GREAT BEND, Kan., April 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Central Kansas Medical Center (CKMC) has purchased new medication-use technology to increase patient safety and improve nursing efficiency.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991203/SFF009 )
The new medication dispensing hardware and software system is manufactured by Omnicell , a leading provider of patient safety solutions preferred by nurses.
Installation of Omnicell anesthesia workstations, medication dispensing cabinets and a physician order management system will coincide with installation of a new hospital-wide health information management system. The installations are scheduled for completion in late summer.
"We're taking patient safety to a higher level than ever before by automating our manual systems," explained Anne Flanagan, interim chief executive officer for CKMC. "At the same time, we will improve nursing efficiency by eliminating pill counting and the wait for drug deliveries to medical-surgical floors. The time savings will give them more time for patient care."
The drug dispensing cabinets will be password-protected and securely locked, have lights to guide nurses to the right medication bins, and will be easily integrated with the hospital's new information system, according to Flanagan, who noted, "The medication use system contains a profile of drugs approved for each patient and only allows the nurse to access the drug and dose prescribed by the physician, adding a layer of safety."
About Central Kansas Medical Center
Central Kansas Medical Center is a two-hospital, 124-bed, regional acute care facility serving a population of 60,000. The primary hospital is Central Kansas Medical Center, located in Great Bend. The second hospital, St. Joseph Memorial Hospital, is located in Larned, 20 miles southwest of Great Bend. Sponsored by Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI), Central Kansas Medical Center is committed to serving the healthcare needs of local communities.
About Omnicell
Established in 1992, Omnicell is a leading provider of patient safety solutions preferred by nurses. Addressing the medication-use process and the medical-surgical supply chain, Omnicell's broad range of solutions are used throughout the healthcare facility -- in the pharmacy, nursing units, operating room, cardiac cath lab, and all the way to the patient's bedside. Improving patient care by enhancing operational efficiency, Omnicell's end-to-end solutions include systems for physician order management, automated pharmacy retrieval, medication packaging, medication and supply dispensing, open bar code supply management, nursing workflow automation at the bedside, and Web-based procurement. More than 1,400 healthcare facilities use Omnicell's solutions to reduce medication errors, operate more efficiently, and decrease costs -- ultimately contributing to improved clinical and financial outcomes. For more information, visit http://www.omnicell.com/.
Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991203/SFF009AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/PRN Photo Desk, +1-888-776-6555 or +1-212-782-2840 Omnicell, Inc.CONTACT: Bruce Lewis of Lewis & Summers Public Relations,+1-707-964-3844, or bruce@prwebsite.com, for Omnicell
Web site: http://www.omnicell.com/
