CareFusion Corporation (CFN), a worldwide medical technology company, recently stated that it has obtained a technology, the patented Pyxis EcoStation system, which will automate the separation of pharma-related waste. Such know-how will assist hospitals cut down expenses, enhance regulatory control and further environmental responsibility.
CareFusion has grown its Pyxis medication management portfolio with the Pyxis EcoStation (a software and hardware system that enables hospitals recognize, classify and separate pharmaceutical waste, while ensuring records to permit regulatory controls), by acquiring the California-based Vestara, which solely concentrated on devising solutions for the management of pharma-related waste.
The Pyxis EcoStation system utilizes barcode know-how to recognize drugs and a data base of over 180,000 National Drug Code items to classify and segregate pharma-related waste just prior to disposal. The Pyxis EcoStation avoids human error, as well as the possibility of cross contamination, by automating the detection and classification of various residual drugs.
The problem associated with pharmaceutical waste is expected to worsen with American hospitals buying over 4 billion bottles and vials containing hazardous substances. In addition, they produce over 84,000 tons of hazardous waste on an annual basis. According to a geological survey, pharma-related waste was detected in four-fifths of the water streams included in a sample.
The Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) has bolstered enforcement throughout the nation. It can penalize hospitals up to $ 37,500 per violation, on a daily basis, for not conforming to established standards for disposal of pharmaceutical waste. For example, one large oncology hospital was recently penalized $ 372,254 for unacceptable treatment and storage of dangerous pharmaceutical waste.
CareFusion is dedicated to facilitate hospitals measurably improve safety and quality of care for patients. The company is a leader in dispensing technology. It offers products in the areas of surgical instruments, respiratory care, IV infusion, medication and supply dispensing as well as infection prevention. CareFusion’s products include Alaris IV pumps as well as the Pyxis automated dispensing and patient identification system. The company competes with Baxter International (BAX) and Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX), among others, in select niches.
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