UVA RX Automated Drug Distribution Systems
- Outpatient ROBOT (aka French Jr.)
Once a prescription is entered into a pharmacy computer system, the ROBOT determines the correct size vial, and then finds the specified drug on its inventory map. A bar-code scanner verifies the location of the drug. Then a robotic arm with a pincer hand holds the vial and counts the pills as they are automatically dropped into it. The robotic arm then places the vial on a conveyer and the patient label is applied. Bar-code scanning is used throughout the process to insure patient safety. The pharmacist makes a final check for accuracy, comparing the pills in the vial with a computer screen image and description of the drug.
- The Inpatient ROBOT (aka Rosie or Hal)
The Inpatient Robot is a centralized drug distribution system that automates the storage, dispensing, restocking, return and crediting of single unit-dose, bar-coded medications. The internal workings of the ROBOT are on a vertical rail system and it uses a scanning device whch is attached to it's optic viwer to read bar-codes on the drug packages. The ROBOT is programmed to retrieve medications and deposit them into patient-specific boxes. The system can stock several thousand doses of medications. More than 3 million first doses were processed through the UVA Inpatient Pharmacy in 2005.