CASE STUDY
www.swisslog-healthcare.com
“The automation is there, but they are all standalone systems from individual companies
with unique communication platforms,” says Fan. “All these different inventory areas really
need to talk to each other for the pharmacy to run ef�ciently.”
After consulting with peers and colleagues and conducting extensive research — Fan
concluded that there was no existing solution. So, he and his team set out to establish
their own standards.
THE SOLUTION: BUILDING AN INTERFACE FOR
INFORMATION SHARING
To address their data sharing challenges, NYP Brooklyn Methodist’s pharmacy embarked
on a project to build a three-way interface between the systems utilized from Epic,
Swisslog Healthcare, and Omnicell. Led by Fan, this involved working with software
engineers from each of the providers to develop a robust interface to simplify data
synchronization. The goal was to ensure that inventory data from the BoxPicker and
PillPick systems, as well as Omnicell cabinets, were accurately reflected in Epic —
ultimately helping optimize ef�ciency and empower decision-making.
THE RESULT: ACCURACY AND EFFICIENCY
Inventory counts went from being accurate only about 5% of the time — to 99% of the
time. “Now we have trust in all of the systems,” says Fan. “We know inventory data is
correct and can make well-informed decisions to ful�ll our mission of delivering the
highest-quality patient care.”
“Fixing data synchronization between the systems was major for us in so many different
ways,” says Vastey. “We were spending a lot of resources checking the accuracy of drug
counts every day.” Fan agrees, saying there are also a lot of downstream bene�ts to
having accuracy in the inventory data. One positive outcome is tied to another quality
improvement project he’s been working on to reduce medication requests from doctors
and nurses coming into the pharmacy. “In December, we successfully decreased the
number of messages we received about missing medications by 26% — and we expect
that downward trend to continue because of our optimization interface.”
Fan is currently working on a case study, which will be published this year, that maps out
the inventory management interface project in more detail. “I think at the end of the day,
we want to help other central pharmacies like ours function more ef�ciently with the best
practices we’ve established,” says Fan. “The dream for all of us is to have accurate data
as a foundation — and then build smarter and smarter automation from there. I think the
work Fan and his team have done is an amazing �rst step,” Vastey adds.
“
“
I think at the end of the
day, we want to help
other central pharmacies
like ours function
more efciently with
the best practices
we’ve established.”
Te dream for all of us
is to have accurate data
as a foundation – and
then build smarter and
smarter automation
from there. I think
the work Fan and his
team have done is an
amazing frst step.”
Yang Fan
Pharmacy Manager
~ NYP Brooklyn Methodist
Fabienne Vastey
Pharmacy Site Director
~ NYP Brooklyn Methodist