Medical Shipment is the exclusive distributor of the BD Pyxis MedBank. The MedBank solutions focus on the automation of medication inventory management processes in outpatient and long-term care settings to help increase charge capture, lower inventory spending, and improve regulatory compliance. From countertop solutions for controlled substance management to restricted-access storage stations for temperature-sensitive medications and vaccines, MedBank automates medication dispensation. This HealthySimulation.com by Teresa Gore, PhD, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CHSE-A, FSSH, FAAN, will provide an overview of the BD Pyxis MedBank and the use in long-term care facilities and healthcare simulation as exclusively distributed to educational institutions by Medical Shipment
The BD Pyxis MedBank
The BD Pyxis MedBank offers solutions to a multitude of issues:
- Support nursing workflows by decreasing the number of steps in the medication management process.
- Offer a wide variety of reports on inventory and billing processes to support medication inventory management.
- Help support diversion efforts through discrepancy reports and the use of secure meds via CUBIE pockets.
- Increase security and control of medications and controlled substance management.
- Provide near real-time control of supplies and medications to help improve charge capture rates through integration with PIS/EMRs.
- Offer secure, automated dispensing of medication and document the medication use in real-time.
- Have compact, ergonomic design options that include countertop designs.
Study Shows Benefits of Medication Management Automation in Long-Term Care Facilities
This novel, peer-reviewed study, published in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association (JAPhA), assessed various endpoints related to the management of first, missing and emergency dose medications over a 90-day period after replacing manual emergency medication kits with the BD Pyxis MedBank automated dispensing cabinet (ADC) system at two long-term care facilities serviced by an off-site pharmacy.
Over a 90-day period in the long-term care facilities, medication dispensing automation and the associated workflow changes led to a 71% reduction in medication retrieval time, as compared to manual emergency kits, improving medication availability when nurses used automation technology. The study also showed a 96% reduction in the cost of unscheduled medication deliveries across the two long-term care facilities, representing $8,900 in cost savings.
“Minutes matter when it comes to getting the right medication to the right patient at the right time,” said Dr. Idal Beer, medical director and vice president of Medical Affairs for Medication Management Solutions at BD. “This is especially true in long-term care settings, where patients have increasingly complex needs and nursing staff are managing high patient-to-provider ratios. While the adoption of technology has traditionally lagged in long-term care settings, the results of this landmark study make a clear case for the power of automation to enhance patient care and alleviate labor challenges.”
The study also highlighted pharmacy labor, time, and inventory savings. Pharmacy technician medication preparation time and pharmacist check-time decreased by 59% and 80%, respectively. Standing medication inventory was reduced by more than $10,000, representing significant cost savings for the pharmacy, while concurrently increasing the number of different medications available on-site for urgent and emergency medical needs.
Finally, a perception survey of 40 nurses showed the majority preferred working with the ADC system and found it easier to locate and document medications, as compared to working with manual emergency medication kits.
“At BD, we recognize that the ever-changing healthcare landscape requires a safer, simpler and smarter approach to medication management,” said Puneet Sarin, president of Medication Management Solutions for BD. “With a rapidly growing population of older adults entering long-term care facilities, we must look to technology, like BD Pyxis MedBank automated dispensing cabinets, to manage operating costs, reduce the burden on health care providers and improve patient care.”
View the new HealthySimulation.com Nursing Community Page to discuss this topic with your Global Healthcare Simulation peers!
BD Bard Pyxis MedBank in Nursing Simulation Labs
One of the main benefits of nursing simulation is the ability to replicate realistic clinical experiences for nursing students. The Healthcare Simulation Dictionary defines realism as “the ability to impart the suspension of disbelief to the learner by creating an environment that mimics that of the learner’s work environment; realism includes the environment, simulated patient, and activities of the educators, assessors, and/or facilitators (SSH, Lioce, 2020 pg. 39). Realism in simulation helps students transition more smoothly into professional roles and practice to allow them to experience clinical scenarios that closely mirror real-life situations.
The BD Pyxis Medbank can benefit nursing simulation programs with the seamless integration of health information technology across multiple institutions, courses, sites, and the curriculum. As the healthcare industry increasingly relies on the integration for efficient care, the integration of IT is vital for nursing students to gain hands-on experience. The BD Pyxis MedBank uses cutting-edge technology that centralizes patient information in a pharmacy operations dashboard, accessible via fingerprint authentication. Nurses and caregivers can easily view patient allergies, recent dosages, and comprehensive care summaries, thanks to detailed report generation.
A major benefit of the BD Pyxis MedBank is the countertop design, which saves space in a healthcare simulation environment. As healthcare simulationists are aware, space is one of the most valuable assets for a simulation program. With the countertop design, additional floor space is saved for healthcare learners and other healthcare equipment required for the most realistic clinical simulation scenarios.
View the HealthySimulation.com Webinar Developing Healthcare Simulation Centers to Create Realistic Clinical Scenarios to learn more!
Dr. Pam Jeffries and the Need for Realistic Simulation and Medication Administration
During the above webinar, Dr. Jeffries discussed the need for nurse educators to provide realistic opportunities to develop competent nurses that can transition into practice. Dr. Jeffries identified some key points that need to be addressed:
- The priority for educators is to develop realistic clinical scenarios within healthcare simulation centers and emphasize the role of realism to bridge the gap between classroom learning and clinical practice.
- Some common issues in simulation training include the gaps between simulated and real clinical environments and the importance of authentic scenario creation to enhance learning outcomes.
- Educators must prepare students for real-world challenges, addressing misconceptions students have about clinical support and emphasizing the critical need for realistic and immersive simulations.
More About Medical Shipment
Medical Shipment was founded in 2007 by Dan Micic, who was still attending Harper College when he first launched the company. What started over 10 years ago with a shipment of 90 cases of gloves to Medline has quickly become a multimillion-dollar annual business that has been named in the Inc 5000 list for three years in a row! Medical Shipment initially focused on Nursing, but it now provides medical supplies, specialized instructional medical devices, and simulation-based products and services to healthcare educational institutions around the world.
MedicalShipment.com is regarded as one of the growing leaders in the medical supply industry. The company flourished in the past decade due to their dedication to customer service and Founder Dan Micic’s drive to impact the industry for the better. Primarily serving colleges, universities, and hospital clients across the country, Medical Shipment plans to continue its recent expansion overseas and establish a significant presence in Europe within the next few years.
Medical Shipment is a premium supplier of simulation nursing supplies and equipment. Their goal is to ensure the products they provide fit the needs of healthcare educational programs at a competitive rate, with customer service at the core of our values. They carry an extensive range of products and services, including medication administration training devices, patient simulators, IV Pumps, medical supplies and more. The Medical Shipment catalog, among other products, includes Manikins, Monitors, Medical Supplies, Labels, Gloves, Med Admin Carts, IV Diagnostic system, simulated patient medications, and more.
