CARLSBAD, Calif. (May 5, 2014) — MEPS Real-Time Inc., a leading provider of RFID solutions for pharmacy automation and inventory management, today introduced the industry’s smallest RFID smart tag that significantly improves the automated replenishment of kits, trays and tackle boxes in the hospital pharmacy.
The new Intelliguard® RFID Smart Tag is 65% smaller than any other RFID tags available to healthcare. The tags were developed by MEPS® following comprehensive market feedback that indicated the typical RFID tag used on medication vials is visually intrusive and hinders the safe handling of medication particularly when used with anesthesia kits, trays and drawers. The smaller tag, which is only available with Intelliguard® Kit and Tray Management System, is easier to handle, less intrusive and alleviates the potential for medication to become stuck in automated and standard anesthesia carts.
“It made sense to accelerate the planned development of the smaller Intelliguard® RFID smart tag following feedback from clinical teams,” said MEPS CEO Shariq Hussain. “Use of an anesthesia tray with the smaller tag size eliminates any chance of it becoming wedged or stuck when the trays are being utilized by anesthesiologists and other healthcare providers — especially during an emergency situation.”
The new smart tag was designed to support the Intelliguard® Kit and Tray Management System, which automates medication inventory management and replenishment in hospital pharmacies. With its ability to read high-density trays, multi-layer tackle boxes and overlapping kit labels, the system can scan more than 150 medications in seconds and provides 100% accuracy of identifying missing, expired, soon-to-expire and recalled medications.
Benefits of the new Intelliguard® RFID Smart Tag:
- One tag is used for all medication packaging including: foil wrapped IVs, syringes, ampules, vials and boxes
- Provides a 100% accuracy read rate when combined with the proven Intelliguard® system
- Is less visually obtrusive for clinicians when reading the FDA-approved medication label
- Fits better when placing labels onto ampules and 1mL vials
- Allows for ampules and vials to more easily fit in pockets of trays, kits and boxes.
A recent Time and Motion Study at Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego showed significant improvements in accuracy and an average of 80 percent reduction in pharmacy replenishment times of medication kits and trays when using Intelliguard® Kit and Tray Management system.
“Our goal was to provide customers with one smaller, universal tag, which can be used on all medication packaging whether it is a foil wrapped IV, 1mL vial, ampule or box,” said Hussain. “And judging by new customer response – our team successfully achieved that goal.”
About MEPS Real-Time, Inc.
Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Carlsbad, Calif., MEPS Real-Time, Inc. (mepsrealtime.com) is a leading provider of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) solutions for pharmacy automation and inventory management. Its suite of Intelliguard® RFID Management Systems offer unprecedented real-time visibility of high-value, critical-dose pharmaceutical inventory to reduce costs through inventory management and monitoring of expiration dates, NDCs, lot numbers and temperature; increase staff efficiency by eliminating manual counting and item-level scanning through automation; improve patient safety through medication error prevention; and enhance diversion prevention with embedded security features. Intelliguard® solutions include Medication Management, Inventory Management, and Kit and Tray Management Systems.
MEPS®, MEPS Real-Time® and Intelliguard® are registered trademarks and RFID Solutions for Critical Inventory is a trademark of MEPS Real-Time, Inc.
