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Scott & White Health Plan Automates
Six Pharmacies with PharmASSIST Workflow Technology
Texas-based HMO Cites PharmASSIST’s Flexibility, Scalability, Small Footprint, and Cost as Keys to Decision
JOHNSON CITY, NY - January 19, 2005 - Innovation Associates announces
that Scott & White Health Plan, a non-profit, state-certified Health
Maintenance Organization (HMO), has implemented PharmASSIST® Symphony+
Systems and Symphony® workflow management software in six retail pharmacies
in their central Texas-based network. Scott & White’s goals for
automation were to enhance patient medication safety and customer service,
and to increase efficiency without adding new staff.
“With our
six pharmacies’ daily prescription volumes varying from 175 to over
1400 during peak periods, we wanted a single technology platform that
you could start at any volume level, with any combination of workflow
components,” says Bob Schoppa, pharmacy operations manager at Scott
& White. “We carefully evaluated our pharmacies’ requirements
and the various systems available. PharmASSIST offers the total workflow
package and has the flexibility so we can easily scale up as the pharmacies’
volumes rise.” Schoppa adds, “PharmASSIST’s pricing was
a great side bonus and the system’s small footprint enabled us to
avoid major renovations.”
Scott & White’s
pharmacies have various PharmASSIST configurations with systems ranging
from a stand-alone Symphony software application to 1 PharmASSIST cabinet
(50 dispensers) and 6 workstations to 2 cabinets (100 dispensers) and
7 workstations. In the highest volume pharmacy, they have integrated Symphony
workflow management and 16 overall workstations with an existing robotic
system. The HMO employs NDC Health’s Zadall as their pharmacy management
system. The PharmASSIST system is fully integrated with Zadall, ensuring
real-time prescription order flow for all Rx fulfillment tasks.
“We see workflow
as the real key to helping us achieve our goals. PharmASSIST added a level
of organization, quality, and accountability to our workflow that has
greatly improved our prescription tracking, reduced medication picking
errors to zero, decreased staff stress, and created a peaceful work environment,”
says Schoppa. “I also believe our PharmASSIST systems give us a competitive
edge from a professional employment standpoint and help us retain our
staff, which is a significant issue with the industry’s pharmacist
shortage.”
Scott & White has been serving the healthcare needs of Central Texans and others from all around the U.S. and world for over 100 years. Scott & White Health Plan is a not-for-profit, state-certified Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) and is a nationally recognized leader in providing quality healthcare by focusing on prevention, early intervention, wellness and disease management. According to a report issued by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), Scott & White Health Plan was rated #1 in Texas and among the top 10 HMOs for the Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Study (CAHPS® 3.0H) in the nation for customer satisfaction. For more information on Scott & White Health Plan, visit www.sw.org.
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
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