CONTACT: James Reno
Reno Communications
781.944.1406
jrenomktg@comcast.net

Lo Cost Pharmacy Implements PharmASSIST Symphony+ System
to Address Efficiency, Accuracy, and Throughput Goals
Savanna, Georgia-based Independent Processing Over 1000 Rxs Daily During Peak Periods

JOHNSON CITY, NY - April 5, 2004 - Innovation Associates announces that Lo Cost Pharmacy of Savannah, Georgia has successfully implemented a PharmASSIST Symphony+ System to automate their prescription dispensing process. Lo Cost Pharmacy performed a thorough evaluation of the industry’s robotic dispensing systems before opting for Innovation’s automated dispensing and workflow management technology to address its key goals of enhancing efficiency and accuracy, and increasing Rx throughput.

“With the PharmASSIST system’s station-to-station barcode scanning and quality protocols, we have a lot more comfort with our filling accuracy than we ever have before,” says Craig Cocke, co-owner of Lo Cost Pharmacy. “In addition, the system’s ability to simultaneously count multiple prescriptions has helped us keep up with our volumes, especially during our peaks when we fill over 1000 prescriptions a day.”

On average Lo Cost fills 650 Rxs per day and has peak periods that reach upwards to 1200 Rxs daily. To address these volumes, the pharmacy employs a PharmASSIST Symphony+ System comprised of 4 PharmASSIST cabinets, 200 dispensers, and numerous workstations for Order Entry/Rx Imaging, Auto-Fill, Manual-Fill, and Rx Verification. The system is integrated with their QS/1 pharmacy management system, enabling PharmASSIST technology to receive all prescription orders for both automatic and manual filling as soon as they are entered into QS/1.

“Our system is broken up into two pods, each with two cabinets filled with our top-moving 100 medications in each, and an Auto-Fill station,” say Cocke. “Each pod is manned by pharmacist/technician teams to process Rxs from order entry to patient pickup. After only a few months, we’re filling almost 40% of our total volume using the automated counting, and we’ll continue to optimize our processes using Innovation’s flexible workflow management system.”

Lo Cost Pharmacy has been a locally owned and operated independent pharmacy for 31 years. The pharmacy offers complete traditional retail pharmacy services and specializes in providing services to personal care homes and assisted living facilities. With 9 pharmacists and over 225 years of combined experience, Lo Cost offers the most cost effective, knowledgeable, and professional service in the Savannah community. For more information on Lo Cost Pharmacy, visit www.locostpharmacy.com.

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.

627 Field Street, Johnson City, New York 13790
(T) 607-798-9376 (F) 607-797-3485