Automation in Pharmacy Applications

Industries that might use pharmacy automation systems such as those available at cornerstoneautosys.com include correctional institutions, long-term care providers, medication manufacturers and suppliers, and pharmacies. Systems might perform a combination of measuring and mixing powders and liquids, tracking customer information, sorting, dispensing, counting, labeling, and inventory management.

Before the 1970s, pharmacists dispensed medications by hand, with a tray and spatula or mixed powders and liquids in a mortar and pestle for compound medications. This process was slow and tedious, and allowed for a greater margin of error. Developments in technology saw automated pill counter development that consistently counted medications quickly and accurately. This improved work flow, reduced the amount of workers needed, and allowed for the pharmacist to concentrate on other important tasks.

Current pharmacy automation systems have on-board computer systems, and many can interact with the pharmacy’s management software such as that for inventory and workflow. Touch screen technology and simple user interface make the dispensation of medication simple yet accurate.

The first electronic portable automated system for use in pharmacy applications was developed in 1967 in Manchester, England, by Frank and John Kirby. They made it available for production in 1970. The machines were made in Oldham, England. This digital technology was exported to the United States in 1975. Pharmacists quickly realized that these pill counting machines could save them time and money.

Alternate names for those early machines were drug counter, capsule counter, pill counter, and tablet counter. Not just for use in pharmacies, current industries that use this technology include vitamin and nutritional supplement manufacturers and distributors, for use in counting and packaging their goods. These industrial automated systems take up smaller space and use fewer workers to do the same amount of work.

In the European Union, legislation passed in 1998 that banned the use of pill counting machines for bulk medication counting and dispensing. This brought about the use of blister packs, and caused a decline in the use of pill counting machines in the U.K.