May 4, 2004 - Toronto-based cStarTechnologies Inc. has
released a vending machine that can be used to manage
and dispense medical products using Wi-Fi technology.
The e-Dispense system is the wireless communications
technology vendor's first product marketed directly to
health care organizations.
The vending machine can be stocked with medical
equipment or products, such as medications or surgical
instruments. Its compartmentalized temperature control
settings also enable products that must be chilled or
frozen to be stored in the same machine.
Clinicians can select and dispense products from the
machine using a personal swipe card. The system enables
the swipe cards to be embedded with role-based
authorization features to control the products dispensed
to each caregiver.
The vending machine connects to the vendor's
e-Dispense software via a Wi-Fi network to transfer data
about dispensed products. Such data includes the type of
product dispensed and who dispensed it. The software
then uses the data to manage an organization's overall
inventory. The software also can transmit such
information to suppliers.
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