Aegate News

Aegate’s unique patient safety communications network commences installation in Italian pharmacies

Milano, Mar 16, 2009: Pharmacists across Italy now have access to a new real-time patient safety information system that supports their interaction with patients, as Aegate announces that its network is now open to 80 per cent of the country's pharmacies and will begin widespread installation during March.

Patient safety communications company Aegate delivers newly announced safety information, warnings or patient treatment information whilst a pharmacist is dispensing medication, ensuring each pharmacy manager and their staff are rapidly informed about any safety changes. This includes changes to product, strength, dose and packaging; urgent recalls; compliance advice and newly released scientific information.

"The benefits of using Aegate's communication network are unique and compliment existing systems. Usual communications channels such as fax, letter or email are delivered only once, relying on the pharmacists' memory and good staff communication when it comes to dispensing" explains Paolo Migliari, General Manager of Aegate Italy. The Aegate initiative delivers brief prompts and notifications, keeping the pharmacist abreast of important changes without the need to seek the information via the internet or magazines.

Pharmacies who currently use MS windows IT systems such as New Line, Farma3, Pharmaservice, Infarma, CSF, Farma&tec, and Studiopharma can now request to upgrade their existing system to enable the Aegate service. Farmaconsult, Svemu are expected shortly. Once installed it works in response to each item the pharmacist scans. The system looks up the barcode of the item scanned, checks for any messages associated with it and returns any information directly into the computer terminal. It is designed only to interrupt when there is something important to take note of, so messages do not appear in response to every scan.

"As the last point of contact with the patient, the pharmacist plays a fundamental role and the need for this service is palpable," concluded Mr Migliari. "In time we will also expand our offering in Italy to include product authentication to tackle the growing problem of medicines safety such as counterfeiting, mirroring our activities in other European countries, but as a first step we are keen to ensure pharmacists have the tools needed to inform and advise their patients every day."