From Wards to Central Pharmacy: Closing the Loop
Fragmentation Between Wards and Pharmacy
While ward-level automation with XT Cabinets and AMis Pro Smart Carts significantly improves safety and efficiency, many NHS Trusts still face fragmented workflows. Medication data is often siloed between wards and the central pharmacy. Stock discrepancies, manual reconciliation, and delayed replenishment create inefficiencies, increased costs, and risk to patient safety.
The 2025 NHS “Fit for the Future” plan emphasises digital integration, interoperability, and efficiency. Connecting ward-level systems to central pharmacy operations is a cornerstone of achieving these goals (gov.uk).
The Omnicell Connected Pharmacy Ecosystem
A fully connected ecosystem links:
- XT Cabinets and AMis Pro Smart Carts at the point of care.
- MedPick (HubXpert + Gollmann RDS robotics) in the central pharmacy, automating stock picking, replenishment, and data integration.
- MedXpert, aggregating data from all sources for analytics and reporting.
This ecosystem ensures that every transaction, from central pharmacy dispensing to bedside administration, is captured in real time.
MedPick: Centralised Automation and Connectivity
MedPick combines HubXpert integration software with Gollmann RDS robotics to optimise central pharmacy workflows:
- High-throughput picking and packing ensures rapid and accurate ward replenishment.
- Real-time data capture from wards via HubXpert consolidates stock information in the central pharmacy.
- Error reduction through automated verification
- Traceability for regulatory compliance and audit reporting.
MedPick closes the loop between ward-level systems and the central pharmacy, creating a true connected pharmacy ecosystem.
Operational Benefits
Efficiency Gains
- Reduced time for manual stock reconciliation.
- Faster replenishment cycles for wards.
- Streamlined workflows for pharmacy and nursing staff.
Patient Safety Improvements
- Fewer medication errors due to automation.
- Real-time visibility allows proactive intervention.
- Controlled drug tracking supports governance.
Cost and Waste Reduction
- Reduced stock-outs and expiry waste.
- Optimised staffing allocation.
- Lower overall medicine expenditure.
Preparing for Predictive Analytics
Once ward and central pharmacy systems are connected through MedPick, MedXpert analytics transforms historical and real-time data into actionable insights:
- Forecast demand for wards and the central pharmacy.
- Identify high-risk medications prone to stock-outs.
- Optimise restocking schedules to prevent emergency orders.
Conclusion
Connecting ward-level systems to the central pharmacy via MedPick creates a data-driven, closed-loop medication management system. Hospitals gain:
- Complete visibility of stock.
- Safer, faster medication delivery.
- Operational and financial efficiency.
- A foundation for predictive analytics and proactive care.
