UCSF Medical Center Orders Three RIVA Systems for State-of-the-Art Pharmacy
Facility

WINNIPEG , Dec. 7 /CNW/ - The University of California Medical Center in San Francisco (UCSF) has purchased three RIVA Systems (Robotic Intravenous Automation)- a self-contained unit for filling IV syringes and bags- from Intelligent Hospital Systems (IH Systems). The UCSF, recognized throughout the world for innovative medicine, advanced technology and compassionate care, will be placing the RIVA Systems in their new consolidated pharmacy facility.

The investment by UCSF Medical Center in three RIVA Systems for their new facility represents another milestone in the adoption of robotic innovation for pharmacies, says Niels Erik Hansen , Chief Executive Officer of IH Systems. "We are gratified that UCSF, a leader in providing innovative, advanced solutions for healthcare, has determined the RIVA System is the solution they need to enhance patient safety by reducing IV admixture preparation errors," Hansen explains. He notes UCSF Medical Center will install two RIVA antibiotic systems and one for preparing chemotherapy doses.

In addition to assisting with USP 797 compliance, RIVA will allow the UCSF Medical Center to compound ready-to-use sterile doses that are currently manually compounded or purchased from outside vendors. "Investing in three RIVA Systems will provide us the ability to improve our control over production, and more efficiently manage medication inventory, while improving patient safety" says Scarlett Eckert , Pharm. D., UCSF Medical Center, Assistant Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Director of Pharmacy Operations. "The flexibility of the RIVA System to automate antibiotic and IV piggyback production, as well as safely compounding chemotherapy medications is an excellent fit with our new production facility."

For Jane Arnot , Vice President of Customer Sales and Service for RIVA, working with the UCSF team has reinforced the important role the RIVA System plays in helping health care facilities meet their patient safety goals through a strategic investment in robotic automation. "UCSF has once again demonstrated leadership by investing in patient safety while providing complex patient care," says Arnot. She indicates placement of the RIVA units would occur by Summer of 2010.

RIVA (Robotic IV Automation System) -a self-contained unit for filling IV syringes and bags- is the first product developed by Winnipeg-based medical device company Intelligent Hospital Systems. For more information, please visit www.rivasystem.com.

For further information: Jane Arnot, VP Customer Sales and Service, Cell: [phone]; For UCSF: Scarlett Eckert, Pharm. D., Assistant Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Director of Pharmacy Operations, Phone: [phone]