Martin's Point Expands Pharmacy Technology

Adds second "robot" to help streamline prescription filling process, reduce waiting time

PORTLAND, Maine - Martin's Point Health Care has expanded its pharmacy services with an additional robotic prescription-dispensing device.

Three years ago, Martin's Point Health Care broke new ground in the area of health care technology by bringing the first robotic prescription system to Maine, reducing patient waiting time and enabling pharmacists to spend more time with patients. "Spence," named by employees, was a big help in streamlining its on-site pharmacy.

Martin's Point recently expanded the program to include a second robot. Named by a company-wide contest, "Carrie," short for Apothecary, will assist the pharmacy team to fill prescriptions in a more systematic way.

Although Martin's Point pharmacists continue to oversee the filling of all prescriptions, the SP 200 Robotic Prescription Dispensing System made by ScriptPro performs the time consuming task of counting pills, filling vials and labeling them. And the robot can do it at a rate of up to 100 prescriptions per hour. ScriptPro, based in Mission, Kansas, manufactures the system which uses bar code scanning to assure that the correct drug is given to the patient. The pharmacist then makes the final check for accuracy, comparing the pills in the vial with a computer screen image of the drug.

"The new system has reduced the waiting time for patients, and also allows our pharmacists to devote more time to answering questions, giving advice and personally counseling patients, which to many is the most important aspect of health care," said Mike Takach, R.Ph., Director of Pharmacy Services at Martin's Point.

This is how the system works: When the Martin's Point pharmacy enters a patient's prescription into the computer, the robot automatically chooses a vial, takes it to the correct drug cell, and fills it. The robot then labels the filled vial and sends it down a conveyor to the pharmacist for final inspection and capping. The system has bar code scanning steps along the way to ensure the proper drug and strength is dispensed. The final check screen shows an image of the drug for visual verification by the Martin's Point pharmacy staff.

Headquartered in Portland at 331 Veranda St., Martin's Point serves more than 50,000 patients in the areas of family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, radiology, cardiology and mammography, as well as other fields. Established in 1981, Martin's Point accepts patients covered by most health plans and the US Family Health Plan. The organization also has an extensive health education center. For additional information on Martin's Point, visit online at www.martinspoint.org.

# # #