Meds to Beds: Leveraging Mobile Computer Carts and Telehealth Solutions for Patient Health

For over a decade, "Meds-to-Beds" programs have been implemented by hospitals as a method to improve patient outcomes. Early usage by the hospital’s pharmacy was aimed at arming their patients with all their critical medications before discharge with the goal of eliminating any barriers to beginning effective treatment when the patient gets home and, ultimately, preventing re-hospitalization. Since then, Meds to Beds programs have expanded to address patient challenges that often are tied to adhering properly to medication directives, hospital readmissions, and overall patient satisfaction.

It’s worth noting, according to ScienceDirect, “studies have shown that 20–30% of prescriptions are never filled, contributing to approximately 125,000 deaths, at least 10% of hospitalizations.” Two themes for non-compliance relate to the cost of medications and access to transportation to fulfill prescriptions at another pharmacy.  

Meds to Beds programs may vary from hospital to hospital depending on the healthcare organization’s primary goals, services offered, and implementation processes. For instance, one facility’s goals may focus more on reducing medication-related readmissions, while another may focus more prominently on meeting the needs of the uninsured and indigent. Despite variations, every med to beds program includes some level of:

• Medication Prioritization: The patient receives their prescriptions at their bedside from a licensed pharmacist and may combine them into easy-to-use pouches. This occurs before they are discharged, removing the necessity of a lengthy trip to an external pharmacy or any medication availability issues once they have left the hospital.
• Comprehensive Patient Preparation: Using a personalized approach to educate patients about their post-treatment plan is a proactive and well-received measure. This kind of counseling prior to discharge can include the following:
   
  • How to use the medications
  • Potential side effects
  • When to take the medications
  • Addressing patient questions or concerns about medications as well as insurance or coverage questions

• Stakeholder Collaboration: The most successful approach to meds to beds programs involves a multidisciplinary team working together to streamline the entire process for the patient. Pharmacists, physicians, nurses, social workers, and IT personnel all collaborate on an exit plan from prescription capture to delivery and counseling.
• A Platform for Patient Satisfaction: Enhancing patient experience centers around putting the patient at ease about their aftercare. Patients often experience anxiety and fear about managing their own care once they leave the hospital. The med to beds program provides them with all the information and medication they need in the safety of the hospital confines, with reassurances about how to manage and where to get follow-up needs met—in other words, peace of mind so they can focus on getting better.

Creating A Foundation for Superior Delivery

Central to successful Meds to Beds programs is equipping caregivers with the right tools to facilitate the required medication transfer and patient education. Different implementation functions require different equipment, software, and mobile platforms to house them. Here are a few possible applications with mobile computer carts and telehealth solutions that hospitals will consider when adopting or expanding meds to bed programs for safer and better patient transitions and experiences. 

• Mobile medical carts that are compatible with pharmacy systems for facilitating accurate prescription filling and bedside delivery in real-time.
• Equip mobile carts with video call capabilities for telehealth solutions for medication counseling. This will allow remote consultations between pharmacists and patients, which is especially useful for post-discharge follow-ups.
• Utilize medical carts with apps installed on mobile carts or patient tablets to provide engaging and informative content about medication education and adherence.

First Products has developed cart solutions that help healthcare providers deliver on med to beds program goals. Here are two applications:

Whatever your application, First Products offers a robust, flexible platform adaptable to your unique needs for the perfect fit—built for you, with you. We will work with any hospital and team to pilot and refine mobile cart solutions tailored to their Meds to Beds program requirements for patient discharge schedules, ensuring timely preparation and delivery of necessary medications to meet the needs of healthcare providers and patients. This may also include training and support to healthcare staff to maximize the effective use of mobile carts and telehealth platforms.

Each modular and customizable First Products mobile carts gives ultimate customization and scalability to any program, with faster to implementation timeframes for program success. With U.S.-based manufacturing and in-house prototyping hospitals can realize their vision more quickly than when working with brands outside the US. 

Come See Us in Action

We will highlight meds to beds solutions in our booth at HIMSS, March 3-6, 2025, in Las Vegas, NV. See us at booth #6232. Come by for a demo of our leading cart solutions and to discuss what your program needs to reach the right adherence rates. Contact us at sales@firstproducts.com for more information or to set up a meeting

Seamless workflows. Efficient care. It all starts with the right cart - built for you, with you.