Pharmacy Benefits

Running a busy hospital pharmacy requires more than an automated dispensing cabinet that supplies nurses with medications safely and securely. It takes a complete solution backed by a responsive partner. McKesson's AcuDose-Rx medication dispensing cabinets integrate the systems, service and support you need to keep things running smoothly—at a manageable cost that fits within your long-term strategic vision.

• Optimize your medication inventory with The RightStock™ System and other advanced functionality to reduce stock outs, improve inventory turns and save you money.
• Support on-the-go nurses with intuitive workflow that requires fewer touches and gets nurses in and out of cabinets fast. So they have more time for patient care.
• Maximize your technology investment with modular software upgrades and cabinets that are engineered to last about twice as long as the competition.
• Robust reporting that's as easy as a press of a button. Monitor your operational and safety performance, and ensure regulatory compliance with three levels of reporting.
• Protect your investment with world-class service provided by McKesson's US-based product experts.

Optimize Medication Inventory 

Inventory management is a strategic imperative. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers, pharmacy inventory represents approximately one quarter of the average hospital's inventory value. AcuDose-Rx helps you automatically manage inventory to effectively balance cost constraints with patient needs.

• The RightStock™ System automatically adjusts inventory levels based on usage to help put an end to stock outs. That's something both nurses and pharmacy will appreciate.
• Bar-code scanning on restock ensures items are stocked in their assigned location-essential for inventory and safety.
• With up to 15 drawers and three levels of security, Main Cabinets offer you unequaled flexibility for storing medications.
• Assign medication locations from the pharmacy or at the cabinet for maximum efficiency.
• Real-Time Cabinet Polling for AcuDose-Rx-a feature of the MedCarousel® solution-enables polling of the latest cabinet needs whenever pharmacy staff is ready to fill cabinets.

Support on-the-go nurses 

AcuDose-Rx automated dispensing cabinets are made for on-the-go nurses. Nurses get fast and easy access to the medications their patients need. At the same time, AcuDose-Rx keeps the pharmacy firmly in charge of medication dispensing. It automatically tracks and sends real-time usage data, enabling pharmacy to monitor the most important safety, security and inventory factors.

Here's what your nurses will like:

• FastEntry™ Biometrics. The highly secure feature that lives up to its name. Single logon means nurses can access the cabinet with a single-touch of any finger or thumb. No additional password or ID badge scan is required with this optional feature.
• The RightStock™ System. NEW! RightStock automatically prevents stock outs while also minimizing inventory levels and waste. So the nurse can always get her medications. And pharmacy gets fewer phone calls.
• Tab Navigation. NEW! Tab-driven workflow—STAT, PRN, Scheduled and All Orders—enables nurses to quickly and easily find what they need.
• Dispense by Time. NEW! By linking patient meds with the actual clinical order, AcuDose-Rx displays the actual "due" time chronologically. So, nurses can more quickly identify the meds their patients need when they need them.
• High Performance. Nurses may not realize all cabinet PCs and servers now run on the latest Microsoft® Windows® 7 platform. They'll just know they're getting meds faster than ever.

What's New  

If you haven’t seen AcuDose-Rx for a while now’s the time for a second look. With more than 40 new features in the past three years, AcuDose-Rx is the most flexible medication dispensing cabinet on the market. And with the new Connect-Rx® Version 8.0 software, AcuDose-Rx is the only one fully optimized for both cabinet-centric and patient-centric environments.

The RightStock System 

The RightStock System combines intelligent features that enable you to:

• monitor and dynamically adjust inventory levels based on historical or peak usage, per med and per cabinet
• prevent potential stock outs before they happen with automatic re-order triggers
• set restock frequency based on your needs
• ensure permanent medications remain available in each cabinet

Tab Navigation 

Tab Navigation supports a nurse’s workflow by providing a fast and easy reference to medications. Smart tabs organize medications by category—STAT, PRN, Scheduled and All Orders—helping nurses to quickly find what they need.

Dispense By Time  

Because AcuDose-Rx exchanges interface messages directly with the pharmacy information system, this is the safest method of providing scheduled meds from a cabinet. Nurses find needed medications faster and easier because the actual “due” time from the clinical order is chronologically displayed. This is especially helpful when a patient’s medication therapies are spread irregularly over several days.

Closed-Loop Administration  

For the first time ever, nursing and pharmacy leaders will have an accurate record of when a patient’s medications are dispensed from a cabinet and when they are administered. A product of AcuDose-Rx cabinet-to-bar-code medication administration connectivity, not only does this aid compliance, but also promotes a safer, more efficient workflow.

Maximize Your Technology Investment   

McKesson helps you keep pace with technological advances while protecting your investment over the long haul.

• Modular Upgrades. Stay ahead of the technology curve with regular software upgrades (included in your maintenance fees) that are easy to manage.
• Built to Last. Made from durable steel in our US-based plant, AcuDose-Rx automated dispensing cabinets feature jam-resistant drawers, and are engineered to last twice as long as the competition.
• Most Integrated Cabinet. AcuDose-Rx is powered by the same, versatile Connect-Rx® software platform that drives all McKesson pharmacy automation solutions, and which interfaces with McKesson Horizon and Paragon systems, plus more than 90 pharmacy information systems.
• World Class Support. Your cabinet investment is protected by U.S.-based support, 24x7x365, whenever you need it.

Robust Reporting  

With AcuDose-Rx 8.0, reporting just got simpler. More than 70 standard reports are ready to run out of the box.

• Run, modify, save and print reports from any networked PC.
• Re-run common reports without re-entering all parameters.
• Save in PDF, Excel, and MS Word formats, and share with colleagues.
• Multi-select values for parameters such as multiple nursing units or medications.
• Use every day terms ("Last 7 days," "Yesterday," etc.) to quickly enter dates.

The optional Automation Decision Support™ analytics solution combines and organizes data from AcuDose-Rx and other McKesson automation solutions. Powerful dashboard tools help identify potential drug diversion issues and unauthorized cabinet access.

World-class Service  

When you become a McKesson customer, you get more than industry-leading pharmacy automation products and solutions. You get a team of 200-plus product experts ready to assist you. Our US-based team has a thorough understanding of hospital business practices and workflow processes. And this team is dedicated solely to keep you running at peak efficiency. Several different levels of implementation, training, service and support are available.

• Talk with a live engineer 24x7x365 who is located in our US headquarters. Or initiate and track your case online. Our Customer Support Center is certified by Service Capability & Performance (SCP) Standards, the global benchmark for service excellence worldwide since 1998.
• With the Service Now option, we'll train your staff to perform basic preventive maintenance and simple repairs. We'll be your second level of support.
• The best in the business, our regionally-based Field Service Engineers are experienced, highly skilled specialists who are cross-trained on all McKesson pharmacy automation solutions.
• Proactive systems monitoring ensures system uptime and optimal performance.

Learn more about service, support and implementation.

Nursing Benefits 

AcuDose-Rx medication dispensing cabinets are made for on-the-go nurses. Patient and medication information is organized to work the way nurses do. The console and med drawers are pleasing to use and built to last. So you spend less time at the cabinet, and more time with your patients.

• Intuitive Workflow. New, intelligent features help nurses work smarter, not harder. These include:
  • Dispense by Time helps nurses access medications faster and easier because actual "due" times are chronologically listed.
  • Tab Navigation is the smarter way to organize patient medications—Scheduled, STAT, PRN or All Orders.
  • Closed Loop Administration for time-stamp comparisons of patient medications dispensed vs. administered.
• Designed for Nurses. The full-size console tools allow for natural movement and less squinting. And AcuDose-Rx features jam-resistant drawers that are built to last.
• Fast Entry™ Biometrics. This single-touch logon lives up to its name because no secondary ID is necessary.
• The RightStock™ System. Ensures the cabinet has the medication your patient needs, when they need it.
• Robust Reporting. Run, print, and share reports from any workstation. The information keeps up with you, not slows you down.

 

Designed for Nurses

Designed for today's nurses, AcuDose-Rx automated dispensing cabinets feature full-sized console tools that nurses prefer a large, touch-screen monitor, keyboard, mouse and optional bar-code scanner. What's more, AcuDose-Rx is built to withstand years of heavy hospital use. Easy glide drawers, jam-free pockets, and on-board backup power ensure that AcuDose-Rx is always ready.

What’s New?

On-the-go nurses can’t afford roadblocks in their busy day—especially at medication time. The new AcuDose-Rx 8.0 is designed to enhance the nursing workflow by offering quick and easy access to medication, allowing more time for patient care.

The RightStock™ System  

The RightStock System monitors and dynamically adjusts inventory levels based on historical or peak usage, per med and per cabinet, preventing potential stock outs before they happen. Features include:

• automatic re-order triggers
• restock frequency set based on your needs
• permanent medications remain available in each cabinet

Tab Navigation  

Tab Navigation supports a nurse’s workflow by providing a fast and easy reference to medications. Smart tabs organize medications by category—STAT, PRN, Scheduled and All Orders—helping nurses to quickly find what they need.

Dispense By Time 

Because AcuDose-Rx exchanges interface messages directly with the pharmacy information system, this is the safest method of providing scheduled meds from a cabinet. Nurses find needed medications faster and easier because the actual “due” time from the clinical order is chronologically displayed. This is especially helpful when a patient’s medication therapies are spread irregularly over several days.

Closed-Loop Administration 

For the first time ever, nursing and pharmacy leaders will have an accurate record of when a patient’s medications are dispensed from a cabinet and when they are administered. A product of AcuDose-Rx cabinet-to-bar-code medication administration connectivity, not only does this aid compliance, but also promotes a safer, more efficient workflow.

FastEntry™ Biometrics 

With FastEntry, nurses spend less time at the cabinet and more time with patients. With a single finger touch, authorized nurses access the cabinet. No password or ID badge scan is required, because FastEntry uses a National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) certified matching algorithm which ensures positive identification of the individual user. Nurse managers can enroll workers at any cabinet or enrollment can be controlled through the pharmacy. Plus, you can enroll multiple fingerprints for each individual.

AcuDose Automated Dispensing Cabinet Choices

AcuDose-Rx offers the smartest choices for storing medications. You can address patient needs while balancing safety, accessibility and economy. Each AcuDose-Rx main cabinet accommodates up to 15 drawers with three security levels—the most on the market. In fact, AcuDose-Rx has room for more secure line items than any other cabinet. Plus, you get added flexibility with the widest variety of drawer sizes and storage pockets available. McKesson's cabinet specialists work with you to specify each storage location to optimize your medication storage.

• Cabinet Storage
• Drawer Options

Cabinet Storage 

Large Main Cabinet	Small Main Cabinet
	Large Auxiliary Cabinet In high-usage areas, auxiliary cabinets—available in large and small sizes—are a smart, economical alternative to main cabinets.
	Medication Towers With up to 12 shelves and four individually locked doors, medication towers are ideal for larger items, with room left over for most small refrigerators.

Drawer Storage 

AcuDose-Rx helps you stay in control with multiple levels of security for drawers that are engineered to last. At the same time, flexible options and multiple configurations help you balance nurse workflow and inventory levels.

• High Security
• Medium Security
• Minimal Security

High Security
	Locked Lidded Drawer Featuring locked, opaque lids, these drawers are ideal for securing larger items. During dispense and restock, only the selected storage pocket can be accessed.
	High Capacity Locking Drawer Perfect for storing greater quantities of smaller items, these drawers are available in three sizes. Users are guided to the correct storage location by colored indicators.
	Unit Dose Dispensing Drawer Specially designed for high security, these drawers limit access to a single medication dose at a time. So, there's no end-of-shift drug counting required. Available in multiple sizes and shapes.
Medium Security
	High Capacity Detecting Drawer Offering both security and accessibility, these drawers warn users when the wrong pocket is accessed. Available in three sizes.
Minimal Security
	Open Matrix Drawers With high accessibility and interchangeable storage bins, these drawers are perfect for fast-moving medications in minimal security environments.

Product Video