TidalHealth Realizes Savings, Efficiency Gains with IV Compounding Service
TidalHealth was falling short of its goals for producing compounded sterile products (CSPs) using in-house IV automation. After switching to a new, advanced services model, pharmacy leaders accelerated realization of their CSP program goals.
The Challenge
TidalHealth Peninsula Regional is a 266-bed, non-profit hospital located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. It provides a multitude of specialties serving nearly 500,000 patients annually.
Over time, pharmacy leaders had come to rely on 503B vendors to provide the vast majority of its premixed compounded sterile products (CSPs). But as product shortages, supplier allocations, and pricing fluctuations became more acute, the supply chain instability increased pressure on pharmacy staff and budget.
To introduce greater CSP supply and cost certainty, pharmacy leaders turned to in-house production with IV automation. However, as assigned pharmacy technicians were diverted to other priorities, the insourcing CSP program fell short of expectations due to:
- Underutilized technology
- Inefficient processes
- Constrained ability to use beyond-use dating (BUD)
- Limited ability to produce multiple types of CSPs
TidalHealth Peninsula Regional is a 266-bed, non-profit hospital located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. It provides a multitude of specialties serving nearly 500,000 patients annually.
Over time, pharmacy leaders had come to rely on 503B vendors to provide the vast majority of its premixed compounded sterile products (CSPs). But as product shortages, supplier allocations, and pricing fluctuations became more acute, the supply chain instability increased pressure on pharmacy staff and budget.
To introduce greater CSP supply and cost certainty, pharmacy leaders turned to in-house production with IV automation. However, as assigned pharmacy technicians were diverted to other priorities, the insourcing CSP program fell short of expectations due to:
- Underutilized technology
- Inefficient processes
- Constrained ability to use beyond-use dating (BUD)
- Limited ability to produce multiple types of CSPs
The Solution
TidalHealth reexamined its CSP program goals. After a detailed needs assessment and cost-benefit analysis, they invested in Omnicell’s IV Compounding Service and a second i.v.STATION compounding robot.
The IV Compounding Service includes the technology, the tools, and a fully dedicated, Omnicell-certified, on-site resource to:
- Optimize the technology vs. peer benchmarking
- Use data analysis to recommend CSP production and maximize savings
- Apply best practices in order to meet specific program goals
TidalHealth reexamined its CSP program goals. After a detailed needs assessment and cost-benefit analysis, they invested in Omnicell’s IV Compounding Service and a second i.v.STATION compounding robot.
The IV Compounding Service includes the technology, the tools, and a fully dedicated, Omnicell-certified, on-site resource to:
- Optimize the technology vs. peer benchmarking
- Use data analysis to recommend CSP production and maximize savings
- Apply best practices in order to meet specific program goals
Significant Impact Within Weeks
Within weeks, TidalHealth pharmacy leaders recognized significant improvements. A single technician operates both IV robots simultaneously at high levels and incorporates best practices from Omnicell’s network of expert operators. After several months, the results included:
- Increased average monthly CSP production 270% (from 1,000 to 3,700)
- Increased the medication protocols produced 125% (from 4 to 9)
- Generated average net quarterly 503B savings of $66,000
- Decreased reliance on 503B vendors
- Enhanced patient safety by reducing human touches
Within weeks, TidalHealth pharmacy leaders recognized significant improvements. A single technician operates both IV robots simultaneously at high levels and incorporates best practices from Omnicell’s network of expert operators. After several months, the results included:
- Increased average monthly CSP production 270% (from 1,000 to 3,700)
- Increased the medication protocols produced 125% (from 4 to 9)
- Generated average net quarterly 503B savings of $66,000
- Decreased reliance on 503B vendors
- Enhanced patient safety by reducing human touches
Tools and Techniques Lead to Greater Savings
TidalHealth’s upgrade in people, processes, and technology led to additional savings, including:
- A new quarantine process following best practices to enable a more robust BUD program
- The BUD program extends shelf life up to 90 days for multiple products, resulting in reduced waste
- Analytics to select the drugs to compound that would produce the greatest return on investment
Additional efficiency improvements enabled by the IV Compounding Service include:
- Driving a much higher degree of throughput from the robots by introducing the production of both IV bags and syringes
- Using analytics to project anticipated CSP output demand in advance, thereby saving time and expense by ensuring the medications and materials needed are on hand
- Separating the storage of IV robot compounding medications and materials to avoid disturbing non-robotic IV workflows or other pharmacy operations
TidalHealth’s upgrade in people, processes, and technology led to additional savings, including:
- A new quarantine process following best practices to enable a more robust BUD program
- The BUD program extends shelf life up to 90 days for multiple products, resulting in reduced waste
- Analytics to select the drugs to compound that would produce the greatest return on investment
Additional efficiency improvements enabled by the IV Compounding Service include:
- Driving a much higher degree of throughput from the robots by introducing the production of both IV bags and syringes
- Using analytics to project anticipated CSP output demand in advance, thereby saving time and expense by ensuring the medications and materials needed are on hand
- Separating the storage of IV robot compounding medications and materials to avoid disturbing non-robotic IV workflows or other pharmacy operations
The Impact
Key Outcomes:
- Increased CSP production 270%
- Increased type of IV products made 125%
- Saved $66,000 per quarter
- Increased patient safety
- Produced both IV bags and syringes
Customer Benefits:
- Enhanced medication safety (minimize human touches)
- Applied best practices benefiting clinical support
- Reduced reliance on 503B vendors
- Introduced quarantine processes leading to BUD savings
"The analytics that come with the IV Compounding Service helps us to benchmark against ourselves and against our peers, which is really helpful in driving additional efficiencies and cost savings."
Rachel Cordrey, Pharmacy Supervisor
