Remote Review of Chemo Orders Saves Time and Money

Pharmacy Practice News highlights a new and interesting application of remote electronic supervision of pharmacy technicians via live video at Exempla Lutherin Medical Center in Denver, Colorado in their article, ASHP Coverage: Remote Camera To Check Chemotherapy Orders Saves Time and Money (free login required, or use bugmenot):

Prior to implementation of the camera, decentralized pharmacists had to go to the compounding area in the central pharmacy to verify the accuracy of the order. The new process improves efficiency by eliminating the time it takes for the pharmacists to travel to the central pharmacy. The process of traveling to the central pharmacy, waiting for other personnel and completing the check took an average of 346 seconds before the camera was put in place; that was reduced to five seconds with implementation of the camera.

Additionally, after implementing the new system, the Denver pharmacists were able to more than double the number of chemotherapy doses prepared each day, from four to nine.

Great article, it highlights all the points, including that it saves them time, money ($15,000 anually!), and helps them comply with Federal regulations (797).