IoT Healthcare: Smart Medicine Cabinet Improves Patient Safety

The Odense University Hospital in Denmark has purchased a smart medicine cabinet from Finnish medical technology company, NewIcon. This smart medicine cabinet is reportedly the first of its kind in Denmark. Danish hospitals are investing heavily in technology, especially in automation and traceability. This new eMED ICON smart medicine cabinet will support the hospital in the development of pharmaceutical services, according to the release.

Danish hospitals are becoming more specialized in order to improve the quality of patient care while reducing public expenditure, and smart medicine cabinets like this one allow for more efficient and safer pharmaceutical processes. The cabinets improve the storage and dispensation safety of medicines, and their traceability. The use of automation also minimizes the risk of human error and irregularities.

In the spring of 2017, NewIcon Oy began a pilot trial, sponsored by the Danish innovation network RoboCluster, in which nurses tested the eMED ICON smart medicine cabinet in the emergency department of Odense University Hospital. The aim of the test period was to demonstrate that the smart medicine cabinet is of real benefit in developing both occupational and patient safety.

The initial results were promising, with almost all users expressing satisfaction with the cabinets. The nurses involved felt that even a short instructional briefing was sufficient training in how to use the cabinet. In addition to those in Odense, users at a number of hospitals in Finland have also reported positive experiences with the smart medicine cabinets.

“The nurses using the cabinet feel that it allows for easier and smoother dispensation of medicine than before, with the indicator lights providing clear usage guidance. The smart cabinet’s speed and safety in selecting medications was also viewed as a positive factor,” said Hanne Hansen-Nord, Danish representative, Key Account Manager, NewIcon.