CONTACT: James Reno
Reno Communications
339.927.7073
jamie.reno@renocommunications.com

Innovation to Design and Build High-volume Pharmacy Automation System for Large HMO in Denver, CO
Pioneering Technology to Fill 12,000 Rxs Per 8-Hour Shift for Denver-based Facility

JOHNSON CITY, NY – September 16, 2008 – Innovation, makers of PharmASSIST® pharmacy automation solutions, today announced that Kaiser Permanente has signed a contractual agreement with Innovation to design and build a new high-volume pharmacy automation system to replace the Pharmacy Automated Refill Center (PARC) for the Kaiser Permanente Colorado Region in Denver, Colorado. Innovation’s high-volume system (PARC-II) will be capable of filling 12,000 prescriptions per 8-hour shift, and will be expandable to fill 20,000 prescriptions per shift. Specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The PARC-II project is a major strategic initiative for Kaiser Permanente and vendor selection was driven by several decision criteria. Innovation was selected for their technology’s overall flexibility and built-in scalability, their development of next generation dispensing and replenishment technology, and their system’s end-to-end quality control.

The Denver-based PARC is a central fill and mail order pharmacy that handles prescription refills and mail order prescriptions for PBM members in the Kaiser Permanente Colorado Region.  The central fill portion of PARC-II will fill all prescription refills for Kaiser-owned pharmacies throughout the state. In addition, the new pharmacy technology will enable the Denver-based center to service mail-order needs of thousands of Kaiser Permanente members across the country.

Innovation’s high-volume systems deliver a fully integrated suite of robotic dispensing (both RDS ROBOTx and ROBOTx), counting technologies, pneumatic vial delivery, and RFID-driven conveying, packaging, workflow management software, and workstations. The high-volume systems can be easily configured to pharmacies’ specific requirements (e.g., existing space, unique layouts, Rx volume, etc.) by mixing and matching virtually any of the various technology components. Employing Innovation’s systems, a pharmacy’s central fill operations can synchronize with all participant pharmacies, enabling quality control and comprehensive prescription tracking throughout the entire fulfillment and transport process. Innovation’s high-volume systems offer a small overall footprint with the highest Rxs filled per square foot ratio in the industry.

“Kaiser has led the field in various aspects of health care for over 60 years. Their reputation as forward thinkers melds perfectly with our mission of remaining the most innovative pharmacy automation technology provider,” said Mary Reno, CEO, Innovation. “We’re both excited and proud that Kaiser has chosen to partner with us to further advance their pharmacy operation initiatives to benefit their members.”

About Innovation Associates
Innovation Associates, Inc., a leader in the world of automated prescription dispensing, offers the PharmASSIST family of products to address the prescription growth, quality assurance, pharmacy workflow, and cost control challenges of all size pharmacies. With over three decades of broad-based, business experience, Innovation Associates is dedicated to delivering the highest-quality pharmacy automation products to the pharmacy industry. For more information on Innovation Associates, Inc., visit www.innovat.com.

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