Mobile solutions to power healthcare

Christopher Drew, Senior Vice President - Operations, Omnicell, shares his views on healthcare, in a chat with B.V.Shiva Shankar, Associate Editor, CIOL,

CIOL: What is the significance of IT in healthcare, in current global scenario- why IT is needed?

Christopher Drew: We are in the information age and IT plays a critical role. In terms of promoting patient safety, IT provides actionable data in real time to clinicians who are actively making choices about patient care all the time. IT has historically been an area that has been under invested in the past. With a chronic shortage of nurses and pharmacists, IT will contribute to making hospital workflows more efficient.

CIOL: Healthcare is lagging behind as far as IT deployment is concerned, when BFSI and Telecom are far ahead. What are the challenges for IT adoption in healthcare?

CD: IT adoption in healthcare is hindered by budget and capital funding constraints, a learning curve and the fact that clinicians can only absorb so much in their day-to-day job.

CIOL: What potential do you see in Indian market in this regard?

CD: As the India healthcare market evolves; Omnicell anticipates IT will play an important role. Omnicell anticipates that labor shortages will continue. This labor shortage will make it even more critical to have real time information in the hands of clinicians. This will naturally mean that IT will have to play a bigger role in the healthcare environment. India is in the unique position of having a broad base of acceptance for technology in general. We anticipate that the adoption of technology in the India healthcare environment will reflect this broad base of acceptance.

CIOL: What role does Omnicell India play? How does it contribute to Omnicell Inc?

CP: Omnicell has 3 major areas of focus in India. The first is in the development of software extensions that enable existing and future Omnicell products to be more robust - easier to install, service and upgrade. Omnicell India is also focused on extensive software quality testing. The third focus is support desk with an emphasis on proactive remote monitoring of installed customer systems and email support.

Omnicell India is gearing up to increase headcount from 71 to 84 by the end of 2007. Omnicell Inc is has invested in the facility, IT infrastructure, Hiring of talent, Retention of talent, training etc. A conservative estimate in terms of $ amount comes to about $ 7 + million till date.

CIOL: Why did Omnicell choose India?

CP: Omnicell has its presence in U.S.; Canada; several countries in Europe and Japan. We are looking to attract top talent worldwide. We were particularly attracted by the availability of skilled engineers. In addition to the team we a have in place in India, we have also transferred India engineering talent into our U.S. engineering operations so Omnicell India has been an important development center in its own right and an important source of talent for our US-based development centers.

CIOL: What are your key products? How does it ensure safety and medication errors?

CD: Omnicell provides medical-pharmacy automation solutions and medical surgical supply solutions. The products are designed to improve overall patient safety and the workflow at hospital units. In addition, the supply product lines provide hospitals with the ability to control costs, and manage a timely reorder of supplies. Omnicell products include medication dispensing systems, central pharmacy storage, controlled substance inventory management solutions, decision support applications and web-based procurement systems installed at central pharmacy, nursing, operating room, cath labs and patient bedside.

Omnicell hardware and software products enable clinicians to track medications from the point they arrive at the pharmacy through to the medication delivery to the patient by safely and securely storing medications as well as using barcode technology to ensure that the right drug is being given to the right patient.

CIOL: What would be the future scenario- how IT is going to improve healthcare service?

CD: As people age and the acuity level of patients continues to increase, and as the drugs that are developed to address disease and sickness become more powerful the role IT plays in patient safety and making sure the right drugs get to the right patients becomes more and more important. Other future developments include things like mobile solutions that will enable information to get into the hands of clinicians wirelessly and remotely.

We anticipate patients will continue to pay more attention to safety, which is the major focus for Omnicell - to enable our customers to provide their patients safety. In addition, we see the shortage of clinicians will likely continue as a trend.