Symbol Technologies Announces Contract With BD To Provide Handheld Computers For Medication Management

Combination of Symbol Hardware and BD Software Could Potentially Reduce Medication Errors by As Much As Two Thirds

Symbol Technologies today announced that it has been awarded a contract from BD to provide its designed to reduce medication errors and specimen errors by as much as two thirds.

The Symbol SPT 1700 computer incorporates a bar code scanner and network communications technology into a rugged handheld computer running , allowing caregivers to bring vital patient information electronically to the bedside.

The BD Rx System software running on the Symbol SPT 1700 helps ensure that the right patient receives the right drug in the right dose via the right route at the right time.

Preliminary studies conducted by BD have indicated that the BD Rx System could potentially reduced medication errors by as much as two thirds, and save a 400-bed hospital more than $1 million each year.

The device is easy to use; the caregiver simply scans bar-coded wristbands and unit-dose medications to help ensure error-free administration of medications. The software is menu-driven and has been designed so that most operations can be performed using the touch of a finger. Notes and comments are simply input with a pen.

The SPT 1700 includes an , which delivers high performance laser bar code scanning. The SPT 1700 has been ruggedized to withstand adverse conditions and rough handling.

"The amount of errors related to medication and specimen handling can be reduced by presenting critical patient information at the bedside, ensuring safe medical practice," said Michael Soares, BD. "Our preliminary studies indicate that using the Symbol SPT 1700 could potentially reduce medication and specimen errors by as much as two thirds."

"Symbol's family of palm-sized information appliances are being embraced by the healthcare industry because they offer the right combination of power and portability in a rugged, sealed case," said Harry B. Lerner, vice president of healthcare, education and hospitality at Symbol Technologies. "The scanning and communications features of the device make it ideally suited for the constantly mobile healthcare professional."

BD manufactures and sells a broad range of medical supplies and devices and diagnostic systems for use by health professionals, medical research institutions, industry and the general public. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 1999, BD reported total revenues $3.4 billion and net income of $276 million.