McKesson's CarePoint-RN(TM) Gives Nurses Unparalleled Point-of-Care Solution

Single Mobile Platform for All Medications, Supplies and Clinical Systems Saves Time, Reduces Paperwork and Enhances Patient Care

McKesson, the world's leading healthcare services company, announced that it will preview CarePoint-RN(TM), the industry's first-of-its-kind mobile workstation, at the HIMSS 2005 annual conference and exhibition Feb. 13-17, in Dallas, Texas. CarePoint-RN is designed to alleviate one of nursing's most vexing challenges: how to deliver safer, more efficient care. McKesson's fully equipped, transportable workstation takes bedside computing and scanning to the next level by conveniently placing everything that nurses need at their fingertips. Patient-specific medication bins, supplies, a bar-code scanner and a wireless PC are combined on a single platform, enabling nurses to access clinical information, scan and administer medications, complete assessments, and chart care from anywhere they wish.

"CarePoint-RN delivers the superior functionality and flexibility that nurses need and want in order to improve patient interactions," said David Souerwine, president of McKesson's automation unit. "McKesson has developed an unparalleled point-of-care solution that's cost-effective, and it easily integrates into any hospital's current information management and drug dispensing systems. The result is less paperwork, improved nurse workflow, greater efficiency, reduced potential for medication errors, and more time for nurses to spend with individual patients."

CarePoint-RN adds another essential tool to the McKesson Medication Safety Advantage(SM), McKesson's complete solution for helping hospitals re- engineer their systems to reduce medication errors, improve cost savings, and enhance the quality of care. With more than 44 million medications scanned at the bedside every year, McKesson leads the industry in bar-coded medication administration. The company's solutions help prevent an estimated 56,000 medication errors and issue more than 400,000 alerts to hospital staff each week.

McKesson turned to radio frequency identification (RFID) systems provider PanGo Networks, Inc., to incorporate advanced real-time tracking capabilities to CarePoint-RN. PanGo's 802.11-based active RFID asset-tracking system leverages a hospital's existing WLAN infrastructure to add a layer of safety and workflow efficiency to medication distribution. This capability is crucial in order to locate patient medication containers -- which require frequent tracking throughout the day -- for the purpose of adding newly ordered medications and removing those that are expired or have been discontinued.

From the cart, nurses connect wirelessly to McKesson's Horizon Admin-Rx(TM) for "five rights" bar-coded medication administration and Horizon Expert Documentation(TM) for electronic patient charting. They can also be linked via Connect-RN(SM) software to AcuDose-Rx(TM) unit-based cabinets for medications and first-dose filling without the need to re-enter patient information. The lightweight, ergonomically designed solution is engineered on a cart produced by Rubbermaid Medical Solutions. Rubbermaid's eMAR Delivery System is recognized as the leading solution for integrating health information technology and secure medication administration at the point of care. CarePoint-RN features an adjustable work surface, an embedded computing platform, and an integrated, rechargeable power supply. With its patient-specific medication bins, the solution also supports existing pharmacy workflow, including centralized, decentralized and hybrid pharmacy distribution models.

"McKesson is the industry's only single-source provider of software, automation, bar-code packaging, distribution and consulting solutions to help healthcare organizations reduce medication errors from the loading dock to the bedside," said Souerwine. "CarePoint-RN gives hospitals one more way to help ensure nurses have what they need to be the patient's last line of defense against a medication error that may have occurred anywhere across the pharmacy supply chain or clinical process."

For more information or to see a demonstration of CarePoint-RN, visit McKesson's Booth No. 3011 during HIMSS.

About Rubbermaid Medical Solutions

Rubbermaid Medical Solutions is a division of Rubbermaid Commercial Products, LLC. Rubbermaid Medical Solutions' pioneering work in point-of-care carts has helped establish the company's expertise in nursing care workflow and ergonomics. The division was established in 2003 to research, design and manufacture products that support patient care activity in hospital settings. Rubbermaid Commercial Products, LLC, is a leading manufacturer of carts, material handling, sanitation and cleaning equipment for professional use. For more information visit www.rubbermaidmedical.com.

About McKesson

McKesson Corporation is a Fortune 16 healthcare services and information technology company dedicated to helping its customers deliver high-quality healthcare by reducing costs, streamlining processes, and improving the quality and safety of patient care. Over the course of its 170-year history, McKesson has grown by providing pharmaceutical and medical-surgical supply management across the spectrum of care; healthcare information technology for hospitals, physicians, homecare, and payors; hospital and retail pharmacy automation; and services for manufacturers and payors designed to improve outcomes for patients. For more information: www.mckesson.com

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