VALLEY FORGE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 8,
2003--AmerisourceBergen Corporation (NYSE:ABC) today launched the
AutoMed Efficiency Pharmacy H750, the first radio frequency
identification (RFID) enabled hospital pharmacy automation and
barcoding system for all types of orders and dosage forms. Like the
Company's other hospital pharmacy automation solutions, the AutoMed
H750 is modular and scalable, allowing each hospital to adapt the
system to its space and capital needs. Displayed for the first time at
this week's American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists Mid-Year
Meeting in New Orleans, the AutoMed H750 features Smart Tray(TM),
which uses RFID technology to deliver greater efficiency and accuracy.
Introduced by the Company's AutoMed pharmacy automation division, the
new system automates fulfillment of pharmacy orders across all dosage
forms and for all hospital distribution systems, including cart-fill,
cabinet replenishment, nurse servers, first doses and stat orders.
"Even with the new RFID feature, the AutoMed H750 is the most
modular, most compact, and least expensive centralized pharmacy
automation system available," said Duane Chudy, president of AutoMed.
"For under $650,000 and less than 450 square feet, the H750 provides
automated unit dose dispensing of oral solids, injectable, and
unit-of-use items with automated storage and retrieval of IVs and bulk
storage items."
The system's new RFID based Smart Tray identifies and tracks every
order by patient or by cabinet. For example, at the start of the
cart-fill process, each Smart Tray is automatically programmed to
represent a unique patient. As the tray moves through the dispensing
process, each workstation reads the tray identifier and automatically
brings up that specific patient's profile of medications to be
dispensed. This automatic patient identification saves technician time
and reduces chances of dispensing errors.
More Compact and Less Expensive Than Current Central Pharmacy
Robotic Systems
The H750 uses a fraction of the pharmacy space than current
central pharmacy robotic systems by, 1) storing oral solids in bulk
and packaging on demand, 2) eliminating the need for special packaging
rooms with sound protection, 3) using space efficient storage and
retrieval automation and 4) using flexible and ergonomic shelving
system. Converting oral solid purchases from unit dose to bulk also
saves customers 4 cent to 6 cents across all oral solid doses,
compared to a 7-cent to 12-cent packaging up-charge common to current
robotic systems.
"The AutoMed H750 also slashes restocking time by as much as 50
percent," said Chudy, "cuts the space required for storage by up to 75
percent, and reduces diversion and shrinkage through better inventory
control and tracking." The H750 also produces nursing friendly
packaging that is easy to open, with USP class B packages and
12-month, beyond-use product dating.
The modular AutoMed H750 uses multiple components to create an
integrated system. The units include:
- FastPak(TM) 330 or 520 automated oral solid packaging system
- FastFind(TM) Injectable and FastFind Unit-of-Use dispensers
- FastFind Universal storage and retrieval carousel
- Barcodes on unit of use and injectable items for 1 to 5 cents
per dose
- Efficiency WorkPath System for comprehensive dispensing
workflow management
- Smart Trays featuring RFID technology
- Modular FastFind StockFlow(R) shelving
Through its AutoMed division AmerisourceBergen is the leading
innovator of comprehensive pharmacy efficiency solutions. AutoMed
combines the world's most advanced prescription fulfillment
technology, workflow software, pharmacy design expertise, and
ergonomic storage and shelving systems, into customized pharmacy
efficiency solutions that enable customers to better manage costs,
staffing and accuracy. With the broadest offering in the pharmacy
automation industry, AutoMed systems deliver unparalleled scalability
and affordability. In addition, AutoMed is the only company that
serves all pharmacies (regardless of size or market), all dosage forms
and all prescription volumes, from 50 to more than 50,000
prescriptions per day. More than 1,000,000 prescriptions are filled by
AutoMed Efficiency Pharmacies(TM) daily. For more information about
AmerisourceBergen's automation capabilities, contact AutoMed at
888.537.3102 or visit www.automed.com.
About AmerisourceBergen
AmerisourceBergen (NYSE:ABC) is the largest pharmaceutical
services company in the United States dedicated solely to the
pharmaceutical supply chain. It is the leading distributor of
pharmaceutical products and services to the hospital systems/acute
care market, physician's offices, alternate care and mail order
facilities, independent community pharmacies, and regional chain
pharmacies. The Company is also a leader in the long term care
pharmacy and workers' compensation fulfillment marketplaces. With more
than $40 billion in annualized operating revenue, AmerisourceBergen is
headquartered in Valley Forge, PA, and employs more than 13,000
people. AmerisourceBergen is ranked #24 on the Fortune 500 list and
was ranked #6 in the 2003 Business Week 50, a list of the 50 best
performing companies in the S & P 500. For more information, go to
www.amerisourcebergen.com.
StockFlow is a registered trademark of Sintek International AB.
Used with permission.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain certain "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements
are based on management's current expectations and are subject to
uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary
materially from the expectations contained in the forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements may include statements
addressing future financial and operating results of AmerisourceBergen
and the benefits and other aspects of the 2001 merger between
AmeriSource Health Corporation and Bergen Brunswig Corporation.
The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to
differ materially from those described in any forward-looking
statements: competitive pressures; the loss of one or more key
customer relationships; customer insolvencies; changes in customer
mix; changes in pharmaceutical manufacturers' pricing and distribution
policies; regulatory changes; changes in U.S. government policies;
failure to integrate the businesses of AmeriSource and Bergen Brunswig
successfully; failure to obtain and retain expected synergies from the
merger of AmeriSource and Bergen Brunswig; and other economic,
business, competitive, regulatory and/or operational factors affecting
the business of AmerisourceBergen generally.
More detailed information about these factors is set forth in
AmerisourceBergen's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2002.
AmerisourceBergen is under no obligation to (and expressly
disclaims any such obligation to) update or alter any forward looking
statements whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
CONTACT: AmerisourceBergen, Valley Forge
Barbara Brungess, 610-727-7199
bbrungess@amerisourcebergen.com
SOURCE: AmerisourceBergen