From EHRs to diversion prevention platforms, health systems nationwide have invested abundantly in data-capture and decision-support systems. Unfortunately, information silos from supply chain management to charge capture hinder hospital effectiveness and efficiency. To help understand how health systems can create connectivity in big data to uncover actionable insights, Becker’s Hospital Review spoke to Amir Emamifar, Managing Director, Pharmacy Practice at Pronexus Advisory, former Vice President - Chief Pharmacy Officer at Temple University Health System, and former Associate Administrator and Chief of Pharmacy at Emory Healthcare.
Becker’s: Health systems long ago made the switch from pen and paper charts to electronic data capture. How are they now dealing with the abundance of big data?
Dr. Emamifar: Time and time again, health systems have indicated that siloed information is hindering their effectiveness and efficiency, preventing systems of continuous improvement from taking hold. The systems they’ve implemented -- such as supply chain management, inventory management, charge capture, or cost and outcome analysis – are single-purpose systems, but they have no way to create a holistic view of what’s happening across those systems. In essence, they have a wealth of data that, unfortunately, does not often translate into the benefits they were hoping for.
In fact, the lack of centralization has negative implications for inventory visibility, accountability, compliance, and return on significant investment they’ve made in these systems. Worst of all, we know that these inefficiencies lead to a degraded environment of safety that can be detrimental to patient safety.
Becker’s: Is there a way to create connectivity and transparency among these single-purpose systems to enable better supply management and patient safety?
Dr. Emamifar: Historically, there has been a lack of interoperability among these systems. For example, because the inventory system can’t speak to the EHR ordering system, or wholesaler system, there is a lack of ability to forecast shortages or even keep an accurate inventory count.
Health systems are in need of a safety ecosystem that enables each of these pieces of existing technology to work alongside the others. There has long been a need for an adaptable network of solutions that ensures users get everything from supply chain management to inventory management to drug shortage mitigation and diversion prevention all in one location.
The good news is that a solution now exists.
Intelliguard has created an IOT-agnostic approach that combines best-in-class, Radio Frequency Identification-enabled products and solutions with a newly developed intelligence platform that can help health systems create a consolidated experience and provide actionable insights to establish an environment of safety.
Becker’s: How does Intelliguard’s Mira Intelligence connect information silos to optimize efficiencies and protect patients?
Dr. Emamifar: Simply put, Intelliguard created a safer path from manufacturer to patient. It’s a smarter way to send medications in a safe direction.
Mira Intelligence is a groundbreaking data integration solution that provides actionable insights to increase efficiency, accountability, and compliance across health systems. The interoperable system creates a consolidated experience for Supply Chain, Compliance and Clinical leaders to proactively support informed decision making.
Mira Intelligence provides a real-time, centralized, end-to-end view of inventory and dispensing information to support truly integrated and synchronized medication and supply management. So, providers have what they need, where they need it, when they need it. With Mira Intelligence, health systems can leverage powerful data insights to help optimize inventory, allocate drugs in short supply, detect anomalies to prevent diversion events, and ensure regulatory compliance.
Analyzing its end-to-end connectivity, I’ve found that Mira Intelligence can help health systems:
- Immediately identify which drugs are in short supply, are recalled, or expiring
- Manage centralized distribution centers to safeguard against stock-outs
- Right-size inventory and optimize levels across locations
- Reconcile controlled substances and ensure compliance
- Reduce medication waste and improve cash flow
- Improve operational efficiencies and empower staff to practice at the top of their licenses
To learn more about Mira Intelligence, visit https://intelliguardhealth.com/solutions/mira-intelligence/.