Since the first machine introduced in the market progresses have been significant; in the vision of best practices the focus was not simply targeted to optimize performances but also to requalify the ergonomic aspect. Changes were necessary to increase efficiency and ensure safety.  

Medications currently administered:
- 52 active ingredients, others in testing
- 164 bottles
- lyophilised
- ready solutions

Spectrum of drug*

*Updated at February 2011

Productivity with advanced multi-tasking operations:
- prepared solution in single medication syringe   100 seconds
- prepared solution in single medication IV bag     145 seconds

Warehouse Area:
- carousel
- vision system for drugs recognition (labels and dimensional characteristics)
- barcode reader 

Preparation area:
- 6-axis articulated robotic arm
- high precision scale with accuracy to 0,0001 grams
- multi-plane, variable speed, timed mixer for medication specific reconstitution procedures 

Air treatment system:
- 5 independent HEPA filters and a redundant HEPA output filter 

Size and weight:
- L x W x h: 20 x 160 x 240 cm (including ventilation)
- weight 1630 kg 

With APOTECAchemo information follows the patient throughout his cancer therapy: the oncologist prescribes, the pharmacist monitors, the technician instructs APOTECAchemo and the final preparation safely returns to be administered to the patient. Information security and data integrity, complete traceability and maximum control are critical elements of the system architecture.

The risk of error is minimized when APOTECAchemo interfaces with the oncology software applications, automatically receives the electronic orders and starts to process them after pharmacist validation and data integrity checks. 

APOTECAchemo was clinically validated with strict protocols including these acceptance requirements:
- no operator exposure to vapors, aerosols, leaks or other manual risks
- dosing precision that exceeds industry standard tolerances with customer control over acceptable range of accuracy
- correct identification of drugs
- execution time and productivity
- validation of performance, reliability of technical devices and the computer system governing the flow of data
- integrity of the airflow and contamination removal filters
- no biological or chemical contamination of the preparation area, the materials used, and the final containers
- effective, repeatable cleaning procedures
- use of barcodes for identification of all intermediate and final products used by the machine 

The validation tests carried out using controlled protocols within actual hospital operations demonstrates the proper integration of technology into APOTECAchemo’s routine technology operations. 

Ergonomics in the workplace is often neglected. This consideration was an important element of our design criteria which we believe often makes the difference in the quality of work and the employee’s daily experience. It is no coincidence that APOTECAchemo is the result of an active dialogue among Loccioni humancare, people in the Lab@AOR and the insights and study of Isao Hosoe aerospace engineer and designer, winner of four Compassi d’oro (Italian industrial design awards). 

 The System is highlighted by:

- work plans, designed to facilitate the operator during machine loading and unloading
- the loading area of the machine, redesigned to minimize operations and increase safety, sterility and speed of procedures
- software interface is intuitive and simplified to improve and facilitate dialogue between machine and pharmacist
- work plan, created to better manage all activities around the machine.

Each hospital has its own needs, business operations and the integration of technology in clinical processes requires attention and care. For this reason every APOTECA is tailored to bring the maximum value in various situations. The choice of APOTECA represents the first step in an ongoing partnership with Loccioni humancare, to continuously improve efficiency, accuracy and safety. 

Skilled technicians perform a pre-installation visit to ensure the perfect correspondence with the technical requirements of the destination site and the installation modalities and test the activities necessary for the integration of information flows. During the installation, the parameters necessary for the correct system functioning which are specific to the client  (drugs database, prints management, IT integration) are analyzed and inserted in the machine. Training, with CME credit is provided taking into account the needs of hospitals and in the basic form guarantees the use of APOTECAchemo in a very short time (5 days) with minimal discomfort in the transition from manual to automatic. 

LoccioniAcademy provides training for new staff on site and at Loccioni to give reliable, consistent utilization of APOTECAchemo. 

The value of APOTECAchemo is every day enriched by the experience of operators and conversations continually developed with Loccioni humancare team. When APOTECAchemo fully enters the activities of the pharmacy, exchanges become stronger and continuous.  

Application specialists interact with the entire chain cancer by analyzing the flows with the managers and establish a plan to initiate the System.  

Community meets and continually compares to improve to point to total quality.  

Preventive maintenance assures continuous operation of APOTECAchemo according to the standards of performance, safety and efficiency.  Software updates are installed and in-depth training is carried out on new System functionalities.  

A call service is always available to answer any questions and check the status of APOTECA through the VPN connection.  

Specialized technicians are ready to intervene in 24h all over the country.  

The after sales is always in direct contact with the R&D to satisfy the needs of each user (oncologist, pharmacist, technicians, patient): proposals are analyzed, collected and will help to create new functionalities of APOTECA.  

The qualification Group continuously follows the validation of  “machinability” of drugs by ensuring coverage of the variety of active ingredients including the whole spectrum of therapies.  

Within health, the proximity to the clinically excellence, 1,800 bed Ancona Hospitals and the need to develop practical clinical solutions has created Lab@AOR (Alfa site by Ancona hospital): clinicians and technicians are engaged in a periodic dialogue to develop new solutions through measurement.  Safety, quality and efficiency promise technological development project with the synergy of public-private relationship, where expertise is shared with the aim of creating better human technology, faster and with greater impact on patient health and clinical outcomes.  

Lab@AOR in figures:
Clinicians involved 30
Areas involved 10
Current Projects 5 (work areas: oncology, pharmacy, data management, logistics)
“Ideas” projects 15
Hours of Laborator 650
Events 6
Visits to the Lab@AOR 32