ScriptPro has introduced a new technology that removes language barriers for patients who have difficulty in understanding instructions for taking medications. If a patient doesn’t understand the instructions correctly, he may use medication improperly, fail to obtain the benefit or even suffer an adverse drug event.
The company hopes their robotic prescription dispensing systems will decrease the risk associated with a prescription label language barrier. These breakthrough systems incorporate technologies that translate medication instructions and drug auxiliary warnings, and print them on prescription labels in the preferred language of the patient.
Currently, the languages covered are English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Arabic, Thai and Maori. The company notes Navarro Discount Pharmacies, Miami, FL, which prints approximately 75 percent of their prescriptions in Spanish.
Albert Garcia, executive vice president of Pharmacy for Navarro explained that they aim to address the needs of and provide customer service to the Hispanic community in and around Miami. Their company recognizes the importance of understanding the prescription information to have a successful course of drug therapy. This becomes especially important when the patient is ill or nervous about receiving directions from the prescribing physician.
Garcia said he’s thankful that the Sig and auxiliary label is available in Spanish. This not only increases compliance but also reduces the chance of over/under utilization of the medication or performing an activity that might be detrimental to the patient's health.
ScriptPro also notes Starside Pharmacies that has benefitted from ScriptPro robotic and workflow systems. Peter Koo, R.Ph. and owner of Starside Pharmacies, established his five pharmacies to focus on the Sino-American communities in the New York City area.
He is thankful to the ScriptPro robotic and workflow systems that allow his pharmacies to print prescription labels in Mandarin Chinese for his customers.
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Anuradha Shukla is a contributing editor for HealthTechZone. To read more of Anuradha’s article, please visit her columnist page.
Edited by
Patrick Barnard
