Ireland pharmacies to get new retail dispensing software, scanners

Kodak Alaris' KODAK SCANMATE i1150 Scanners and McLernon Computer's MPS retail pharmacy dispensing software will soon be installed in pharmacies throughout northern and southern Ireland in an effort to speed up the filling of repeat prescriptions. 

KODAK SCANMATE i1150 scanners are designed so pharmacy staff will be able to quickly and efficiently scan prescription documents.

“Partnering with Kodak Alaris, we offer an additional scanning module for pharmacists to scan prescriptions and store them directly into MPS for easy future retrieval on-screen,” Robin Hanna, McLernon Computers sales director, said. "It is a very simple solution, which saves time, enhances productivity and ultimately allows pharmacists or their assistants to spend more time with patients front of house rather than hunting in filing cabinets for old prescription paperwork.”

MPS is a WINDOWS-based IT system used to manage the dispensing process end-to-end. It can be used to record drug information in patients's records, print labels, manage stock, check drug interactions, and file money-back claims with the Irish Health Service Executive or the United Kingdom's NHS.

“Following the economic crash, the Irish government has put real pressure on retail pharmacies to deliver medicines at lower cost with margins decreasing dramatically over the past few years,” Neil Murphy, Kodak UK sales manager, said. “Some have been hit hard so solutions that are cost effective yet improve efficiency and help save time are being welcomed, which is what the combined MPS and KODAK SCANMATE system delivers.”