Category: inventory control

The Value of Saving Time

Posted on by John Van Horn

The end of the year is a good time to look back and evaluate how it went. Years can be broken up into financial quarters, which can be broken up into weeks and then into business days. Spending moments during the day doing unnecessary tasks can snowball into to large amount of wasted time over the year. Intelligent Dispensing Solutions works to save you time, which can save you money and add value to your business.

IDS has tools to help companies eliminate time and money waste by tracking supplies, securely dispensing materials and reducing administrative costs. By eliminating tedious time consuming work IDS products give you more time to spend working on more important parts of your businesss. We take pride in our asset management systems and have seen them help many different types of businesses. Contact us to find out how we can help you save time and money for your business.

IDS New Web Service Features

Posted on by John Van Horn

Intelligent Dispensing Solutions is excited to announce new web service features that will enhance reporting and accountability allowing you to further streamline administration costs. The new features include: Supply Room, Electronic Checklists and Ambulance Stock Inspection Sheets as well as Transaction Reporting.

Supply Room

Supply Room makes sure that you always have the items needed to restock your machine.  With Supply Room you can set critical alert level and par levels for items that are ready to be stocked in your IDS UCapit machine(s) and items that will remain stocked on the shelf. You can be alerted when you need to reorder products and if you need to restock products. Soon this service feature will include the ability to run purchase orders based on your supply levels in both machine and supply room.

Electronic Checklists and Ambulance Stock Inspection Sheets

Electronic Checklists and Ambulance Stock Inspection Sheets provide the ability to better manage tasks by creating your own checklist. The checklists tracks who completed a task and when. A completed task can be reported automatically by sending an email to the designated crew member. The completed checklist is easy to share with those on your team as well.

Electronic Checklists and Ambulance Stock Inspection Sheets

Electronic Checklists and Ambulance Stock Inspection Sheets provide the ability to better manage tasks by creating your own checklist. The checklists tracks who completed a task and when. A completed task can be reported automatically by sending an email to the designated crew member. The completed checklist is easy to share with those on your team as well.

Transaction Reporting

In the Transaction Reporting feature the allocation displays automatically when a report in run. For example, if you are prompting your crew members to enter the Run Number and Unit Number it will automatically display with the individual transaction record without having the change the account setting. Also, when you check the ‘Customize Columns’ box, further options for returning the data you want appears. You can now make selections for displaying the Lot Number and Expiration Dates. This means that the individual Lot Number and Expiration Date will display for each individual product that has been dispensed. Remember that any time you run a particular query, you can automate it.

IDS Advancing Technology

IDS expects to continue improving our solutions in order to provide your organization with increased value. Please contact us to schedule an online demo on these new web service features or have general questions about optimizing your use of the IDS UCapIt solution.

Customer Spotlight: Mastic Beach Ambulance Company Success Story

Posted on by John Van Horn

This month, we want to highlight our medical vending machine customer, Mastic Beach Ambulance Company.

Mastic Beach Ambulance Company implemented our U-Cap-It medical vending solution and placed themselves in control of inventory. Now, they are able to save staff time managing inventory and significantly reduce costs associated with wasted and expired supplies.

With 90-100 staff members, the Mastic Beach Ambulance Company runs five ambulances and multiple responders and averages about 2,500 to 3,000 calls a year.

Prior to implementing the U-Cap-It system, Mastic Beach would run into problems with tracking of product on hand. This ended up being an issue when crews were coming back into the building to restock and there was no product left.

Though a few different software solutions were looked into by Mastic Beach, they found the U-Cap-It solution to be the best option. The cost savings implemented by U-Cap-It was a huge benefit for Mastic Beach. Implementing the solution allowed Mastic Beach to spend less time doing the manual count and paperwork needed to keep track of all the spreadsheets and physical inventory in their building.

“U-Cap-it was able to provide us with exactly what we were looking for.”

-Rich Tvelia, District EMS Supervisor, Mastic Beach Ambulance Company.

When Mastic Beach needs to do a restock, whether something expires or is out of stock,  U-Cap-It is able to see exactly which ambulance vehicle needs the restock. Additionally, there are automated reports and instant notifications from the U-Cap-It website available to Mastic Beach to better track all of their equipment, certifications and product.

In implementing the U-Cap-It system, Mastic Beach was able to save up to $8,000 in the first year alone. Now that the system is in place, there is also continuing local technical and training support from IDS.

“I would recommend the U-Cap-It system to any other agencies in need of cost-cutting processes, ease of use, inventory tracking, and continued customer support.”

-Rich Tvelia, District EMS Supervisor, Mastic Beach Ambulance Company.

If you’re looking for a better way to control inventory, save staff time managing inventory and significantly reduce the cost of wasted and expired supplies, consider IDS U-Cap-It solutions.

For more information about U-Cap-It, visit us here.

Watch the entire testimonial here.

Customer Spotlight: Hunt Regional Healthcare rolls out IDS’ ScrubTrak system to curb scrub loss

Posted on by John Van Horn

 

Before 2017, Hunt Regional Healthcare relied on a manual system for checking out and returning surgical scrubs. The system was simple. Scrubs were kept in a cabinet. Physicians, nurses, and techs checked them out when needed.

But recently, leadership at the Greenville, Texas-based health system, which includes Hunt Regional Medical Center and several ancillary facilities, noticed an alarming trend with their approach.

“Human error is inevitable,” says Ryan Madewell, director of environmental services for Hunt Regional Healthcare. “We were losing scrubs faster than we should have been.”

Scrubs can be easily misplaced, and — with no way to keep track of the inventory — simple errors add up quickly for hospitals. Over time, lost scrubs contribute to higher costs and lost productivity.

Leaders at Hunt Regional Healthcare were ready to make a change. After a smooth installation, including a quick email to staff,  IDS’ ScrubTrak system was implemented. Just a few months later, Hunt was enjoying cost savings, and happier employees – who are now able to find the sizes they need when they need them, and prevent infection and cross contamination by having disposal machines across the property

With an easy transition process and obvious benefits, Madewell looks to expand IDS’ scrub machines throughout the hospitals and into more departments.

Would you like to save thousands of dollars by reducing shrinkage of scrubs or other linens and textiles while improving productivity in your organization? If so,  a supply dispenser from IDS may be the answer.

 

Find out more about how you can save thousands of dollars annually!

Scrubs May Be Contaminating More Than Expected

Posted on by John Van Horn

A wake-up call has been rung for healthcare personnel around the world. A Duke Health study reports on the “transmission triangle” in a healthcare setting, between patients, the environment where care is administered, and the health care provider.

The study states that the germs in hospital rooms that come in contact with healthcare personnel can be spread far more than originally discovered.

“Any type of patient care, or even just entry into a room where care is provided, truly should be considered a chance for interacting with organisms that can cause disease.” said Deverick Anderson, M.D., the study’s lead author and associate professor of medicine at Duke University School of Medicine.

During the study, researchers collected cultures from the scrubs of intensive care unit nurses at Duke University Hospital. The samples were collected from new scrubs at the start of their shift, before interacting with a patient, and at the end of each shift.  

Analysis of the cultures found organisms on the nurse’s scrubs that were not present at the beginning of a shift, but were present at the end. The researchers then looked for those same organisms in the samples collected from patients and their rooms.

During the shifts considered, the researchers confirmed 12 instances when at least one of the five pathogens was transmitted from the patient or the room to the scrubs. Six incidents each involved transmission from patient to nurse and room to nurse. An additional ten transmissions were from the patient to the room.

Analysis of the study found the scrubs, particularly the pockets and sleeves, from the nurses were most likely contaminated, and had the ability to pass on bacteria beyond the healthcare setting. Following prevention strategies has to be a top priority for all healthcare personnel.

Contaminated linen, including scrubs and coats, have been identified as a source of large numbers of pathogenic microorganisms. ScrubTrak helps keep scrubs clean and control this risk in healthcare organizations by providing return units in key locations throughout the campus. Having multiple return unit locations ensures that employees do not have to travel far distances in contaminated uniforms.

Hospital grade laundering services provides a thorough, cleaning process that cannot be replicated in home washing machines and ensures scrubs are rid of infectious germs. Through automating the scrub management process for receiving and returning scrubs, ScrubTrak assists hospitals in complying with AORN’s recommendation for surgical attire to be laundered by a healthcare laundry facility to avoid the spread of infectious bacteria on scrubs of medical personnel who have patient interaction. By offering dispensing and return units for scrubs, and monitoring compliance through our real-time software system, hospital administrators can confidently comply with AORN. In addition, ScrubTrak’s return units allow for convenient and safe scrub pick-up by laundering staff.

The best way to get clean, fresh, correctly-sized scrubs, anytime? ScrubTrak, the easiest way to dispense scrubs, anywhere.

Why Inventory Management is Critical to Your Business

Posted on by John Van Horn

It used to be that the most an office employee could reasonably pilfer would be a few staplers and reams of paper. Maybe a really nice fountain pen. Now, with the influx of high tech gadgetry and peripherals required in nearly every professional setting, the danger of such supplies being stolen has become a serious financial consideration. iVendTech’s inventory management vending machines provide a simple way to stock, track, and account for any manner of office supplies.

The old school technique of keeping one open supply closet with all the requisite tools has disappeared. There is a need to trace each item used–particularly the expensive gadgets–and that requires a new method. Locked closets with a dedicated employee ‘gatekeeper’ only slow down valuable employees with paperwork and bureaucracy.  Using a customized iVendTech system will not only increase employee productivity, but it will also decrease overhead.

Every iVendTech and IDS automated office supply dispensing machine comes with online real-time tracking, so management can see how often and how many of each item is actually used. That data can then be used for office supply management in order to keep only the stock necessary, whether it’s a specialized tool or merely coffee supplies.

Accepting shrinkage and lost productivity as part of doing business is a thing of the past. Modern solutions, like iVendTech’s inventory management system, will both decrease costs and increase employee efficiency. Visit our website today to learn how we can customize a vending machine for your business needs!

Scrubs: Streetwear or Not?

Posted on by John Van Horn

When the public brings to mind the image of a medical professional, they have one of two outfits in mind: either a white lab coat or scrubs, usually blue ones. But when a medical professional is out of the hospital or lab, what are the implications of wearing the same apparel? Is it dangerous to wear scrubs outside and, if so, to whom?

Wearing a white lab coat can signal that the wearer is a scientist, doctor, a pharmacist, or many other health professions – even certain educators. Scrubs are believed to signal that the wearer is in a job where he or she could encounter hazardous biological material, requiring disposable or easily replaceable attire. However, scrubs are often worn in professions where no biological material is handled, such as medical technicians, x-ray operators, dental and veterinary assistants, massage therapists, some secretaries in medical settings, physical and occupational therapists, and many others.

The two primary dangers of wearing scrubs outdoors of the requisite work environment are contamination and perception.  When someone wears scrubs outside of a hospital setting, they may unwittingly be perceived as competent to handle emergency medical situations, simply due to their garb.  

Since the media often portrays surgeons as wearing only scrubs–rather than the medically appropriate gowns and guards–there is a concern that those wearing scrubs could either be carrying contagions or be picking up contaminants that will then be brought into sensitive medical settings. Both situations are highly unlikely to be accurate.

The real reasons for wearing scrubs outside of professional settings are as varied as the wearers. Some may wear their scrubs out to impress strangers; others find them comfortable and convenient coverings, dispensed from a vending machine on site, like ScrubTrak. Many hospitals are now discouraging their employees from wearing scrubs outside the workplace, but exceptions persist, such as when a doctor’s own clothing has been impaired in some way. Ultimately, the practice of using scrubs as streetwear isn’t particularly dangerous, and is more of a personal preference.

The best way to get clean, fresh, correctly-sized scrubs, anytime? ScrubTrak, the easiest way to dispense scrubs, anywhere.

How UCapIt Can Help EMS Providers Save Money

Posted on by John Van Horn

Today more than ever hospitals, EMS providers and other healthcare organizations are challenged to provide a higher quality of patient care while reducing operating costs and facing increased regulatory requirements and patient volume. UCapIt provides an innovative, yet simple, solution to a persistent problem. Through cloud-based technology and an intuitive, easy to use software platform, UCapIt and IDS increases employee productivity and provides management with real-time analytics from their EMS supply tracking vending machines in order to make data-driven executive-level decisions.

UCapIt and IDS provides medical inventory tracking by allowing administrators to set limits on the number of items a user may take out at a time. Once the user hits that limit the user must return an item(s) before access is returned. Restrictions on usage can be adjusted on a departmental level by authorized administrators and multiple alert options are available via e-mail to multiple individuals based upon client established criteria. Reports include, but are not limited to:

  • Usage Summary
  • Inventory Consumption
  • Comparative Usage by Time
  • Transactions
  • Restock Summary
  • Par Optimization
  • Item Turnover Rate
  • Inventory Totals
  • Discrepancy Report

Here is a direct quote from Capt Beth Hines of Jacksonville NC (Onlow County EMS) about our drug expiration tracking feature:

“The report tells me what I need to know, how many are expiring, where they are located and the name of the medication. I really like that I can run the report for 90 or more days because I order replacement medications 3-4 months in advance, plus my regular stock… so I know I won’t run out. Now instead of having to do a count by hand at the end of the month or so I check them in when I receive them and simply run the reports I need.”

The Controlled Access Pharmacy (CAP) allows many medical professionals, including EMS, Pharmaceutical, Veterinary the ability to restock their units 24/7 and have real-time usage and inventory tracking. The CAP can check multiple forms of ID and will prompt for station or dispatch specific data.

All withdrawals are cataloged, time stamped and regulated by tech clearance/training level. A unique solution to today’s challenge of controlling access, tracking inventory and dispensing of products according to access protocol.

iVendTech – How a Vending Machine In Your Office Can Benefit Business Travelers

Posted on by John Van Horn

IDS Office Supply System is the answer to a simple desire of many businesses: We want to vend & track supplies for our employees. It proves there are no limits to intelligent dispensing. Now everything from ballpoint pens to keyboards can be dispensed from this versatile machine.

An IDS office supply vending machine offers many benefits like the ability to place products where they are needed 24/7 while reducing or in some cases eliminating office supply cabinets and drawers. Everything is secure and trackable letting you concentrate on your core business and not on keeping track of your supplies.

An employee arrives at an office that is not their home office and is in need of IT peripherals to accomplish their work. Examples might be a laptop power supply or security dongle. An on-demand electronics vending machine would allow the user to procure the item quickly.

An Employee can go to the machine and input their employee ID or swipe their ID card at the machine to initiate a dispensing session. The machine then sends ID/PIN to the server for authentication and restriction information is retrieved from the database (restriction information is based on departmental limits or other criteria as desired). If the employee is validated the dispensing session continues, otherwise the dispensing session terminates.

Tracking of products is easy. Transaction information is sent to the database including: time and date, account, site, machine, product(s) dispensed, and employee name or ID.

For office supplies and IT management we highly recommend that you check out the iVendTech site and features.

How ScrubTrak Can Help With Compliance and Infection Prevention in Medical Facilities

Posted on by John Van Horn

ScrubTrak™ is a breakthrough in scrub dispensing technology. It helps medical facilities manage their scrub supply more efficiently—reducing inventory shrinkage and increasing the bottom line. And it ensures doctors, nurses and techs always have clean medical scrubs available.

This simple, intuitive system eliminates hoarding, shortages and unauthorized use. We estimate that ScrubTrak™ can reduce inventory shrinkage by 90%.

Contaminated linen, including scrubs and coats, have been identified as a source of large numbers of pathogenic microorganisms. ScrubTrak offers infection prevention solutions by helping control this risk in healthcare organizations by providing return units in key locations throughout the campus. Having multiple return unit locations ensures that employees do not have to travel far distances in contaminated uniforms.

Hospital grade laundering services provides a thorough, cleaning process that cannot be replicated in home washing machines and ensures clean medical scrubs that are rid of infectious germs. Through automating the process for receiving and returning scrubs, ScrubTrak assists hospitals in complying with AORN’s recommendation for surgical attire to be laundered by a healthcare laundry facility to avoid the spread of infectious bacteria on scrubs of medical personnel who have patient interaction. By offering dispensing and return units for scrubs, and monitoring compliance through our real-time software system, hospital administrators can confidently comply with AORN. In addition, ScrubTrak’s return units allow for convenient and safe scrub pick-up by laundering staff.

For hospital and medical facility managers, we highly recommend that you check out the ScrubTrak site and features.