MUNSTER – Community Healthcare System has implemented a high-tech solution to safeguard patients against misidentification. Community Healthcare includes Community Hospital in Munster, St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago and St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart.

            The hospital is using robots to dispense medication, said John Gorski, chief operating officer. “Our goal is to deliver the right prescription to the right patient each and every time. The Robotic Prescription Dispensing System and medication carousels serve as an extra security measure in our processes,” said Gorski.

            The robotic computer system can fill, label and deliver 150 prescriptions an hour from 100 medication dispensing cells that hold specific medicine. Gorski said the Scriptpro SP 100 dispenses tablets and capsules of all shapes and sizes into standard pharmacy vials, labels the prescriptions and then delivers uncapped vials for a final inspection by a pharmacist.

            One benefit of the system is that it allows pharmacists to spend more time with patients explaining the medication and answering questions.