Talyst has introduced AutoCool, the first
refrigerated storage system to combine access control with inventory tracking.
AutoCool is driven by AutoPharm, software that integrates pharmacy bar coding,
storage, inventory, ordering, and clinical systems.
"Hospital pharmacies of all sizes
told us they needed a better solution for managing the valuable inventory in
their refrigerators," said James E. Torina, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Talyst. "When a single vial of an injectable drug can have a value
in the hundreds, even thousands of dollars, managing inventory based on
real-time data becomes critical."
Each AutoCool unit stores up to
84 items, and multiple units can be daisy-chained to automate all, or a
portion of, refrigerated items. Compartments automatically rotate to appear
behind seven secure doors that have automated lock releases and lighted
indicators. AutoCool limits access to a single item at one time, providing an
audit trail for all storage and retrieval activities (personnel access can be
controlled by password security). It supports bar code confirmation of all
stocking and picking activities, with pick-to-light indicators that guide
pharmacy staff through such activities. Twin thermistor sensors provide
constant temperature control of refrigerated medications. AutoCool can be
installed in remote locations, with remote temperature sensing for the
host-workstation.
"Pharmacies are full of inventory
silos, with medications and data stored in multiple locations. The
refrigerator is one of those silos, separate from the bulk of the inventory
data," said Ron Strandin, President of Talyst's Acute Care Group. "AutoCool is
a breakthrough in tying the physical security to the real-time pharmacy
inventory."
