Content about Automation and Technology

December 5, 2011

Upon entering eRxCity on the second floor of a medical building at the corner of Mott and Canal streets in Chinatown in New York City, the store’s whole concept becomes clear from a slogan printed on the wall across from a flat-screen TV showing Hong Kong soap operas: “The next generation pharmacy.”


Upon entering eRxCity on the second floor of a medical building at the corner of Mott and Canal streets in Chinatown in New York City, the store’s whole concept becomes clear from a slogan printed on the wall across from a flat-screen TV showing Hong Kong soap operas: “The next generation pharmacy.”


December 5, 2011

When someone says “pharmacy automation and technology,” the image that most likely springs to mind is a pharmacy robot dispensing pills in a bottle or pharmacists managing operations or looking at patients’ medical records and electronic prescriptions with the latest pharmacy software.


When someone says “pharmacy automation and technology,” the image that most likely springs to mind is a pharmacy robot dispensing pills in a bottle or pharmacists managing operations or looking at patients’ medical records and electronic prescriptions with the latest pharmacy software.


But technology increasingly is migrating out from behind the counter as pharmacy retailers wield it not just to make the jobs of pharmacists and pharmacy techs easier, but to enhance the experience of the customer as well.


December 2, 2011

Zipnosis, which offers an online Web portal that allows patients to have virtual visits with a clinician for minor ailments, and Verizon Wireless have announced that Zipnosis will be a featured technology in the Verizon booth at the mHealth Summit Convention in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5 to 7.

MINNEAPOLIS and SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Zipnosis, which offers an online Web portal that allows patients to have virtual visits with a clinician for minor ailments, and Verizon Wireless have announced that Zipnosis will be a featured technology in the Verizon booth at the mHealth Summit Convention in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5 to 7.

The mHealth Summit is the largest conference in the world focused on mobile and wireless health solutions.

November 14, 2011

A division of Catalina Marketing has introduced a healthcare solution designed to drive medication adherence and create healthier outcomes for patients.

ST PETERSBURG, Fla. — A division of Catalina Marketing has introduced a healthcare solution designed to drive medication adherence and create healthier outcomes for patients.

Catalina Health said its Health Consumer Journey turns in-depth insights — gathered from its privacy protected, proprietary pharmacy databases — into personalized patient education that is clinically and emotionally relevant, and delivers it to health consumers where they need it most — right at the pharmacy point-of-care, the company said.

November 11, 2011

SoloHealth on Friday announced the company was awarded with Intel’s information technology healthcare award, the “Intel Innovation Award,” during the 2011 Health IT Leadership Summit that took place earlier this week in Atlanta.

ATLANTA — SoloHealth on Friday announced the company was awarded with Intel’s information technology healthcare award, the “Intel Innovation Award,” during the 2011 Health IT Leadership Summit that took place earlier this week in Atlanta.

November 9, 2011

A majority of doctors in the United States now prescribe electronically, the country's largest e-prescribing network said Wednesday.

ARLINGTON, Va. — A majority of doctors in the United States now prescribe electronically, the country's largest e-prescribing network said Wednesday.

Surescripts announced that more than 52% of office-based doctors now use e-prescribing. The company presented the statistic in an online event featuring healthcare leaders and providers from across the country who gathered to receive the Safe-Rx Award, which Surescripts gives to the top 10 states based on their use of e-prescribing.

November 9, 2011

QS/1 and ECR Software have released an interface that links the ECRS Catapult point-of-sale system and QS/1's NRx pharmacy management system, the two companies said.

BOONE, N.C. — QS/1 and ECR Software have released an interface that links the ECRS Catapult point-of-sale system and QS/1's NRx pharmacy management system, the two companies said.

The companies said they developed the interface to improve communication between the POS system and the pharmacy management system and merge pharmacy and grocery department business data into a centralized repository. Star Super Market and Discount Pharmacy, a chain that operates four stores in the Huntsville, Ala., area served as the site for a pilot of the product.

November 1, 2011

A provider of software-based communication solutions for the healthcare realm will integrate one of its technologies into an online program that allows healthcare providers and caregivers to remotely monitor, record and track patients' health status and medication use on a daily basis.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — A provider of software-based communication solutions for the healthcare realm will integrate one of its technologies into an online program that allows healthcare providers and caregivers to remotely monitor, record and track patients' health status and medication use on a daily basis.

Polyglot Systems said its Meducation technology will be implemented into the Connected for Life platform, which is operated by the Family Health Network.

October 31, 2011

Health Market Science and PDX are offering PDX system clients access to the HMS Provider MasterFile, the companies said.

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. — Health Market Science and PDX are offering PDX system clients access to the HMS Provider MasterFile, the companies said.

HMS, a company that supplies provider data and data management services, and PDX, which provides technology products for the retail pharmacy industry, said PDX Classic Pharmacy System and Enterprise Pharmacy System users would have the same access as "top-tier pharmacy chains across the country."

October 31, 2011

Texas-based supermarket operator United Supermarkets has teamed up with FlavoRx to roll out the Fillmaster Plus dispensing technology at all of the chain's pharmacies.

LUBBOCK, Texas — Texas-based supermarket operator United Supermarkets has teamed up with FlavoRx to roll out the Fillmaster Plus dispensing technology at all of the chain's pharmacies.

Fillmaster Plus is a pharmacy device that automates drug reconstitution. How it works: When a prescription bottle is scanned using the Fillmaster Plus, the unit displays the medication's name, volume, strength and the amount of purified water it needs for reconstitution. This process reduces the risk of dispensing errors and reconstitution is completed in a matter of seconds, FlavoRx said.

October 27, 2011

Winn-Dixie is looking to help pharmacy customers better manage their prescriptions by introducing a new mobile application for iPhone, Android or Blackberry smartphones.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Winn-Dixie is looking to help pharmacy customers better manage their prescriptions by introducing a new mobile application for iPhone, Android or Blackberry smartphones.

October 24, 2011

Tens of billions of dollars have flooded into health IT in recent years, making that sector "as sexy an [investment] as social media and gaming," experts say.

Tens of billions of dollars have flooded into health IT in recent years, making that sector "as sexy an [investment] as social media and gaming," experts say.

Click here to download the exclusive DSN digital report, and find out what 15 leading pharmacy services companies — traditionalists and start-ups alike — are doing to bring new innovation to the HIT segment.

October 21, 2011

SoloHealth on Friday announced a nationwide rollout in 2012 of its next-generation health-and-wellness kiosks, the SoloHealth Station, with the goal of replacing many of the 25,000 outdated blood-pressure machines found today in retail locations nationwide.

ATLANTA — SoloHealth on Friday announced a nationwide rollout in 2012 of its next-generation health-and-wellness kiosks, the SoloHealth Station, with the goal of replacing many of the 25,000 outdated blood-pressure machines found today in retail locations nationwide.

October 19, 2011

How many times have we heard it said that one day in America there will be a nationwide health information network that will link patients, providers and payers seamlessly, efficiently and securely, across a universal standardized system?

How many times have we heard it said that one day in America there will be a nationwide health information network that will link patients, providers and payers seamlessly, efficiently and securely, across a universal standardized system? It’s been the dream of health information technology strategists and engineers for decades. And yet, when you take a look at the healthcare experience of the typical American consumer, you’d be hard-pressed to find evidence that we are any closer to achieving that dream today than we were in the days of the Carter administration.


October 19, 2011

PakSense has launched a new label that monitors time and temperature of such perishable items as food, vaccines, pharmaceuticals and biologics during distribution and storage.

BOISE, Idaho — PakSense has launched a new label that monitors time and temperature of such perishable items as food, vaccines, pharmaceuticals and biologics during distribution and storage.

October 19, 2011

Stayhealthy and Adflow Health Networks have entered a partnership that is designed to expand the presence of biometric testing solutions and engage consumers in retail and nonretail markets.

MONROVIA, Calif., and FORT WASHINGTON, Pa. — Stayhealthy and Adflow Health Networks have entered a partnership that is designed to expand the presence of biometric testing solutions and engage consumers in retail and nonretail markets.

October 19, 2011

Technology in retail pharmacies has traditionally 
meant the adoption of robotic dispensing systems and electronic health records, but in recent years, pharmacy retailers have been bringing technology to the consumer level.


Technology in retail pharmacies has traditionally 
meant the adoption of robotic dispensing systems and electronic health records, but in recent years, pharmacy retailers have been bringing technology to the consumer level.


In September, Rite Aid teamed up with OptumHealth to become the first to provide “virtual clinics” in a retail pharmacy setting in some stores in the Detroit area.


October 7, 2011

Kroger is installing Avery Weigh-Tronix's tabletop pharmacy automation systems in its stores, Avery said.

LIVONIA, Mich. — Kroger is installing Avery Weigh-Tronix's tabletop pharmacy automation systems in its stores, Avery said.

September 26, 2011

Cap-n-Lock has launched an easy way for people taking prescription drugs to keep them out of the hands of children and teenagers.

LINCOLN, Calif. — Cap-n-Lock has launched an easy way for people taking prescription drugs to keep them out of the hands of children and teenagers.

The company announced Monday the launch of the Locking Cap, a combination locking cap designed to work with existing prescription medication bottles. The cap is designed for ease of use, combining sturdy PVC construction with a four-digit combination locking mechanism.

September 23, 2011

A groundbreaking call center at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy that delivers medication therapy management services to patients with chronic illnesses utilizes pharmacy technicians certified by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board.

WASHINGTON — A groundbreaking call center at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy that delivers medication therapy management services to patients with chronic illnesses utilizes pharmacy technicians certified by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board.

September 20, 2011

PharmaSmart unveiled its new medication therapy management software at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores' Pharmacy and Technology Conference in Boston, the blood-pressure monitor manufacturer said.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — PharmaSmart unveiled its new medication therapy management software at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores' Pharmacy and Technology Conference in Boston, the blood-pressure monitor manufacturer said.

September 19, 2011

U.K.-based weight-loss program Nutracheck has introduced its Calorie Counter application for the iPhone, designed to scan bar codes of more than 10,000 products in the U.K. food database.

NOTTINGHAM, England — U.K.-based weight-loss program Nutracheck has introduced its Calorie Counter application for the iPhone, designed to scan bar codes of more than 10,000 products in the U.K. food database.

September 16, 2011

E.F. Bavis and Associates has launched a solar-powered transaction drawer for banking and pharmacy drive-through lanes, the company said.

CINCINNATI — E.F. Bavis and Associates has launched a solar-powered transaction drawer for banking and pharmacy drive-through lanes, the company said.

September 14, 2011

Walgreens on Wednesday announced that it ranked 29th on this year’s InformationWeek 500, a list of the top technology innovators in the United States.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Wednesday announced that it ranked 29th on this year’s InformationWeek 500, a list of the top technology innovators in the United States. Additionally, Walgreens was the highest-ranked company in the retail/general merchandising category. The annual list was unveiled at last night’s InformationWeek 500 conference in California.

September 13, 2011

Electronic prescribing network Surescripts has certified Definitive Homecare Solutions' CPR+ specialty pharmacy software for e-prescribing.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Electronic prescribing network Surescripts has certified Definitive Homecare Solutions' CPR+ specialty pharmacy software for e-prescribing.

Definitive Homecare Solutions said CPR+ incorporates e-prescribing capabilities into a workflow queue that is designed specifically for specialty pharmacies, helping meet specialty pharmacies' needs by providing a step-by-step process to guide them through patient intake, medication dispensing and refill, clinical patient assessment and reimbursement.