How Automated Medication Dispensing Cabinets Work

Automated dispensing cabinets store medication in individual locking compartments within locked drawers. Access is restricted to authorized users only.

To retrieve medication from the dispensing cabinet, a nurse or physician must sign into the system using biometric fingerprint access, proximity card, or username and password. Then, the clinician selects the patient, medication, and desired quantity they need to access. The drawer and compartment containing the specified drug will unlock and open automatically, while all other compartments and drawers remain securely locked.

Once the clinician has administered the medication to the patient, they then report the patient’s usage and return any leftover medicine to the cabinet. The inventory management system records the entire transaction and updates the patient’s file, and the inventory counts accordingly.

Automated medication dispensing cabinets are available in standalone and tabletop models. To expand your storage capacity, you can add auxiliary cabinets, which can all be controlled by a single master unit. You can customize the cabinet drawer and compartment sizes to meet your precise needs. The medication dispensing cabinets integrate into a comprehensive system with mobile carts, further discussed in the next section.

Automated dispensing cabinets can also be utilized in surgery rooms to secure narcotics storage. To access stored drugs, the anesthetist must sign in and identify the patient by scanning their ID bracelet, for example. The anesthetist can then select a narcotic according to their authorization. The dispensing cabinet will provide access to only the specified drug in the requested quantity and update the patient’s records and the inventory system accordingly.

Mobile Medication Dispensing Cabinets

Mobile dispensing cabinets provide a secure way to transport pharmaceuticals from the central storage area to patient rooms. Like the master cabinets, the carts contain drawers with individually sealed compartments for storing medications and a computer for accessing the cabinet.

Nurses can use mobile dispensing cabinets to retrieve the pharmaceuticals for all their patients at once while minimizing the risk of distribution errors. To do this, the nurse first signs in at the master storage cabinet and selects a cart. The nurse picks one medication at a time and transfers each to an assigned compartment until all the drugs have been placed in the mobile cabinet.

The nurse then takes the cart to each patient’s room and identifies the patient by scanning their ID bracelet. The dispensing cabinet will allow access to only the medication listed in that patient’s clinical file. The nurse administers the drug, then confirms the usage in the system and returns any leftovers to the cabinet. The system automatically updates the patient’s file and the central inventory.

Benefits of Automated Medication Dispensing Cabinets

Security

Automated medication dispensing cabinets prioritize security. Each drug is stored in an individually sealed compartment, and all drawers are automatically locked. Access is limited to authorized users, minimizing the risk of theft. Plus, each clinician can access only the specific medications they have authorization for, and each transaction is recorded in the system and by a security camera. There is also an alert system in the case of a forced drawer. Visit our online store to see our healthcare storage products.

Accuracy

Automated dispensing cabinets reduce medication errors and improve accuracy. Clinicians must identify the patient to whom they are administering medication, and the system only allows access to the specific medications assigned to that patient. The system also updates the patient file to maintain an accurate record, helping to minimize medication errors and increase the quality of patient care.

Efficiency

Automated dispensing cabinets make dispensing medication more efficient. Clinicians don’t have to spend time searching for where a particular drug is stored, nor do they manually document their transactions, which means they can spend more time caring for patients.

Inventory Management

Automated dispensing cabinets provide comprehensive inventory management for pharmaceuticals. The system tracks who took what for which patient and when and automatically updates the inventory counts. In addition, it manages drug expiration dates and alerts the pharmacist when the inventory of a particular medication is running low. The inventory management system also allows pharmacists to monitor the administration of narcotics to ensure compliance with government regulations.