Kirby Lester units yield a fast Return on Investment — from 3-8 months, depending on the Kirby Lester model, the customer's goals at the time of purchase, and factors at each individual pharmacy. In independent studies, Kirby Lester systems have been proven to reduce fill time, errors and costs.

In a timed comparison in a Chicago, IL retail pharmacy, the staff performed a physical inventory of 40 medications. The list of medications was randomly selected and included 85% tablets/capsules in stock bottles and 15% unit-of-use items. The inventory was performed with a pharmacy tray and spatula, and then with a Kirby Lester KL30. Medications were retrieved and restocked one a time.

• Using a Kirby Lester KL30 to conduct a physical inventory resulted in a 35% reduction in counting time when compared to using a tray and spatula.
• Hand-counting yielded eight miscounts (+/- 1 to 21 tablets). Errors were especially frequent when counting large stock bottles.
• The KL30 was accurate 100% of the time.

¹ July 2010 Independent Study - Chicago, IL

Verification systems (such as the KL16 and KL20) have been proven to reduce costly and image-damaging dispensing errors. These errors are a nationwide problem, occurring at a rate of about 4 errors per day in a pharmacy filling 250 prescriptions daily. An estimated 51.5 million errors occur during the filling of 3 billion prescriptions each year. Verification systems have been proven to reduce errors.²

Also, counting systems such as the Kirby Lester KL16 and KL20 (models having bar code verification, fingerprint ID, onscreen drug image, and order tracking) have been proven to bring a higher level of confidence to the filling process.

² 2003 Auburn University, "National Observational Study of Prescription Dispensing Accuracy and Safety in 50 Pharmacies"

A study of three different pharmacy operations that installed a Kirby Lester system showed that each pharmacy reduced filling times and increased filling capacity.³

Fill Times reduced 32% to 48% after the Kirby Lester system was installed.

• Chain Pharmacy Setting:
  Using a Kirby Lester reduced fill time by 6.1 hours/day, or 48%
  (Reduced 1.31 minutes/Rx)
• Independent Pharmacy Setting:
  Using a Kirby Lester reduced fill time by 5.6 hours/day, or 37%
  (Reduced 0.95 minutes/Rx)
• Hospital Outpatient Pharmacy Setting:
  Using a Kirby Lester reduced fill time by 2.0 hours/day, or 32% (Reduced 0.78 minutes/Rx)

This study also showed that the installation of a Kirby Lester system resulted in an increase in prescription filling capacity between 3% and 16%.

• Chain Pharmacy Setting:
  Using a Kirby Lester increased average daily volume by 23.6 Rx/day
• Independent Pharmacy Setting: Using a Kirby Lester increased average daily volume by 91 Rx/day

³ 2004 Independent Study - The ThomsenGroup, "Reducing The Time Taken To Fill Prescriptions"

A study of three pharmacies in a regional chain showed that installing a Kirby Lester system reduced counting times by 0.45 minutes per prescription.⁴

• Chain Pharmacy Setting (three pharmacies, 350 Rx/day average):
  Using a Kirby Lester reduced overall prescription fill time of oral solid medications by 0.38 to 0.51 minutes/Rx.

⁴ 2008 Independent Study - The ThomsenGroup Inc., "The Impact of an Automated Table Top Counting And Dispensing System in a Regional Chain Pharmacy Setting"

Hand-counting medications is 95% accurate even under the most ideal conditions, and declines with every interruption, extra hour on the job and fatigue. A Kirby Lester counting system is always accurate and helps avoid costly overcounts and undercounts.⁵

Average oral solid medication (assumption)	$4
Two overcounts/day	($8)
Total weekly loss	($48)

The average U.S. retail pharmacy fills 178 prescriptions per day (chain-225, supermarket-127, independent-181).⁶

Over 3 billion prescriptions are counted annually. With this volume, an overcount of even one tablet on a prescription can have a significant impact on profit.

⁵ 2005 Independent Study - The ThomsenGroup Inc., "Automating the Prescription Filling Process"

⁶ 2006 NCPA Pfizer Digest, 2004 FMI Supermarket Survey, 2004 NACDS/IMS Health Report

If you have a question concerning return on your investment in your own pharmacy, contact Kirby Lester at 800.641.3961 or click here.