NewsSeptember 28, 2023
Pharnes Series of Electronic Medication History Systems from Wemex Now Compatible with Yakushimaru Kenta Prescription Input Support Service from NeoX — Collaboration Supports Digital Transformation in Pharmacies by Unifying Prescription Input Operations —
Wemex Corporation (headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, President, Representative Director: Takayuki Otsuka, hereafter Wemex), a wholly-owned subsidiary of PHC Holdings Corporation (headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo), announces that its Pharnes series*1 (hereafter, Pharnes), a medication history system for pharmacies, is now able to interface with Yakushimaru Kenta, a prescription input support service developed by NeoX Inc. (headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Shumian He, hereafter NeoX). Together, Wemex and NeoX now offer pharmacies a new service, for prescription input support, leveraging the expertise and technology of both companies.
This collaboration will unify prescription input operations and support smooth prescription input reviews. Wemex will support digital transformation for pharmacies through the new service to improve operational efficiency and reduce staff workload.
Three Benefits of Prescription Input Support Software:
#1 Reduces Significant Time in Prescription Input Operation
In a Wemex survey of 1,114 pharmacists in Japan, 48.1% of pharmacies answered that more than half of their prescriptions did not include two-dimensional codes (QR code), which pharmacies can use to download important information. Prescriptions without such codes require staff members to manually enter data into medical-receipt systems like Pharnes, contributing to an excessive workload. The survey results also showed that many staff members take 2 to 3 minutes to manually enter each prescription, and most pharmacies handle an average of approximately 51 to 100 prescriptions per day, leading to a great deal of time spent doing this work.
Yakushimaru Kenta analyzes scanned prescription images and converts them into text data using Al technology, including prescriptions without QR codes. This eliminates the workload of manually entering prescriptions*2, and has the potential to significantly reduce work hours.
#2 Reduces Workload by Standardizing Prescription Input Operations
Pharmacy staff must learn multiple ways of entering information depending on the type of prescription, which leads to a complicated and increased workload. With this software interface, pharmacies can standardize their input operations by using Yakushimaru Kenta to scan the prescriptions*2, which will be automatically reflected to Pharnes. Staff members will no longer need to learn multiple tasks, which will help reduce their workload.
#3 Smooth and Easy Prescription Review
The AI technology of Yakushimaru Kenta has a proven high recognition rate and accuracy. However, AI-analyzed data are not always 100% correct, and final reviews made by people will still be needed to prevent errors. The new service can display the scanned and saved prescription image imported by Pharnes and the data imported from Yakushimaru Kenta on the same screen, allowing on-the-spot confirmation of the entered information, instead of users having to hold the original prescription in one hand and compare it with the data on the screen. Final reviews can now be smoother and easier.
Comments from Drugstore Nakayama, Shin-Maruko Station Store on the Test Marketing
“We appreciate the increased accuracy in prescription input. There are many devices that operate with medical-receipt systems, which is why accurate prescription input is essential. Now that our staff members can review and correct data in this collaborative service with Yakushimaru Kenta, input errors are far less likely to be found when it is reviewed by the pharmacists. Additionally, we can now enter information on new patients as well as prescriptions issued by new hospitals and physicians much faster than before.
Pharnes has been helpful in easily sharing patient information, such as reviewing scanned prescription images on multiple PCs. The new interface is also easy to use, allowing many staff onsite to share and improve workflows.”
(Store: Drugstore Nakayama, Shin-Maruko Station Store, Trial period: May 25, 2023 - present)
*1 Medical-receipt systems for pharmacies: PharnesV-EX and PharnesV-LX; electronic medication history system for pharmacies: PharnesV-MX
*2 Prescriptions with QR codes, prescriptions without QR codes, and handwritten prescriptions except for some cases as illegible by penmanship, etc.
About Wemex Corporation
Wemex Corporation is dedicated to providing healthcare IT products and services that promote the digital transformation of healthcare. It is a Japanese subsidiary of PHC Holdings Corporation (TSE 6523), a healthcare company that delivers solutions around the world. Wemex started operations as a new company in April 2023, providing one-stop solutions from planning and development to sales. Along with Medicom brand medical-receipt and electronic medical record systems, Wemex offers solutions including pharmacy management, healthy lifestyle guidance, and telemedicine systems in Japan. Wemex’s goal is to improve healthcare services for patients and efficiency for healthcare professionals.
www.wemex.com (Japanese only)
-Location: 14F NBF Shibuya Garden Front, 3-25-18 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
-Representative: President, Representative Director, Takayuki Otsuka
About PHC Holdings Corporation
PHC Holdings Corporation (TSE 6523) is a global healthcare company with a mission of contributing to the health of society through healthcare solutions that have a positive impact and improve the lives of people. Its subsidiaries include PHC Corporation, Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG, Epredia Holdings Ltd., Wemex Corporation, and LSI Medience Corporation. Together, these companies develop, manufacture, sell and service solutions across diabetes management, healthcare solutions, diagnostics and life sciences. The consolidated net sales in FY2022 were JPY 356.4 billion with global distribution of products and services in more than 125 countries and regions. PHC Group is a collective term referring to PHC Holdings Corporation and its subsidiaries.
www.phchd.com