Innovation's Pharmacy Automation Systems Gain Approval for DoD Information Security Accreditation

JOHNSON CITY, N.Y., Oct. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovation, makers of PharmASSIST® pharmacy automation solutions, today announced that their PharmASSIST products have been granted the Authority to Operate (ATO) and Authority to Connect (ATC) to the Air Force Global Information Grid (AF-GIG) under the Department of Defense Information Assurance Accreditation and Certification Process (DIACAP). Innovation's PharmASSIST products (robotic dispensing, counting technologies, and workflow software) are deployed in over 130 U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, and Joint Forces pharmacy facilities around the world. Innovation's acquisition of the ATO and ATC is a continuation of a series of security certifications originally established in 2002, which demonstrates Innovation's commitment to providing secure, compliant automation systems to the Department of Defense (DoD).  

"Our PharmASSIST Symphony® software was the first pharmacy workflow system to receive the DITSCAP Certificate of Networthiness and the Certificate to Operate from the U.S. Air Force. We've worked diligently with the Air Force Medical Services, Information Assurance branch to ensure our products maintain the level of security this certification requires," said Mary Reno, CEO, Innovation. "We are proud to provide software and hardware that protects our service men and women from medication errors and increases the productivity needed for DoD pharmacies to manage their ever-increasing workloads. This certification demonstrates our continued dedication to this vital service in an environment where information security is critical."

An ATO authorization is granted by a Designated Accrediting Authority (DAA) for a DoD Information System (IS) to process, store, or transmit information. Innovation's ATO indicates that PharmASSIST has implemented all assigned Information Assurance (IA) controls, is certified and accredited, and is in compliance with the assigned IA controls to perform mission related activities. Innovation's ATC authorization is the official Air Force-DAA approval for system connection to the AF-GIG. An ATC is typically granted to systems where the acceptable residual risk after proper countermeasures and safeguards are implemented.

All DoD information systems must be certified and accredited per the guidance in Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 8510.01. The process described in this instruction is the DIACAP, which is a complex and lengthy process that is completed in five phases. This process can take months, or even years, depending on the size of the system and the availability of the personnel responsible for completing the different aspects of the DIACAP process.

About Innovation

Innovation, a leader in the world of automated prescription dispensing, offers the PharmASSIST family of products to address the prescription growth, quality assurance, pharmacy workflow, and cost control challenges of all size pharmacies. With over three decades of broad-based, business experience, Innovation is dedicated to delivering the highest-quality pharmacy automation products to the pharmacy industry. For more information, visit www.innovat.com.

SOURCE Innovation