14August2013

MediaRelease

SGH Pharmacy uses RFID technology and automated system to enhance

medicationsafetyandimproveoperationalefficiency

On the conveyor belts running behind the dispensing counters of Singapore General
Hospitals (SGH) renovated Outpatient Pharmacy are baskets of packed prescription
medications.Thepharmacistjustneedstoturnaround,pickupthebaskets,andisassured
thattheywillcontaintherightmedicationsreadyfordispensingtothepatient.

ThesenseofassuranceismadepossiblebyanewintelligentAutomatedRFIDPrescription
DrugDeliverySystem,thefirstofitskindtobeusedinanyhospitalPharmacy.

The designand implementation of this integrated system is a collaboration between SGH,

Innotech Resources Pte Ltd, PSB Technologies Pte Ltd, EurekaPlus Pte Ltd, and Integrated
HealthInformationSystems(IHiS).

ThedesignandimplementationoftheRFIDprescriptiondrugdeliverysystemisapartof
ourtransformationjourney.Transformingthewaywework,andthewaywedelivercare.
This new system is a collaborative partnership harnessing the synergies of SGH and our
industrypartners.Automatingtheprocesseswillnotonlyenableustosignificantlyimprove
efficiencyofprescriptiondispensingandpatientsafety,itwillenableustoimproveoverall
patientexperience,saidProfessorAngChongLye,ChiefExecutiveOfficer,SGH.

Previously,thepackingprocessheavilyreliedonmanualresources,makingitsusceptibleto
human errors such as packing the wrong drug or wrong strength. The incorporation of
automation and technology to provide real time tracking of processing status via RFID,
complementedbyLEDguidedpickofmedicationthroughbarcodescanning,helpsminimise
thepossibilityofmedicationerrors.

With the implementation of the novel RFID conveyor system, the backend prescription
fillingprocessisautomatedfromendtoend.WearenowabletoredeployourPharmacy
technicians,whousedtodopackingandsorting,tootherareastofurtherimproveservice
levelsattheOutpatientPharmacy,saidMrLimMunMoon,DeputyDirector,Department
ofPharmacy,SGH.


Before the implementation of the system in November 2012, packing and assembling of
prescription medications was labour intensive, timeconsuming, and very dependent on
trainedmanpower.Pharmacytechnicianshadtocrisscrossthedrugstorageareastolocate
and pack patients prescription medications item by item. Packed medications were then
placedintobaskets,checkedandsortedaccordingtoqueuesequence,beforepushingout
fordispensingtopatients.

Withthenewsysteminplace,Pharmacytechniciansarenowstationedtopickfromafixed
range of medications on the shelves, where drug labels are printed. A simple scan of the
barcode on the drug label, lights up the LED for the drug bin, and guides the Pharmacy
technician to the correct drug bin, improving safety and the efficiency of the packing
process.

HowdoestheAutomatedRFIDPrescriptionDrugDeliverySystemworks?

Afterapatientpresentshisprescriptionattheregistrationcounter,itwillbereviewedbya
pharmacist. The prescription is then placed in a RFIDtagged basket and placed on the
conveyorbelt,triggeringthepackingprocess.

MedicationsareconcurrentlypackedeitherthroughautomationormanuallyviaLEDguided
pick.BoxedandblisterpackedmedicationsarepickedandpackedbytwoDrugDispensing
Systems (DDS) units developed by SGH and Getech Automation Pte Ltd. For medications
thatrequiremanualpicking,Pharmacytechniciansscanthebarcodeonthedruglabeland
areguidedbyLEDlighttothedruglocationforthemedication.

All packed medications are placed into RFIDtagged baskets and then onto the 110 meter
long conveyor. RFID readers strategically located along the conveyor belt confer real time
tracking of the position and processing stage. Once all the baskets with medications
belonging to the same prescription are detected on the conveyor belt, they will be auto
assembled and autochanneled to the next available dispensing counter based on queue
sequence.

Formediaenquiries,pleasecontact:

MsCarolAng

MsJunaidahHameed
AssistantManager,Communications
SeniorManager,Communications
DID:63214999/Mobile:98455354
DID:63213553/Mobile:81251707
Email:Carol.Ang@sgh.com.sg
Email:Junaidah.Hameed@sgh.com.sg