Several weeks ago, this blog discussed our use of a Parata Pass robot and our implementation of SuperSync. At that time, we announced (somewhat like proud parents) that our Parata Pass (named Phyllis) was going to be a big sister. Well Maximus (a Parata Max) entered our pharmacy almost 2 weeks ago and this blog post will address the details of preparing for and implementing automation in our retail pharmacy space. We will discuss the results of the implementation as they relate to improvements in workflow and our MedSync program in a later post.
The Purchase Details
Before finalizing the purchase, several decisions were made with respect to features that would be shipped on the machine. A couple of these decisions were made without a complete understanding of implications. And while a better understanding might not have changed the decisions made, I believe that these questions deserve a bit of discussion as it might benefit someone else down the road.
Vial Sizes. The Parata Max has the ability to label, fill, and cap, and sort prescriptions (start to finish). It is truly a marvelous example of modern automation. The machine can be equipped to use two different vial sizes. Our machine shipped with the standard 13 dram / 30 dram vial size combination. This is well suited for most retail implementations. The other option is the 20 dram / 40 dram vial size combination. This combination may be better suited for pharmacies that deal in a significant 90 day fill business. Be sure your choice of vial sizes matches your needs as changing the vial configuration is not something that is easily accomplished after the machine ships.
Standard vs. Locking Cells. The second item that was discussed prior to placing the order was the option of locking cells. The sales person emphasized the use of locking cells as being important for scheduled (e.g. narcotic) medications. While locking cells are useful for this, they also offer an additional safety feature. With locking cells in the machine, the user (often a technician) can only have ONE cell open at any given time, minimizing the chance that a mistake is made during the filling process. Proper training, of course, also minimizes this risk, and ultimately the added cost was not worth this for us.
The Delivery Game Plan
Like any major addition to a pharmacy workflow, a lot of work was required after the purchase of the equipment but before the delivery and installation. This is very similar to parents preparing a nursery for a new arrival. A lot of attention is paid to details beforehand knowing that after the delivery there will be a lot going on. Parata, of course, has a detailed handbook of requirements that needs to be followed. These included:
- Adding a dedicated power outlet on its own breaker for the robot
- Network access near the installation point
- proper space around the installed robot (three feet of open space around three of four sides and one foot on the end)
- consideration of workflow
In our case, a small remodel was necessary to make space for the machine. The delivery crew visited about 1 week before installation to be sure the equipment could be brought into the space and all installation requirements would be done by the time they arrived for installation. I’m not sure they were confident that everything would be done in time, as the “nursery” looked far from complete at that point. Like most remodeling projects, this one finished the night before the installation was to occur.
The Arrival
After much anticipation and preparation, the big day finally came. As this was our second delivery, we were likely a bit more prepared and relaxed. Unlike the delivery of Phyllis 2 years earlier, which involved the equivalent of a c-section, Max breezed into the pharmacy without any problems. It was not until after delivery that a few problems surfaced. The “doctor” in the delivery room (the Parata technician) quickly discovered that Max had a birth defect. He was wired incorrectly at the factory for our installation (the power and network access points were on the top of the machine instead of the bottom). Dr. Zach, however quickly created a temporary fix and scheduled a minor surgery the next day to fix the problem. Outside of this, installation and training occurred without any significant difficulties, and within a few days we were up and running. Like any new parents, we spent the next several days getting to know our new arrival.
The installation technician taught us how to change the labels, add vials and lids, and (of course) how to “feed it” (load) medications. Boy, can this boy eat! By the time the installation technician left us (three days later), we had only filled about 100 of the 186 different cells. At one week, we were filling about 50% of our total prescription volume on the Parata Max.
Coming soon, we will share our experiences with now automation has improved (hopefully!) our workflow and our Medication Synchronization program.