KEYPOINTS:
- Omnicell and Fresenius Kabi announced that they are collaborating on new technology for managing controlled substances.
- Automated Controlled Substance Dispenser to accommodate Fresenius Kabi Simplist® MicroVault® Pre-filled Syringes
- The collaboration aims to provide U.S. hospitals and health systems with innovative new pharmacy technology designed to support safety and efficiency in dispensing controlled substances in patient care areas.
- Managing controlled substances is a significant challenge for hospitals and clinics. According to a recent study, more than 148 million doses of medicine were lost in 2019, compromising both patient and workforce safety.
- Controlled substances are illegal or prescription drugs regulated by the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) in the United States.
Omnicell and Fresenius Kabi Collaborate to Enhance Management of Controlled Substances in U.S. Hospitals
Omnicell, Inc. (Nasdaq: OMCL), a leading provider of medication management solutions and adherence tools for health systems and pharmacies, and Fresenius Kabi, a global health care company that specializes in medicines and technologies for infusion, transfusion, and clinical nutrition, are collaborating to provide U.S. hospitals and health systems with innovative new pharmacy technology designed to support safety and efficiency in dispensing of controlled substances in patient care areas.
Managing controlled substances is a significant challenge for hospitals and clinics. According to a recent study, more than 148 million doses of medicine were lost in 2019, compromising both patient and workforce safety.
Omnicell’s Controlled Substance Dispenser (CSD) is a leading high-volume, automated single dose dispensing solution designed to help pharmacies better manage controlled substances, reduce diversion, and save nursing time. By providing only one dose at a time, the CSD is designed to eliminate the need for countbacks and decrease the time required to resolve discrepancies to provide nurses more time for direct patient care and discourage diversion. 2
Through its relationship with Fresenius Kabi, Omnicell has designed new cassettes for its CSD specifically for Fresenius Kabi Simplist ® MicroVault ® prefilled syringes that will provide customers more flexibility with their medication supply chain and enhanced controlled substance management initiatives. The new Fresenius Kabi cassettes for the Omnicell CSD are available now.
Fresenius Kabi Simplist ® MicroVault ® prefilled syringes are used by hospitals in the United States in an effort to help reduce the amount of time nurses spend preparing doses and documenting waste. The error rate is four times lower using these prefilled syringes compared with traditional medication administration practices. 3 The new cassettes for the Omnicell CSD will accommodate MicroVault ® packaging for a variety of low-dose narcotic medications including morphine, hydromorphone, and fentanyl. The syringes are manufacturer-prepared in the United States, with a 24-month shelf life, and are single-unit doses, supporting best practices for medication administration.
“Omnicell is committed to addressing the biggest challenges in pharmacy care delivery through technology,” said Nish Parekh, Omnicell’s Vice President of Product Management for Point of Care Solutions. “Through innovative collaborations with healthcare leaders like Fresenius Kabi, we’re delivering the solutions designed to help our customers manage controlled substances, reduce diversion, optimize inventory, and enhance clinical workflows to support optimal care and patient safety.”
What Is a Controlled Substance?
Controlled substances are illegal or prescription drugs regulated by the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) in the United States. Recognizing the potential that certain medications have for abuse and dependence, Congress enacted the CSA as part of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970.
This act categorizes all substances that are regulated under federal law into “schedules,” depending on how potentially dangerous they are. The schedule the drug is placed under depends on its medical use, its potential for abuse, and its safety or how easily people become dependent on it.
Careful consideration has gone into this categorization. The control of drugs through law exists to protect people from the harm that these drugs can do. It is based on research from many different sources into the potential harmfulness of the drug, both to individuals and to society.
Schedule 1 Drugs
Schedule I drugs (the law uses Roman numerals one through five) have a high potential for abuse. They currently have no federally accepted medical use in treatment in the U.S., and there is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or substance under medical supervision.
Examples of Schedule I substances include:
- Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB)
- Heroin
- Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)
Methaqualone
Marijuana is the only Schedule I drug that is legal for medicinal and recreational uses in many states. However, many experts believe the drug’s status should be changed to allow for more comprehensive studies to determine the medical benefits of marijuana.
Schedule 2 Drugs
Schedule II drugs and substances also have a high potential for abuse. They differ from Schedule I drugs in that they do have a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the U.S. or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions.
Examples of Schedule II substances include:
- Cocaine
- Methadone
- Methamphetamine
- Morphine
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
Schedule 3 Drugs
Schedule III drugs and substances have less potential for abuse than the drugs or substances in Schedules I and II. They have a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the U.S.
Abuse of the drug or substance may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
Examples of Schedule III substances include:
- Anabolic steroids
- Barbiturates
- Codeine
- Hydrocodone with aspirin or Tylenol
Schedule 4 Drugs
These drugs and substances have a low potential for abuse relative to those in Schedule III. The drug or substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the drugs or other substances in Schedule III.
Examples of Schedule IV substances include:
- Darvon
- Equanil
- Talwin
- Valium
- Xanax
Schedule 5 Drugs
The drug or substance has a low potential for abuse relative to those in Schedule IV. The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
Abuse of the drug or other substances may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the drugs or other substances in Schedule IV. Examples of Schedule V drugs include cough medicines with codeine.
About Fresenius Kabi:
Fresenius Kabi is a global health care company that specializes in medicines and technologies for infusion, transfusion and clinical nutrition. The company’s products and services are used to help treat critical and chronic conditions. The company’s U.S. headquarters is in Lake Zurich, Illinois. The company’s global headquarters is in Bad Homburg, Germany.
About Omnicell:
Since 1992, Omnicell has been committed to transforming the pharmacy care delivery model to dramatically improve outcomes and lower costs. Through the vision of the autonomous pharmacy, a combination of automation, intelligence, and technology-enabled services, powered by a cloud data platform, Omnicell supports more efficient ways to manage medications across all care settings. Over 7,000 facilities worldwide use Omnicell automation and analytics solutions to help increase operational efficiency, reduce medication errors, deliver actionable intelligence, and improve patient safety. More than 60,000 institutional and retail pharmacies across North America and the United Kingdom leverage Omnicell’s innovative medication adherence and population health solutions to improve patient engagement and adherence to prescriptions, helping to reduce costly hospital readmissions.
SOURCE:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211110005628/en/Omnicell-and-Fresenius-Kabi-Collaborate-to-Enhance-Management-of-Controlled-Substances-in-U.S.-Hospitals
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