ESL Pharmacy: Transforming Traditional Medicine Shelves into Smart Shelves

Electronic shelf labels (ESLs) are digital displays that replace traditional paper price tags on shelves. Each ESL is connected to a computer database via a wired or wireless network, displaying the latest product information directly on the screen.

In hospital pharmacies, the variety and quantity of medications can be overwhelming—ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of items. Each medication may have multiple batches, manufacturers, and similar names or dosages, resulting in frequent label changes. ESL Pharmacy offers a solution to these challenges, eliminating the need for constantly replacing paper labels. ESL pharmacy labels can also display prescription information during dispensing, including the pharmacist’s name and the number of medications to prepare. Additionally, these labels integrate with inventory systems, allowing for real-time data interaction and supporting paperless multi-person inventory checks. With features like integration with pharmacist identification bracelets and other smart devices, ESL pharmacy labels make it easy to transform traditional pharmacies into smart, digital environments, significantly improving medication management efficiency.

Improved Prescription Accuracy

Once the smart shelves receive prescription data from the HIS (Hospital Information System), the corresponding shelf's digital indicator lights up, guiding the pharmacist to the correct shelf location. The ESL pharmacy label will illuminate and display the pharmacist's name and the quantity of medication needed. By cross-referencing the pharmacist’s dispensing list with the shelf’s information, the pharmacist can accurately identify the correct location, medication, and details, significantly improving the accuracy of dispensing.

Multi-Pharmacist Dispensing

The system supports multi-user operations with three-color digital indicator lights. The digital labels for pharmacy display the pharmacist's name and the quantity of medication to dispense, and the label content can flip between pages for additional information.

Expiry Date Alerts

For medications nearing their expiration date, the ESL pharmacy system uses flashing lights for a clear visual alert. This feature helps track medication batches and expiration dates throughout the entire workflow.

Performance Tracking for Pharmacists

Paired with pharmacist identification bracelets, the ESL pharmacy system can log prescription data and track the start and end times for dispensing activities. This functionality enables accurate performance tracking for individual pharmacists, providing useful data for performance evaluations.

Simplified Inventory Management

In a pharmacy, maintaining up-to-date inventory records is crucial. The ESL pharmacy labels can display current stock levels and expiration dates at any time, and the inventory results are instantly synchronized with the central computer system. Multiple pharmacists can conduct inventory checks simultaneously, streamlining the process.

Restocking Assistance

During restocking, the cloud ESL uses barcode scanning to highlight the correct shelf location, illuminating the indicator light and displaying the product name on the digital label. This helps avoid placing medications in the wrong location.

Clear Dispensing Process

Once the dispensing process is complete, the pharmacist can confirm the location on the smart dispensing shelf using their identification bracelet. The ESL pharmacy system then updates the prescription status, displaying the completion information on the screen. When the patient scans their card or QR code, the corresponding shelf location light illuminates, allowing the pharmacist to quickly identify and deliver the correct medication to the patient.

By adopting electronic shelf labels, traditional pharmacies can achieve a new level of accuracy, efficiency, and performance in medication management, enhancing both patient care and operational workflow.