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COW-WOW Carts

By William Oliver posted 06-29-2010 08:45

  
Michael,
    We just went live (June 8) with "Barcode Medication Administration" (Seimens program) using Stinger Medical, Inc.'s  Mobius model WOW's (mounted wireless computer with electronically locked drawers).  They are battery backed with 6 hours+ life (arbitrary battery change out Q6 hrs. throughout the house).  Charging stations are strategically placed throughout the house.  We obtain meds. from Pyxis at RN Station, but are vying for our own Pyxis to be stationed in the RT Dept. The issue of competition for Pyxis access is our biggest problem thus far (excluding all the system acclaimation, workflow changes, Pharmacy communications, and CHANGE itself!).  
    We were fortunate in having much preparation, training, and ongoing IS assistance in this monumental project (we are a 4 hospital system).  Resistance/hesitation/computer paranoia was there, but minimal.  At 3 weeks and counting, the transition has been surprising smooth (no death threats yet).  I wish you luck!!


William H. Oliver, Jr., BS, RRT-NPS, CPFT
Director
Respiratory Care
Vitua Health - Marlton
Marlton, NJ
     
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Julia Downs
06-29-2010 09:15

Something that might help you get your own Pyxis is this suggestion to Pharmacy, its what we used. They can reduce their stocking time, but only having to stock respiratory medications in one Pyxis vs each floor, that also frees up space in the floor Pyxis for other medications. We have had very little problems and the staff love not having to stand in line behind the nurses especially at 0700 and 1900 when everyone wants to get started. Cut our time from clock in to first scan by about 25 mins on average. There are only three units in our hospital that have Omnicells (Pyxis) with respiratory meds in them: ER, ICU and our department.