Omnicell and Fresenius Kabi Collaborate to Enhance Management of Controlled Substances in U.S. Hospitals

Omnicell, Inc. a leading provider of medication management solutions and adherence tools for health systems and pharmacies, and Fresenius Kabi, a global health care company that specializes in medicines and technologies for infusion, transfusion, and clinical nutrition, are collaborating to provide U.S. hospitals and health systems with innovative new pharmacy technology designed to support safety and efficiency in dispensing of controlled substances in patient care areas.

Managing controlled substances is a significant challenge for hospitals and clinics. According to a recent study, more than 148 million doses of medicine were lost in 2019, compromising both patient and workforce safety.

Omnicell’s Controlled Substance Dispenser (CSD) is a leading high-volume, automated single dose dispensing solution designed to help pharmacies better manage controlled substances, reduce diversion, and save nursing time. By providing only one dose at a time, the CSD is designed to eliminate the need for countbacks and decrease the time required to resolve discrepancies to provide nurses more time for direct patient care and discourage diversion.

Through its relationship with Fresenius Kabi, Omnicell has designed new cassettes for its CSD specifically for Fresenius Kabi Simplist MicroVault prefilled syringes that will provide customers more flexibility with their medication supply chain and enhanced controlled substance management initiatives. The new Fresenius Kabi cassettes for the Omnicell CSD are available now.

Fresenius Kabi Simplist MicroVault prefilled syringes are used by hospitals in the United States in an effort to help reduce the amount of time nurses spend preparing doses and documenting waste. The error rate is four times lower using these prefilled syringes compared with traditional medication administration practices.³ The new cassettes for the Omnicell CSD will accommodate MicroVault packaging for a variety of low-dose narcotic medications including morphine, hydromorphone, and fentanyl. The syringes are manufacturer-prepared in the United States, with a 24-month shelf life, and are single-unit doses, supporting best practices for medication administration.

“Omnicell is committed to addressing the biggest challenges in pharmacy care delivery through technology,” said Nish Parekh, Omnicell’s Vice President of Product Management for Point of Care Solutions. “Through innovative collaborations with healthcare leaders like Fresenius Kabi, we’re delivering the solutions designed to help our customers manage controlled substances, reduce diversion, optimize inventory, and enhance clinical workflows to support optimal care and patient safety.”

“Fresenius Kabi is committed to medication safety and the responsible use of controlled substances,” said Angie Lindsey, Vice President of Marketing for Fresenius Kabi USA. “The combination of Omnicell’s Controlled Substance Dispenser automation workflow with Fresenius Kabi Simplist MicroVault prefilled syringes will offer healthcare providers advanced tools and technology to achieve these aims.”

The Fresenius Kabi-Omnicell relationship and offering is an important step toward the vision of the Autonomous Pharmacy, a roadmap to develop a zero-error, fully automated medication management infrastructure. Through Omnicell’s industry leading medication management portfolio of hardware, software, and technology-enabled services delivered through the cloud, many health systems and retail pharmacies are realizing how connected technology and intelligence can help solve some of the most pressing challenges in medication management.