New York: AIDS Care Robot Needs Name

The new "robotic prescription dispensing system" in the pharmacy at AIDS Care in Rochester needs a name, and suggestions are being taken through Dec. 12 on Facebook.

"We don't have enough fun in this environment," said Jay Rudman, AIDS Care's president and CEO. "It's full of challenges and stresses. As an organization, we look for opportunities to lighten the burden."

The pharmacy filled more than 60,000 prescriptions last year and will likely top that total in 2011. Rudman said the new system represents a way to use limited resources to meet that growing demand. He acknowledged that the $200,000 unit is expensive, but he added that it is a one-time investment.

By automating the most repetitive tasks, the technology is seen as boosting patient safety, customer satisfaction, and efficiency. The system can hold 200 of the most-prescribed drugs; it uses a robotic arm to fill and label vials. Still, the complexity of much HIV/AIDS medication requires that it be dispensed by hand.

"The computer doesn't get interrupted by phone calls," said Curtis Haas, director of pharmacy at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

"Our patients are complex," Rudman said. "Our pharmacists are committed to providing a lot of face time. This frees them to spend more time in customer contact."

To submit a name for the pharmacy robot, visit www.facebook.com/acRochester.

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