtyLab released a report on its comprehensive evaluation of health risks for workers in pharmacies using air pressure-activated drug dispensing machines. The study tested pharmacy workers wearing personal exposure monitors (PEMs) while using the two leading types of air pressure-activated dispensing technologies – the McKesson/Parata Max and the McKesson/Parata RDS. This is the third major study conducted by AlburtyLab examining the issues relating to pharmacy worker exposure.

The study found that workers were exposed to particles in the size range subject to the most health concerns – 2.5 microns or smaller (characterized by EPA as PM-2.5), and that the particles contained active pharmaceutical agents. It finds that a wide range of pharmaceuticals are inhaled and reports the concentrations observed, again raising serious health concerns. <more...>

Robot Speaks Many Languages—Improves Patient Outcomes

MISSION, KS—Language is sometimes a barrier for patients when it comes to understanding instructions for taking medications. A prescription label language barrier increases the risk that a patient will use medication improperly and fail to obtain the benefit or suffer an adverse drug event.

ScriptPro robotic prescription dispensing systems incorporate technologies that translate medication instructions and drug auxiliary warnings, and print them on prescription labels in the preferred language of the patient. Languages covered include Spanish, French, Chinese, Arabic, Thai and Maori, in addition to English. <more...>

Telepharmacy Serving a Small Rural Community

Adrian, Minnesota was founded in 1876, and for most of its 130 years, it had the services of a hometown pharmacist. That is, until the profit margins within the current pharmacy environment made it no longer feasible to run a fully staffed pharmacy in a small city like Adrian. That left city officials scrambling to provide this service to its citizens. <more...>

Scientist Warns Industry Not to Ignore Potential Health Threat to Pharmacy Workers

— Recently issued study that found retail pharmacy workers are exposed to airborne pharmaceutical agents needs further review —

Drexel, MO – AlburtyLab’s President, David Alburty issued a statement today regarding serious concerns about efforts by McKesson/Parata to misrepresent and diminish the potential health threats that pharmacy workers face when they work in pharmacies using air pressure driven dispensing machines. <more...>

SP Datapoint Wins Prestigious 2008 GOOD DESIGN™ Award

Mission, Kan. — The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies has awarded a 2008 GOOD DESIGN Award to ScriptPro’s SP Datapoint, designed by KEM STUDIO, Kansas City, MO.

The GOOD DESIGN program emphasizes design of the highest form, function, and aesthetic. Products that are submitted to the program are judged by a jury of distinguished design professionals and specialists using criteria established in the original 1950 program. <more...>

SP Central Pharmacy Management System Provides Services Designed for Children

Mission, Kan — ScriptPro USA, Inc. has teamed up with the outpatient pharmacy at Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics in Kansas City, MO to develop a Pharmacy Management System that addresses the unique needs of a pediatric pharmacy.

ScriptPro worked with CMH&C to incorporate new features and functionality into the SP Central Pharmacy Management System software platform such as weight-based dosing logic for children's prescriptions, pediatric drug utilization review (DUR) modules, and customized prescription “SIG” features. <more...>

Study finds that Retail Pharmacy Workers are exposed to Airborne Pharmaceutical Agents

— One robotic technology used in hundreds of pharmacies is cited —

Drexel, MO – AlburtyLab located here today released a comprehensive evaluation of the leading technologies and methods of pill dispensing in pharmacies. The study found that one of the leading forms of technology, utilizing air pressure to dispense drugs in its robot, exposes tens of thousands of pharmacy workers to unsafe levels of airborne drug agent particles.

The researchers call for federal health and environmental regulatory agencies to immediately study this issue. <more...>

ScriptPro Awarded Contract to Provide FDA Drug Database

MISSION, KS—ScriptPro USA Inc. has been awarded a contract by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to provide a searchable drug database for FDA internal use. The database, which is based on the drug information resource provided by ScriptPro to support its pharmacy automation systems, will include all prescription and over-the-counter drug products available for human use in the United States. ScriptPro develops and maintains the largest and most complete electronic image database of drug and over-the-counter products applicable to the United States, Canada and other international markets. <more...>

ScriptPro Pharmacy Automation Installed in Premier Middle East Hospital

MISSION, KS, USA — King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSH), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has begun operating its main outpatient pharmacy with ScriptPro’s SP Central Workflow and Robotic Prescription Dispensing systems. KFSH is a leading healthcare institution in the Middle East, providing specialized medical services and promoting medical research and education. <more...>

ScriptPro Says NO to Exclusive Provider Relationships

“What switch do I have to use with your pharmacy management system?”
ScriptPro's response to that question is, “It's up to you.”

ScriptPro's robotic technology was well received in 1994 as a solution to manually counted prescriptions, errors that were made, and pressure on the people doing this job. Our customers encouraged us to expand our product offering and over the next decade we developed a workflow system and, ultimately, a pharmacy management system including point of sale, IVR, and telepharmacy. <more...>

ScriptPro Telepharmacy Expands Services of Arizona Community Health System

MISSION, KS – The Arizona Board of Pharmacy has unanimously approved the use of ScriptPro's Telepharmacy system to provide remote pharmacy services to El Pueblo Health Clinic near Tucson. This will be the first operation of its type in Arizona and will set the stage for many more throughout the state. Making the presentation to the Arizona Board were Tony Felix, Pharmacy Director for El Rio Health Center, and Mike Coughlin, President and CEO of ScriptPro. <more...>

Award Winning Telepharmacy Brings Safety to Chemotherapy Prep Room

MISSION, KS – The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) bestowed a Best Practices Award in Health-System Pharmacy to Brian O'Neal, M.S., Pharm.D., John Worden, M.S., Pharm.D., Rick Couldry, M.S., R.Ph., University of Kansas Hospital for Innovations in Chemotherapy Preparation Safety: Use of Telepharmacy and Barcode Technology in the IV Admixture Area. The honor was presented Dec. 2, 2007 at the Opening General Session of the ASHP 42nd Midyear Clinical Meeting in Las Vegas. <more...>

ScriptPro and TeleManager Technologies, Inc. have joined together to offer advanced functionality for the Refill TeleManager ™ Interactive Voice Response System (IVR) through ScriptPro’s SP Central Workflow System.

Together, they provide a versatile, yet easy-to-use and affordable IVR System that coordinates pharmacy workflow, maximizing efficiency and dispensing accuracy while providing visibility into your pharmacy operation. <more...>

ScriptPro adds SP 50™ to product line for low volume pharmacies

MISSION, KS—ScriptPro announces the addition of SP 50 to its line of Robotic Prescription Dispensing Systems. SP 50 is an ideal fit for pharmacies that have lower prescription volumes or space restrictions but need the safety and efficiency of robotic dispensing. SP 50 will allow these stores to grow and maintain customer service without increasing staff. <more...>

A New Day is Dawning in Pharmacy Automation

ScriptPro announces the release of its perfectly integrated, unified hardware and software platform to automate prescription fulfillment from point of entry to point of sale and beyond. <more...>

ScriptPro announces the addition of SP Mobile Checkpoint to the ScriptPro line of Robotic Prescription Dispensing Technology. ScriptPro's SP Mobile Checkpoint allows you to update your SP Central database so prescription information, such as delivery status, is tracked.

With its ability to remotely capture and track signatures, HIPPA forms and patient comments, SP Mobile Checkpoint is ideal for delivery and long-term care prescription tracking. Information from remote operations is transferred back to the local pharmacy database once the unit is brought back in range. It is also suitable for drive-thru dispensing and electronic signature capture. <more...>

Wisconsin-based Aurora Pharmacy, a division of Aurora Health Care, is committed to health management beyond dispensing medications.

Allowing pharmacists more one-on-one time with customers, increasing safety and reducing filling costs were its priorities in choosing the right automated dispensing solution. <more...>

ScriptPro announces the addition of Telepharmacy to the ScriptPro line of Robotic Prescription Dispensing Technology. Telepharmacy has been developed to allow pharmacists to conduct high-quality, safe and efficient operations from a remote location.

ScriptPro provides the hardware and software needed to verify prescriptions, manage inventory and council patients in satellite pharmacies. The pharmacist supports satellite personnel in filling and verifying prescriptions using the video, audio and computer data link over a network. The inspection camera allows the pharmacist to view detailed images of the medication, providing a thorough inspection process. <more...>

ScriptPro helped Kerr Drug fully utilize resources to make their pharmacy a health care destination.

Mission, KS—Kerr Drug, known for providing health and wellness services that go well beyond the traditional drug store mix, continues to build its reputation as a health care destination. Kerr Drug is opening a new concept store in Lenoir, North Carolina that will be a fully staffed pharmacy care center. Patients will have access to a full time clinical pharmacy staff available to meet with patients in private patient care rooms. The Center will also give the patient more access to the dispensing pharmacists for more one-on-on consultation.

Integral to the concept is ScriptPro’s SP 200 Robotic Prescription Dispensing System. Kerr Drug first added the dispensing robot to some of its stores in 2000. Management was able to put their pharmacists out front with patients, while the robot performed the manual dispensing tasks in the background. <more...>

ScriptPro Service Call Highlights Customer Service Differences Among Automation Vendors

MISSION, KS - ScriptPro Field Service Technician, Jake Hartmann, recently visited a Department of Defense (DoD) pharmacy for a service call. What seemed like a typical work day to Jake was recognized as superior customer service by Jerry Walker, the pharmacy manager at the DoD facility. Jake entered the pharmacy, sat his bags down, fixed ScriptPro's robotic prescription dispensing system, and then stayed in the pharmacy to monitor it.

“The ScriptPro technician promptly diagnosed the problem, fixed it and then stayed most of the day to make sure it was working. Not only did the technician address the reason for the visit, he kept busy by cleaning the machine, answering questions and even offering helpful hints,” said Walker. <more...>

May’s Drug Stores Renew Leases on ScriptPro Robots

Mission, KANSAS -- May’s Drug Stores, a division of USA Drug, have been customers of ScriptPro since 1998. The original SP 200 Robotic Prescription Dispensing Systems purchased at that time are still in use and ScriptPro has continuously maintained and upgraded them.

According to Joe Courtright, Vice President of Operations for Region One of USA Drug, May’s continues to install ScriptPro products for two main reasons:

1. Reliability. The company delivers on what it says it will deliver. The SP 200 is very reliable and has lived up to expectations.
2. ScriptPro Customer Service. Representatives are always available - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - and very professional. When there is a problem, it is quickly resolved.

“We recently renewed our leases on all the machines. I sincerely have the highest regard for the customer service department, the installation team, the trainers and everyone we come in contact with at ScriptPro,” said Mr. Courtright. <more...>