Pharmacy Technology Products

DataQ Is a New PharmacyDatabase Resource

The National Council for PrescriptionDrug Programs (Scottsdale, AZ) recentlylaunched dataQ?a next-generationpharmacy data solution that provideshealth care stakeholders with the mostup-to-date and in-depth pharmacy informationavailable. DataQ enables pharmacies,prescription benefit managers,health plans, and other stakeholdersimprovedpharmacy database accuracyand streamlined electronic claimsprocessing for faster reimbursementof prescription drug claims. It also isused for pharmacy network developmentand credentialing, data validation,drug-use monitoring and product recalls,along with market research and analysis.Available with varying subscription andadministrative levels, the new resourceexpands functionality to include optionalreal-time Web access to pharmacy data,extensive custom reporting, and filedownload capabilities. For more information,visit www.ncpdp.org.

Mini Scale Helps DispenseMeds Accurately

Tanita Corp (Arlington Heights, IL)recently introduced the lightweight andprecision Tanita 1479Z ProfessionalDigital Mini Scale. The new scale is anenhanced version of Tanita?s 1479V. TheTanita 1479Z Professional Digital MiniScale is 33% thinner than the 1479Vmodel and offers a capacity of 200 g?a67% increase. The mini scale offers 4weighing modes (gram, ounce, troyounce, and penny-weight), allowing foroptimum accuracy in a variety of professionalindustries including pharmaceutical.The Tanita 1479Z Professional DigitalMini Scale also features an easy-to-read,4-digit LCD display and provides professional,accurate results with its 200-gcapacity. The scale retails for $58.50. Formore information, visit www.miniscale.us, or call 866-679-3343.

Zebra Infant WristbandsSecure Patient Identification

Zebra Technologies (Vernon Hills, IL)recently introduced 2 new infant wristbandsto its Z-band line. The infant versionof the Z-Band QuickClip wristbandis a direct thermal band that providesidentification verification at the point ofcare. It also features the same durableclip closure and antimicrobial coating asthe adult version and offers 6 options forcolor coding. In addition, the new InfantFoam Wristband will feature comfortable,soft foam with a hook and loopVelcro closure. A blank panel will allowclinicians to easily attach Zebra?s Z-Select4000D label or QuickClip band for identificationpurposes. The company alsoannounced that results from independentlaboratory tests showed its patentpendingantimicrobial wristband coatingeffectively resists methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus Type II, Type III,and Type IV from the Z-Band antimicrobialwristbands. The Z-Band antimicrobialcoatedwristbands, which are availablein infant, pediatric, and adult sizes, willcontinue to feature a topcoat layer thatresists alcohol, water, foams, soaps, andblood. Zebra?s Z-Band QuickClip antimicrobial-coated wristbands feature clipsin 7 colors for use when color codingto communicate patient risk factors orspecial needs. For more information, visitwww.zebra.com, or call 800-423-0442.

Temperature MonitoringHelps Improve Safety

AeroScout Inc (Redwood City, CA)has launched a wireless TemperatureMonitoring application for the healthcare industry. As part of the company?sHealthcare Visibility Suite, theTemperature Monitoring application is acomplete solution for logging and alertingstaff of temperature fluctuationsfor critical health care items and products,over any standard Wi-Fi wirelessnetwork. The solution, which is FDA-registered,uses the company?s Wi-Firadio-frequency identification tags withintegrated temperature sensors and asoftware module for logging and actingupon temperature data. The same tagsand infrastructure also can be used forother visibility applications, such as medical-asset tracking and patient work-flowimprovement. The tags are placed insiderefrigerators, freezers, and deep freezersthat contain expensive and difficultitems to replace, such as vaccines, pharmaceuticals,tissues, blood bags, andpatient test results. The tags wirelesslyand automatically send temperaturereadings over a standard Wi-Fi networkto AeroScout?s MobileView software.If the temperature of the cooling unitexceeds or goes below a set threshold,an alert is triggered and sent to hospitalstaff. Temperature-triggered alerts canbe sent to hospital staff, and all information,including temperature logs, alerts,and corrective actions, are stored inAeroScout MobileView. For more information,visit www.aeroscout.com.