Medication Dispensing FAQs
About the InstyMeds System
- What is InstyMeds?
- How does InstyMeds differ from other physician dispensing systems?
- How does it work?
- Is it safe?
- Can I issue refills on a prescription?
Benefits
- What are the benefits of InstyMeds?
- How does InstyMeds benefit patients?
- Is there an opportunity for revenue with InstyMeds?
Staff
- How much staff time will InstyMeds require?
- How is the InstyMeds dispenser restocked?
- What if patients have questions about the dispenser or their prescriptions?
Payments
- Does InstyMeds accept insurance?
- How is insurance processed?
- How is Workman’s Comp handled through InstyMeds?
- How are co-pays or prescription payments handled?
- Is there an opportunity for revenue with InstyMeds?
Inventory
- How is inventory handled?
- What types of drugs can be dispensed?
- How is inventory tracked?
- How is the InstyMeds dispenser restocked?
About the InstyMeds System
1. What is InstyMeds?
InstyMeds is a fully automated system that dispenses acute medications directly to patients at the point of care. The InstyMeds dispenser combines the safety and security of an ATM with the convenience of a soda machine.
2. How does InstyMeds differ from other physician dispensing systems?
InstyMeds is the only system that handles all tasks involved with physician dispensing, including dispensing directly to the patient. This means, you simply issue the prescription and InstyMeds will take care of the rest.
3. How does it work?
Through an HL7 interface, patient information is automatically transferred to the InstyMeds application. The prescriber uses the web based InstyMeds Prescription Writer to print either an InstyMeds order with patient education material for dispensing at the InstyMeds dispenser, or a printed prescription for the patient to take to a traditional pharmacy.
The InstyMeds dispenser has a simple, touch-screen interface for the patient to navigate. The patient enters the unique access code and their birthday to identify and verify the transaction. A credit/debit card or cash can be used for payment at the dispenser. Once the credit/debit card is authorized or cash is received, medications will be automatically labeled, verified, dispensed directly to patient and a payment receipt will be printed.
4. Is it safe?
InstyMeds dispenses with 100% accuracy through the revolutionary triple bar code check system. When the patient enters their unique 7-digit code and birth date, the system starts its dispensing process:
If at any time a bar code check fails due to incorrect barcode or unable to read barcode, the system drops that medication into discard bin and restarts the process.
5. Can I issue refills on a prescription?
When issuing a prescription through the InstyMeds Prescription Writer tool, the prescriber can choose number of refills. The patient may then take their first fill of the prescription that they received from the InstyMeds dispenser and take to any retail pharmacy for refill.
Benefits
1. What are the benefits of InstyMeds?
InstyMeds allows health care facilities to provide outpatient pharmacy coverage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to patients without any added work for staff. With InstyMeds dispensers safely performing outpatient dispensing functions, pharmacists can be freed-up to assist other patients and deal with more complex issues. Expensive, non-reimbursed starter packs will be replaced with a secure, profitable method through InstyMeds. Patients will leave your facility with their full prescription to reduce pharmacy callbacks and increase the patients’ medication compliance rate.
With the InstyMeds Prescription Writer tool, handwriting errors—the largest cause of medication errors, will be eliminated
2. How does InstyMeds benefit patients?
Patients receive their medication quickly, right at the healthcare facility, rather than an average of 30 minutes or more wait at a pharmacy when they or their loved one is sick or in pain. In addition, dispensing errors are no longer a concern due to the web based InstyMeds Prescription Writer and triple barcode checking system. The patient goes home with the correct medication and instructions to get better, quicker!
3. Is there an opportunity for revenue with InstyMeds?
The added patient convenience with InstyMeds will increase your bottom line by expanding your customer base via referrals and word of mouth recommendations.
Depending on utilization, goals, and patient base, you also have the potential to make money with each medication dispensed.
Not only is there an opportunity to generate revenue, but InstyMeds will help you reduce some of your current expenses. Expensive, non-reimbursed starter packs will be replaced with a secure, profitable method through InstyMeds. Staff time spent on pharmacy callbacks and after hours calls to medical staff due to failed patient compliance will also be reduced.
Staff
1. How much staff time will InstyMeds require?
InstyMeds is a fully automated system to ensure there is no extra work for staff. InstyMeds has a 24/7 Call Center so staff simply has to direct patients’ questions relating to prescriptions, dispenser use, or insurance to the phone on dispenser. The inventory in the InstyMeds dispenser is tracked real-time without any manual tracking system. The dispenser will need to be restocked by a designated staff member, which takes approximately 15 minutes per week (depending on usage).
2. How is the InstyMeds dispenser restocked?
The InstyMeds dispenser will need to be restocked as needed which takes approximately 15 minutes per week depending on usage. The dispenser’s revolutionary bar code check system ensures that the medication cannot be restocked incorrectly. When a sleeve of medication is removed and replaced with a new sleeve, the system recalibrates its inventory. Therefore any type of medication sleeve may be placed in any open area.
The restocking process consists of running an InstyMeds report to show what medications need to be restocked into dispenser and following the instructions on the dispenser’s touch-screen to restock.
3. What if patients have questions about the dispenser or their prescriptions?
The InstyMeds dispenser has a direct dial telephone that immediately connects patients with the InstyMeds Call Center to speak with technicians and pharmacists. The call center is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and also available for patients to call after they leave the facility if they have questions about their medication. The call center is there to answer all your patients’ questions regarding their medication, how to use the dispenser, or insurance coverage.
Payments
1. Does InstyMeds accept insurance?
Yes, most private insurance plans are accepted by InstyMeds. Public insurance plans are also accepted (vary by state rules and regulations), including Medicare Part D and other government programs.
If there is no insurance coverage, the patient will pay standard retail price for their prescription. If desired, the healthcare facility can elect to provide the prescription medications at no cost to the patient (compassionate care).
2. How is insurance processed?
If the patient has insurance information loaded in their registration record, an adjudication request is automatically sent through a claims switch for approval. Technicians in the InstyMeds call center utilize basic patient demographic information to determine insurance eligibility. A technician may communicate with patient via the phone on the dispenser if they have questions on patient’s insurance information. The system is accepted by nearly all third-party payers that can be electronically submitted.
3. How is Workman’s Comp handled through InstyMeds?
Once a patient is cited as a Workman’s Comp patient (methods for citing vary based on site preferences), an InstyMeds Call Center employee zeros out payment for the prescription. The patient proceeds with using the InstyMeds dispenser to receive their prescription. InstyMeds will then send a Workman’s Comp report to your facility’s billing department for reimbursement submittal.
Patient also has the option to pay for the prescription at the InstyMeds dispenser and submit receipt to their Workman’s Comp program for reimbursement.
4. How are co-pays or prescription payments handled?
The InstyMeds dispenser will calculate the amount due (if any) from the patient. The patient inserts credit card, debit card, or cash (cash not accepted with all dispensers) to cover the amount. The dispenser processes the payment and prints out a receipt.
The amount earned on each transaction for the facility will be calculated by InstyMeds and applied to any amounts owed (rent, drugs purchased, etc.) or else be sent a check for any revenue accrued.
5. Is there an opportunity for revenue with InstyMeds?
The added patient convenience with InstyMeds will increase your bottom line by expanding your customer base via referrals and word of mouth recommendations.
Depending on utilization, goals, and patient base, you also have the potential to make money with each medication dispensed.
Not only is there an opportunity to generate revenue, but InstyMeds will help you reduce some of your current expenses. Expensive, non-reimbursed starter packs will be replaced with a secure, profitable method through InstyMeds. Staff time spent on pharmacy callbacks and after hours calls to medical staff due to failed patient compliance will also be reduced.
Inventory
1. How is inventory handled?
The medication inventory for the InstyMeds dispenser is directly purchased from InstyMeds. Since medication inventory is monitored real-time, InstyMeds will automatically ship you medications once stock runs low to ensure that you will never be without.
Expired inventory will be monitored through InstyMeds reports and the facility will be instructed to restock as directed.
2. What types of drugs can be dispensed?
The InstyMeds staff will work with you to decide the appropriate formulary for your facility. The formulary that has proven to work the best with physician dispensing is acute care medications. Through InstyMeds triple bar code technology, all level narcotics are able to be dispensed.
3. How is inventory tracked?
The inventory in the InstyMeds dispenser is tracked real-time without any manual tracking system. The facility is able to run reports to show:
- What medications have been dispensed
- Which medications need to be restocked
- Printed prescriptions issued
4. How is the InstyMeds dispenser restocked?
The InstyMeds dispenser will need to be restocked as needed which takes approximately 15 minutes per week depending on usage. The dispenser’s revolutionary bar code check system ensures that the medication cannot be restocked incorrectly. When a sleeve of medication is removed and replaced with a new sleeve, the system recalibrates its inventory. Therefore any type of medication sleeve may be placed in any open area.
The restocking process consists of running an InstyMeds report to show what medications need to be restocked into the dispenser and following the instructions on the dispenser’s touch-screen to restock.
Learn More
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Overview
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Benefits
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Services
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