Shands HealthCare Increases Operational Efficiency in Surgical Suites With Omnicell Supply Systems

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. and GAINESVILLE, Fla., Jan 29, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Complete physician preference card and perpetual inventory management system designed to meet unique supply management requirements of surgical services

Omnicell, Inc. (Nasdaq: OMCL) a leading provider of system solutions to acute healthcare facilities, and Shands HealthCare today announced the installation of Omnicell Specialty supply chain management systems (formerly known as OptiFlex SS) in surgical suites located within Shands at the University of Florida medical center in Gainesville. Scheduled for completion in the spring of 2009, the installation of the new systems is providing an increased level of secure storage for surgical supplies while reducing inventory, assuring accurate supply availability, and improve productivity in surgical staffing.

"Through its automated features, Supply Specialty allows our UF medical staff and Shands nurses to reduce the amount of manual work associated with handling and tracking surgical supplies," said Du Nguyen, facilities development project manager, Shands HealthCare. "We expect to realize significant savings as a result of increased inventory turns and increased charge capture. The efficiency of the integrated Supply Specialty offering allows us to manage inventory in both open and closed cabinets across diverse groups of surgical service units."

Supply Specialty is a complete physician preference card system and perpetual inventory management system for all the supply management requirements of the surgical services department. The preference card system creates a unique bar code for each surgical case based on the physician, the procedure and the patient. Real-time case management allows dynamic adjustment of the supplies issued during the procedure. In addition, the system tracks all required time segments for reporting, data analysis and charging purposes.

"By investing in Supply Specialty, Shands HealthCare is demonstrating its dedication to patient safety while taking a leadership role in reducing costs and increasing productivity in its surgical suites," said Suzanne Alexander-Vaughn, product manager, Omnicell. "This easy-to-use, yet comprehensive solution offers a compelling return on investment and eliminates many of the inefficiencies of supply chain management."

By tracking inventory and usage patterns, Supply Specialty also enables staff to more accurately determine inventory needs, which further reduces inventory and maintains supplies only where they are needed. The host of benefits offered by Supply Specialty simply provides a tremendous advantage when trying to manage a vast array of surgical and operating suite supplies.

For more information call 800-850-6664, e-mail info@omnicell.com or visit www.omnicell.com.

About Omnicell

Omnicell, Inc. (NASDAQ: OMCL) is a leading provider of systems targeting patient safety and operational efficiency in healthcare facilities. Since 1992, Omnicell has worked to enhance patient safety and allow clinicians to spend more time with their patients.

Omnicell's medication-use product line includes solutions for the central pharmacy, nursing unit, operating room, and patient bedside. Solutions range from complete automation systems for the central pharmacy to nursing unit and bedside dispensing cabinet systems. From the point at which a medication arrives at the receiving dock to the time it is administered, Omnicell systems store it, package it, bar code it, order it, issue it, and provide information and controls on its use and reorder.

Our supply product lines provide a healthcare institution with fast, effective control of costs, capture of charges for payer reimbursement, and timely reorder of supplies. Products range from high-security closed-cabinet systems and software to open-shelf and combination solutions in the nursing unit, cath lab and operating room. For more information, visit www.omnicell.com.

About Shands HealthCare

Shands HealthCare is a private, not-for-profit healthcare system affiliated with the University of Florida and its Health Science Center campuses in Gainesville and Jacksonville. The system includes eight Shands hospitals and two home-health agencies. Shands is affiliated with more than 80 UF outpatient practices located throughout North Central and Northeast Florida.

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SOURCE Omnicell, Inc.

http://www.omnicell.com

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