Hospira medication dose tracking system goes wireless; MedAptus adds Zix e-prescribing app

- Gary Thayer, Editor

updated May 17, 2005 -- (MobileVillage) --MedAptus and Hospira have each announced updates to their software for medical professionals, which allow for mobile reference/e-prescribing and I.V. dosage tracking, respectively.

MedAptus has added a clinical results viewing module, and also integrated Zix Corp.'s (NASDAQ:ZIXI) PocketScript e-prescribing application to the MedAptus software suite. PocketScript enables physicians to write and generate e-prescriptions through wireless handheld devices directly to the pharmacy. The software also includes real-time formulary information, drug-to-drug and drug-to-allergy interaction checking, a drug reference guide, and a patient's dispensed drug history. MedAptus and PocketScript are being demonstrated at TEPR 2005, May 16-18 in Salt Lake City.

At the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) 2005 expo in New Orleans last week, Hospira (NYSE:HSP) announced a new wireless version of the Hospira MedNet system, a customizable software application that aims to help hospitals define medication dose limits and track intravenous (I.V.) drug delivery and help prevent errors.

Hospira MedNet software is designed to facilitate the development, distribution and documentation of hospital-defined medication dosing practices at the patient bedside. It is a programmable and customizable software system that stores up to 2,700 I.V. drug and fluid names in a hospital-defined drug library, while providing area-specific limits for 18 clinical-care areas, according to Hospira.

The new wireless version of Hospira MedNet establishes real-time send-and-receive capability and can interface Hospira I.V. infusion devices with the hospital information system network. The wireless system can also be networked to connect pumps via the hospital's Ethernet or to a computer on a mobile cart.

The MedNet system is the only drug library software available that offers both "soft" and "hard" dose- and rate-setting limits for both primary and secondary infusions, according to Hospira. Soft limits allow clinicians to manually override dose limits (with confirmation) if they require delivery of a dose outside of their hospital's best practice guidelines. As an added safety feature, MedNet allows hospitals to set hard limits that staff cannot manually override. Either way, clinicians are alerted if they have programmed a medication dose outside the predetermined limits set by the hospital.

MedNet also captures and logs all alarms and alerts, allowing hospitals to track trends in compliance with their dosing and clinical best practices, providing actionable information for quality improvement.

The MedNet system is scalable, and supports multiple product offerings, each with increasing levels of features and functionality, depending on a hospital's size and clinical and technology needs. For example, the software can provide a localized drug library upload and infusion device data log download for improving
safety and performance of medication delivery.

Hospira says it is collaborating with Cerner Corp. and Bridge Medical to integrate its software with their barcode-enabled point-of-care (BPOC) systems, which will provide autoprogramming functionality.

Hospira MedNet is currently available with the Plum A+ infusion system, and in the future, Hospira expects it to be compatible with other Hospira medication management systems, including the company's proprietary patient- controlled analgesia infusion device. For more information, see the Hospira web site.

Recent Related Stories:

IQMax mobile healthcare software adds WAN synchronization

MerckMedicus now available for wireless devices

Care Fusion merges GE Healthcare’s DINAMAP vitals monitors with EMR

Epocrates, HealthRamp & PatientKeeper certified for use on Cingular's network

Back to MobileVillage News Page