Blister system cuts care home medication workload by three quarters

A medication blister system is expected to cut preparation time by about three quarters at the St. Georg senior centre in Bergheim, ORF reported. MedVenturo, a company based in Wels, prepares and packages medicines individually for care home residents.

Since the end of May, the centre has received medicines already portioned into blisters for each resident and each scheduled administration time.

Stefan Tautz, nursing director at Hilfswerk Salzburg, said staff previously needed about 12 hours a week to prepare medicines for the centre’s 66 residents. The new system still requires some work, but is expected to save about eight hours a week.

MedVenturo processes about 1,800 different medicines. Staff remove the medicines from their original packaging and prepare the tablets for automated sorting and packaging.

Managing director Christian Baumgartner said the technology was not only intended to save time. Its most important contribution, he said, was ensuring that patients received the right medication at the right time while reducing paperwork for care staff.

The company currently serves about 10,000 patients across Austria. It says demand is increasing among both care homes and private individuals.

MedVenturo works with pharmacies to provide the service locally. The pharmacy in Bergheim serves as the link between the company and the St. Georg senior centre.

Hilfswerk Salzburg plans to extend the service to all of its facilities in the state, allowing staff to use the time saved for other tasks.