Choosing the Right Medication Dispensing Cabinet

Controlled access cabinets enhance security while maintaining ease of access. These cabinets utilize electronic locks (e-locks) to restrict entry to authorized personnel. Unlike traditional key-lock cabinets, e-lock cabinets provide a digital method of access, such as a PIN code. Digital access helps ensure better accountability and reduces the risk of unauthorized medication retrieval.

Key Features:

• Electronic Access Control: Users can access cabinets via PIN codes, RFID badges, or biometrics reduces unauthorized access.
• Audit Tracking: Logs every access attempt, enabling administrators to monitor usage and ensure compliance.
• Configurable Storage: Vendors can convert current manual-key cabinet hardware to e-locks, boosting security without requiring new storage units and preserving organizational flexibility.
• Simple Integration: Complements existing workflows without major process changes.
   

Controlled access cabinets improve medication security. However, they depend on manual processes for tracking and dispensing inventory. Manual processes can lead to slower, less efficient medication retrieval and inventory checks. 

Automated medication dispensing cabinets take medication management further by integrating advanced technology to enhance accuracy, efficiency, and control. These cabinets automate medication dispensing, reducing human error and improving inventory management.

Key Features:

• Automated Dispensing: The machine dispenses the correct medication and dosage, reducing human error and improving dispensing speed.
• Automated Inventory Management: Real-time medication tracking reduces stockouts and ensures accurate restocking.
• Advanced Reporting: Generate detailed reports on medication usage, inventory levels, and user access for better tracking and compliance.
• Integration with EHR/EMR: Seamlessly connect with electronic health records for streamlined medication management and reduced data entry errors. 

Choose the right medication management system for your subacute care facility is critical. Comparing the key benefits of e-lock cabinets and automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs) side by side can help. Let’s delve into these comparisons to help you make an informed decision.

Security Needs

• Controlled Access Cabinets: Primarily focus on restricting physical access through electronic locks and audit trails. They provide a strong deterrent against unauthorized access and offer basic tracking capabilities.
• Automated Medication Dispensing Cabinets: Offer advanced security features, including biometric access approval, real-time tracking, and automated dispensing logs. They provide a higher level of security and accountability, reducing the risk of both unauthorized access and dispensing errors.
• Regulatory Compliance: In the highly regulated healthcare environment, adherence to medication management standards is crucial. Both e-lock cabinets and ADCs aid in compliance, but ADCs offer superior audit trails and reporting capabilities. This is particularly important for facilities undergoing audits or seeking to maintain stringent compliance records. ADCs can generate detailed logs of every transaction, user access, and inventory change, simplifying regulatory reporting and ensuring accountability.

Inventory Management 

• Controlled Access Cabinets: Rely on manual inventory management processes. While they track access, they do not reconcile inventory automatically, or provide real-time stock level updates.
• Automated Medication Dispensing Cabinets: Automate inventory management, providing real-time tracking, automated restocking alerts, and detailed reports. This minimizes stockouts and ensures accurate inventory levels, saving time and reducing errors. 

Time-Saving Efficiency & Staff Morale 

• Controlled Access Cabinets: Enhance security but do not significantly improve dispensing efficiency. They still require manual retrieval and documentation, which can be time-consuming in high-volume settings.
• Automated Medication Dispensing Cabinets: Streamline the dispensing process with automated retrieval and electronic documentation. This significantly reduces dispensing time and improves workflow efficiency, allowing healthcare staff to focus on patient care.

Beyond time savings, the efficiency of medication dispensing directly impacts staff and patient satisfaction. Streamlined processes reduce staff frustration and burnout, enabling them to focus on patient interaction. Automated systems minimize the risk of dispensing errors, ensuring patients receive the correct medication and dosage promptly, building trust and confidence in the facility's quality of care. 

Integration and Implementation

• Controlled Access Cabinets: Fit into current workflows and can often be added to existing storage units. This makes them a cost-effective choice for improving security.
• Automated Medication Dispensing Cabinets: May require more extensive integration and implementation, involving IT teams and staff training.
  
   

Cost Considerations

• Controlled Access Cabinets: Usually cost less upfront. This makes them a good choice for facilities that want to improve medication security without blowing their budget.
• Automated Medication Dispensing Cabinets: Sometimes cost more at first, but can save money in the long run. They do this by improving inventory management, reducing errors, and increasing efficiency. 

The medDispense® E series Access Control is designed to retrofit onto your existing cabinet doors, transforming standard storage into a controlled access point. It functions as an interactive wireless latch with an RFID reader and E-Paper display.

Here's what makes the E series stand out for access control:

• Badge Access: It utilizes badge access, eliminating the need for physical keys. This enhances security by preventing key loss or unauthorized sharing and identifies the user accessing the lock.
• Wireless Connectivity: The latch wirelessly connects to a management server for easy reporting, system management, and user management. This allows for remote oversight and real-time data.
• User Management: The system offers browser-based user management to control who can access each cabinet, providing granular control over access privileges.
• Audit Trail: A key feature is the creation of an audit trail for access to secured cabinets, offering traceability of who has been in a cabinet via reports.
• Open Door Alerts: The system provides an audible alert for doors left open, enhancing security and preventing unauthorized access.
• Integration Capability: The electronic lock can be installed on existing cabinets/cupboards and be used as an auxiliary to a TouchPoint Medical medDispense cabinet.

In essence, the medDispense® E series focuses on controlling physical access to existing storage units and providing a detailed record of who accessed them. 

In contrast, the medDispense® C series Automated Dispensing Cabinets are standalone units designed specifically for medication management. These cabinets offer a holistic solution for secure storage, dispensing, and tracking of medications and supplies.

Key features of the C series include:

• Automated Dispensing: These are automated dispensing cabinets designed to deliver medications efficiently.
• Flexible Storage: They offer maximum flexibility in a single cabinet, accommodating everything from single items to bulk supply storage. They feature a versatile drawer system with lidded pockets, linear, and matrix drawers in various depths.
• medLogic™ Software Power: The C series is powered by medLogic™, TouchPoint Medical's latest dispensing software platform, which aims to deliver increased efficiency, flexibility, and a safer environment. medLogic™ supports features like single medication dispensing across multiple cabinets, faster restocking with barcode scanning, FIFO stocking, on-demand stock reports, configurable medication search, and lot number stocking.
• Controlled Substance Management: The C series can be combined with the medGuard™ software module for secure controlled substance storage and closed-loop medication restocking, including discrepancy tracking.
• Various Configurations and Accessories: The C series offers various base and auxiliary unit sizes, drawer options, and accessories like barcode scanners, thermal printers, label printers, and return drawers.

The medDispense® C series is a comprehensive medication management system that not only controls access but also manages inventory, streamlines dispensing workflows, and enhances medication safety. 
 

Choosing the right medication management system is a strategic decision that impacts every facet of your subacute care facility. While controlled access e-lock cabinets offer a foundational layer of security, automated medication dispensing cabinets provide a transformative solution that elevates patient satisfaction, streamlines operations, and ensures regulatory compliance. For pharmacy directors, this means reduced stress and improved efficiency. For boards, owners, and investors, it translates to enhanced profitability, a stronger reputation, and a more competitive facility.

Don't leave medication management to chance. Schedule a consultation with TouchPoint Medical experts today to discover how our medication dispensing cabinets can revolutionize your facility's medication dispensing process and drive tangible improvements in patient care and operational excellence.