Pharmaceutical robotics has made its way from futuristic, cutting-edge technology to almost becoming just another highly sophisticated tool that we expect to see in larger healthcare facilities. But that does not mean it is a perfect solution to medication dispensing problems. Before you sign on to a multi-million-dollar pharmaceutical robotics program, consider the potential pitfalls you may encounter on the way to all the benefits.
The benefits can be significant. Leaders at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, say their robotic system has greatly improved safety. With a new automated hospital pharmacy—believed to be the nation's most comprehensive—UCSF is using robotic technology and electronics to prepare and track medications with the goal of improving patient safety.