RIDLEY-THOMAS APPLAUDS BOARD APPROVAL OF EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SERVICES FOR AUTOMATED MEDICATION DISPENSING CABINETS

 

 

 

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

  March 16, 2010                                                                                                             Contact:       Aurelio Rojas 213-280-6579

                                                                                                                                                                 James Bolden 213-200-5314

 

RIDLEY-THOMAS APPLAUDS BOARD APPROVAL OF EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SERVICES FOR AUTOMATED MEDICATION DISPENSING CABINETS

 

 

LOS ANGELES – Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas today applauded the Board of Supervisors’ authorization of an agreement for equipment maintenance and repair services for automated medication dispensing cabinets at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and the Martin Luther King, Jr., Multi-Service Ambulatory Care Center (MACC).

 

The board action authorizes the Department of Health Services (DHS) to execute the agreement with CareFusion Solutions, LLC. The approval is effective for one year and four one-year automatic renewals.

 

The use of automated dispensing cabinets is the hospital industry’s standard of care to increase control and security over medication stocked in patient care areas.  Equipment maintenance and repair services are required to guarantee timely maintenance and ensure compliance.

 

The computerized medication dispensers also improve quality of care for patients in the following ways:

 

• Ensure that new prescriptions are not incompatible with other medications the patient may have been prescribed
• Helps avoid human errors that result from picking up the wrong bottle

 

“The Board’s approval allows DHS to remain in compliance with all accrediting and licensing agency requirements, which ensures that the equipment performs in accordance with equipment specifications,” Supervisor Ridley-Thomas said.

 

In addition to Harbor-UCLA and the MLK MACC, equipment maintenance and repair services will also take place at County-USC Medical Center, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center and High Desert Health System.

 

Automated dispensing cabinet are located in most in-patient and some ambulatory patient care areas, including emergency rooms. These cabinets contain a predefined medication stock, which is maintained and replenished by the onsite pharmacy.

 

“The assurance of appropriate maintenance of this equipment at all times is integral to hospital and clinic operations and safe patient care,” Supervisor Ridley-Thomas said.

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