Fresenius Kabi, a provider of injectable medications, has announced the U.S. launch of its Rocuronium Bromide Injection, a product offered with RFID-enabled labels. Rocuronium Bromide Injection is part of the company’s +RFID portfolio of smart-labeled medications, designed to improve patient safety and support efficient medication inventory processes. This will be the first +RFID product compatible with Bluesight‘s KitCheck solution for hospitals, allowing Fresenius Kabi’s medications to be used across all major RFID kit and tray vendors, the company reports.
According to Fresenius Kabi, the use of RFID technology with pharmaceutical products supports a safe, more efficient medication inventory process, reduces manual product tagging and data entry, while improving safety by reducing the incidence of medical errors. The company specializes in injectable medicines, biosimilars and technologies for infusion, transfusion and clinical nutrition. Its products and services are intended to provide care for critically and chronically ill patients.
“We’re happy to add Fresenius Kabi to our growing community of partners committed to qualifying and testing RFID products to ensure customers will be able to use them, and we are excited for the portfolio of compatible RFID products to grow,” said Kevin MacDonald, Bluesight’s CEO, in a prepared statement. “Fresenius Kabi’s use of the registry will provide hospitals the ability to instantly identify recalls and use +RFID products across the hospital system.” Bluesight’s solutions are designed to address supply chain inefficiencies and provide analytics for the medication lifecycle, and more than 1,000 U.S. and Canadian hospitals utilize its offerings.
Rocuronium Bromide Injection, Fresenius Kabi explains, is a nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent indicated as an adjunct to general anesthesia, in order to facilitate rapid sequence and routine tracheal intubation, and to provide skeletal muscle relaxation during surgery or mechanical ventilation. The injection is available directly from Fresenius Kabi, as well as from U.S. wholesalers, in a 50 mg per 5 mL multiple dose vial. Utilizing UHF RFID technology, the smart-labeled medication follows GS1‘s open global data and has attained ARC certification from the Auburn University RFID Lab.
According to a recent study conducted by the ASHP Foundation, 87 percent of surveyed hospitals indicated plans to evaluate or use RFID within their facilities, highlighting the technology’s growing demand in the healthcare industry. Fresenius Kabi offers four +RFID medications, with plans to introduce more such medications in 2023. “Fresenius Kabi is committed to answering our customers’ call and to support them in their search for improved methods of medication management,” added John Ducker, Fresenius Kabi’s president and CEO, in the statement. “Interoperability of our +RFID medications is critical to reducing pain points in the American hospital system.”