Hospitals Reduce Medication Errors up to 33 Percent Using CareFusion Technology

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 1, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- CareFusion (NYSE: CFN), a leading, global medical device company, today said it will highlight its Pyxis® closed-loop medication management system at the 45th Midyear Clinical Meeting and Exhibition of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), to be held next week in Anaheim, Calif.

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At the exhibition, CareFusion will showcase its Pyxis technologies, which have cut medication errors up to 33 percent at U.S. hospitals through interconnected devices that streamline the medication and supply management process from the hospital receiving areas to the patient, and provide decision support tools to assist caregivers. One 300-bed hospital, for example, has reduced medication errors by 93 percent via the adoption of Pyxis solutions. Another health care facility cut medication refill errors by 48 percent.  

CareFusion technology also enables hospitals to hold less medication inventory, freeing up working capital, and can increase medication availability, predictability and efficiency by securely storing oral solids, pre-mixed IVs, injections, controlled substances and refrigerated medications in the Pyxis MedStation™ system. This helps customers save time and money while increasing the quality of patient care. By implementing the full spectrum of CareFusion medication and patient safety technologies including Alaris® infusion and Pyxis technologies, an average 300-bed facility could potentially save up to $8 million in annual operating costs, according to company estimates.

Despite the influx of solutions, medication errors still occur at an alarming rate, affecting at least 1.5 million Americans annually(1). Some 7,000 patients die annually due to medication errors(2). In addition to the human toll, the financial costs are staggering, adding some $3.5 billion in annual costs to the U.S. health care system(3). Also, given changing Medicare and Medicaid payment models, hospitals with poor track records in medication management will be facing significant cuts in cost reimbursement.

Earlier this week, the company announced an agreement with PHACTS, which enables it to now offer an end-to-end medication management system that streamlines pharmacy processes, tracks medications from receiving to patient care areas and reports inventory utilization across the health system.

On Sunday, Dec. 5, CareFusion will host their annual Pyxis customer user group themed "Bringing Safety and Practice to a New Level". David Kvancz, vice president, National Pharmacy Programs & Services of Kaiser Permanente, will moderate the discussion focused on how customers can maximize Pyxis technologies for financial and safety benefits.

The ASHP Exhibition will run from Dec. 6-8, 2010. CareFusion will be at booth #1465, showcasing Pyxis® dispensing technologies, Pyxis® Point of Care verification, Alaris® infusion technologies and PHACTS products.

About CareFusion Corporation

CareFusion (NYSE: CFN) is a global corporation serving the health care industry with products and services that help hospitals measurably improve the safety and quality of care. The company develops market-leading technologies including Alaris® IV pumps, Pyxis® automated dispensing and patient identification systems, AVEA® and Pulmonetic Systems ventilation and respiratory products, ChloraPrep® products, MedMined™ services for infection surveillance, NeuroCare neurological monitoring and diagnostic products, V. Mueller® surgical instruments, and an extensive line of products that support interventional medicine. CareFusion employs more than 15,000 people across its global operations. More information may be found at www.carefusion.com.

SOURCE CareFusion