Tutela Medical

Tutela Monitoring Systems, Certified to ISO9001:2008, was first launched over 20 years ago. Our expertise is in providing independent healthcare and life science temperature monitoring for the management of critical temperature sensitive biological assets and products. We are passionate about safeguarding medical assets and are pleased to announce the next step in our journey, Tutela Monitoring is now part of Checkit UK Limited.

Our product offering for Healthcare and Lifesciences just got better

Today Tutela as part of Checkit UK limited, can further support busy professionals to maintain standards and regulations within a Healthcare and Lifesciences setting. Our offering for remote monitoring has now expanded, covering the Checkit product range, as well as the Tutela range. Meaning we can also provide a cost-effective solution for ward, GP or high street pharmacy for example. In addition, we are excited to be able to talk to our customers about the use of digitised checklists in a Healthcare and Lifesciences setting. The Checkit work management platform presents many opportunities for healthcare professionals looking to move away from paper base checklists. Presenting opportunities with sample tracking, chemotherapy treatment processes and surgical checklists for example.

The Checkit Philosophy

Our passion is providing technology and services that support our customers in managing and optimising their business operations. Smart technology that ensures consistency, productivity and compliance. Technology that automates, monitors and documents processes to provide data insights for achieving operational excellence.

Keith Daley, Executive Chair of Checkit says:

“We’re on a mission to be the global leader in real-time operations management to enable our customers to run safe, smart and efficient businesses.” Going on to say “our customers can rest assured knowing that we are continuing to provide them with outstanding service and technology.”

Mike Hobby, Sales Director for Healthcare and Lifesciences expands on this by saying:

“We are excited to provide a broader product offering for those working in Healthcare and Lifesciences. Supporting customers in meeting storage and process requirements for laboratory, hospital, community healthcare and high street pharmacy to mention a few. As well as broadening our monitoring solution for storage environments, we are also able to monitor people driven processes with our digital work management checklist.”

What can Checkit and Tutela do for you?

Our work management tool provides smart digital checklists that are easy to use and configure. Checklists that make sure the right people do the right thing, in the right place, at the right time
Our UKAS accredited automated monitoring ensures compliance and mitigates loss of valuable drugs, bloods, samples and medicines. Monitoring that is backed by real-time 24/7/365 telephone support.
Our smart wireless sensing networks use Internet of Things technologies to replace manual checks with 24/7 monitoring, protecting valuable stock, appliances and processes.

Contact us to find out more

More About Checkit

Checkit’s real-time operations management software makes organisations smart, safe and efficient. Our products use Internet of Things (“IoT”), mobile and cloud technologies to ensure our customers get the best out of their mobile teams, processes and buildings. Checkit users operate in many sectors including retail, hospitality, healthcare, real estate management and manufacturing. Checkit is headquartered in Cambridge, UK with its operations centre in Fleet, UK and a sales and service office in California, USA. https://www.checkit.net

Next Controls Ltd, parent company to Tutela and AXON, is now Checkit UK Limited. With our new registered legal name being Checkit UK Limited (Company number 2540171). The brand names of Next, Next Controls, Tutela and AXON are remaining as trading names of Checkit UK Limited.

Checkit at a glance:

Founded in 2012
Acquired Next Control Systems in 2019
175 people, £12m revenues and growing fast!
Technology Centres in Cambridge and Fleet, UK and offices in the USA.

The post Developments in Automated Monitoring for Healthcare and Lifesciences appeared first on Tutela Monitoring Systems.

Technology can provide practical solutions for the busy pharmacist. Automated temperature monitoring and record keeping can provide greater accuracy, whilst freeing up staff time. Tutela Monitoring Systems, part of Checkit UK Limited have a strong portfolio of products to support pharmacists with the correct storage of medicines and vaccines. Either through our temperature monitoring or via our work management application, that digitises checklists for work processes.

Remote automated monitoring 24/7 for pharmacy

Automated temperature monitoring provides a tried and trusted solution. Storage data is collected, saved and backed up continuously for you. With items being monitored 24/7/365.

With manual systems it’s not possible to determine how long the stock was exposed to the out of spec temperature. So, the only safe option is to bin the stock – an added, preventable cost. With an automated notification, you can take action to save the stock, in little to no time by: closing an open door, re-packing the fridge with proper circulation and space to allow the fridge to operate properly, or relocating.

Preventing loss of stock should be a high priority for pharmacy managers. It’s been estimated that £300m of stock is written off each year throughout the pharmacy healthcare provision. Examine your loss of stock in medicines for the last 12 months and you can see the savings possible from implementing an automated temperature monitoring system.

Digitising process checklists in a pharmacy setting

As well as temperature checks, good pharmacy management can be supported through digital checklists. Using cloud-based technology, you can look to move day to day tasks away from paper-based records. Digital real-time checklists can improve efficiency and consistency, freeing up staff to do their real job.

Today, businesses usually rely on digital systems for the data they need. But when it comes to guiding the actual work people do, most still rely on pen and paper. Meaning process adherence and compliance is patchy, with the records unreliable. Using technology to improve work management can bring efficiencies. Whether this be for routines around medicine management or for processes that ensure patient safety.

In conclusion

Automating through technology, whether that be monitoring temperature sensitive storage or people driven processes, means you can free up staff time, allowing them to focus on quality patient care.

At Tutela Monitoring Systems, part of Checkit UK limited, we assure healthy outcomes from the correct management of drugs, bloods and medicines.

3 key areas addressed with an automated temperature monitoring and data checklist service.

Free up Labour – there is no longer a requirement for front-line staff to conduct routine non added value activities, through paper driven records.
Preventing Loss of stock – 24/7/365 automated monitoring is a robust way to protect stock, often with a commercial value per fridge or freezer of over £50K on average.
Protecting Reputations – whether it’s your organisation or your GPhC inspection equipping front line staff with the tools for enhanced patient care is a worthwhile investment, that prevents reputational damage.

Is your medicine management meeting expectations?

Learn more about MHRA compliant temperature monitoring and our smart sealed temperature sensors

Learn more about digitised work management

More About Checkit

Tutela Monitoring Systems is part of Checkit UK Ltd.

The post How technology can provide practical solutions for the busy pharmacist appeared first on Tutela Monitoring Systems.

As part of the UKAS ISO15189 accreditation, every clinical diagnostic laboratory needs to achieve and document certain quality goals. These quality goals involve the preanalytical phase, the analytical phase and the postanalytical phase. The preanalysis includes the transport of blood, which has inherent variability which can compromise the integrity of the blood samples.

Blood storage temperature in transit

In a recent publication in Annals of Clinical Biochemistry 2017, Vol. 54(4) 448-462 by van Balveren et al it was established that some analytes in blood samples are particularly susceptible to temperature variances. Notably LDH, K+, Na+, Ca2+ are all susceptible to low temperatures, having a deleterious effect on blood results. At higher temperatures (room temperature and above) Bicarbonate measurements become unstable. This could result in additional samples being required or misdiagnosis of a patient’s condition, based upon spurious results.

Full details are available here: Effects of time and temperature on 48 routine chemistry, haematology and coagulation analytes in whole blood samples

What does this mean for the safe storage and transportation of blood samples?

Whilst very few tests were affected negatively by higher temperatures (with the exception of Bicarb measurements) several were affected by lower temperatures, which could lead to unnecessary treatments or incomplete diagnoses.

Temperature during transport is therefore a critical issue that could affect patient safety and accuracy of diagnoses.

This paper underpins the clear need for monitoring of patient samples in transit. Tutela have established devices that allow temperature to be measured over time and a report to be generated when the samples arrive in the laboratory so that clinicians can be confident in the results from the laboratory. And the laboratory can be certain that the results are unaffected by temperature variances.

What to consider when monitoring blood samples during transit

Temperature variances can affect results
Monitoring allows informed decisions on the suitability of samples for analysis
Automated monitoring provides a fail-safe approach to monitoring during transit

Tutela Monitoring Systems, part of Checkit UK Limited, are experienced in delivering automated temperature monitoring solutions for diagnostic laboratories. Tutela is fully UKAS accredited and utilised in both NHS and private laboratories.

Read our case studies

Contact us

The post The influence of time and temperature on patient blood samples in transit appeared first on Tutela Monitoring Systems.

When it comes to the safe storage of medicines, bloods and samples, an automated monitoring system can provide real value. Yet when faced with any capital purchase senior managers ask one simple question, will this system provide value for money and pay for itself? What is the true value of automating your temperature monitoring?

Insuring against failed CQC compliance

With every non-compliance from a CQC report there are major costs associated with the corrective actions needed. Reports, meetings, follow up actions, re-training, new documentation and internal audits all before a re-visit by compliance regulators.

Managing your temperature sensitive storage is easier through automated remote monitoring. Excursions can be reported in real-time and acted on immediately. Data is recorded and reports can be generated simply, meaning you can be inspection ready at any point.

Insuring against loss of stock in medicines, bloods and samples

With manual systems it’s not possible to determine how long the stock was exposed to the out of spec temperature. So, the only safe option is to bin the stock. Examine your loss of stock in medicines for the last 12 months and you can see the savings possible from implementing an automated temperature monitoring system.

With the UK’s future place in Europe unclear, meaning potential supply could be at risk, the loss of stock is not only a cost issue but a serious threat to continuation of supply.

The rising value of inventory in a hospital pharmacy or blood banks is such that a fail-safe automated monitoring system is needed to ensure loss prevention at all points in the cold chain management. It should not be left to chance.

Efficient allocation of staff time in the NHS

Completing manual temperature monitoring is viewed as an admin role. With staffing shortages and everyday pressures it is not something most healthcare staff are focused on. It can often be overlooked or rushed, opening it up to errors.

Adding to this the manual activity provides little in the way of trending data to spot potential failures. The CQC regularly pick up on this and any missing data, as well as weak processes which mean temperature excursions are not acted upon, resulting in placing the patients at risk.

Our own review of time taken to manually monitor shows this is more costly than purchasing automated monitoring. Additionally temperature monitoring through a managed serviced contract has VAT advantages.

Contact us to find out more.

What is the value of automating your temperature monitoring?

In summary automated temperature monitoring can provide real value, cost savings can be realised through the prevention of stock loss and by freeing up staff time. Meaning that automated temperature monitoring can pay for itself.

Automation reduces paper driven, manual processes, saving staff significant time, allowing them to focus on patient lead healthcare tasks. It also provides insightful data to improve performance.

Automated monitoring provides real time alarm notifications. With alarm response times as a little as 2 minutes from the Tutela monitoring team, no stock needs to be lost.

Automated monitoring implemented properly, eliminates the manual retrieval of data, mis-readings and mis-recording, as well as interruptions in data timeline. Meaning with automated monitoring you can be inspection ready at any point.

Tutela Monitoring Systems – learn from our customers

Speak to some of our 1000’s of customers and inspirational leaders who have written business cases and have won the investment to make patient health outcomes, safer, more consistent and have protected their reputation without the need for additional staff and are seen as “World Class”.

Contact us and we will put you in touch with one of our customers, so you can learn from their experience of investing in automated temperature monitoring.

Further reading:

The post The business case for automated temperature monitoring appeared first on Tutela Monitoring Systems.

Tutela Monitoring Systems, part of Checkit UK Limited, are pleased to announce we have won an award. We received Highly Commended in the category of: Healthcare Software: Process or Admin Centred at the Building Better Healthcare Awards 2019.

Tutela Monitoring Systems provide a robust remote monitoring system, offering complete regulatory peace of mind, freeing health care staff to focus on patient well-being.

The Tutela system evidences and reports information for audits and inspections providing seamless records for CQC, MHRA and more recently the GPHC for retail pharmacy.

To date we have over 1000 customers in both private and public care settings. With over 260 hospital sites in the NHS taking up the Tutela system to protect, support and ensure their quality processes are followed.

Remote monitoring backed by manned alarm calling 24/7/365 from trained staff

Tutela provide real-time monitoring and manned alarm calling service 24/7 all year, offering insights that support improved quality, regulatory safety and compliance. Tutela systems monitors, analyses and reports out of compliance storage of critical biological inventory, reducing loss of valuable product. Assuring healthy outcomes from the correct management of drugs, bloods and medicines.

The rising value of inventory for example in a hospital pharmacy, refrigerated warehousing, plasma centres or blood banks is such that a fail-safe remote monitoring system is needed to ensure loss prevention at all points in the cold chain management.

Tutela Monitoring provide real-time communications via a user-friendly, secure interface, which is accessible 24/7, on any device able to support a web-browser.

Why Tutela Monitoring Systems is different:

Real-time 24/7/365 telephone support from trained staff, based here in the UK
Full temperature mapping services accredited to UKAS 17025
Calibration is done on site by Tutela engineers, minimising disruption
Calibration service and warranty at no additional cost
Data is secure and complaint to ISO 27001 for 30 years
Battery life in excess of 3 years and monitored
Tutela complies with and is approved for the NHS network protocol for security HSCN (N3)
Tutela is the only wireless temperature monitoring specialist who is both HSCN (N3) compliant and a registered Supply Chain supplier of monitoring systems for the NHS.
Completely scalable from a single fridge to a fully integrated multi-fixture system across multiple sites
Tutela is adaptable to future requirements, whether that be O2, CO2, air quality Liquid Nitrogen, Lab pressure and leak detection for example

Tutela Monitoring Systems – learn from our customers

Contact us and we will put you in touch with one of our customers, so you can learn from their experience of investing in automated temperature monitoring.

Further reading:

The Business Case for Automated Monitoring

Developments in Automated Monitoring for Healthcare and Lifesciences

The post Building Better Healthcare 2019 – Highly Commended appeared first on Tutela Monitoring Systems.

Healthcare is driven by quality checklists. When running a hospice there are also facilities checklists and food preparation standards to maintain; a management challenge, particularly when spread across numerous locations. Tutela Monitoring Systems, now part of Checkit were fortunate to meet with Ian Ashton of Pilgrims Hospices, who champions the use of digital checklists and cloud-based operational insights within his hospice and the hospice care sector.

Applying digital work processes in hospice care

Ian Ashton started work with Pilgrims Hospices in 2008, initially based at its Canterbury site. He was quick to bring in digital tools to help manage the catering facilities. The benefit of this forward thinking means that today Ian is tasked with managing all four sites within the hospice group, this includes four kitchens feeding day visitors, in-patients and staff across three sites. His championing of digital tools in the workplace has shown how you can bring greater visibility and insight with real-time connectivity, as opposed to slow paper-driven checklists.

To streamline operational processes Ian and his team chose the Checkit work management platform. The use of these customisable digital checklists helps them uphold high standards. It enables him and his team to have greater visibility of outstanding tasks in real-time. It saves paper as checklists no longer need printing. It also saves fuel and travel time between sites.

“With no printed paper checklists or travel emissions, Checkit has helped me save time, paper and fuel. I have better visibility of the business without harming the environment. This visibility also makes my team more efficient.”

Having a cloud-based checklist also means alerts can be sent in real-time when something has been overlooked or out of parameters. Ian goes on to explain:

“The Checkit Work Management app allows me to have ‘eyes on’ even when I am not physically on site. For example, I can fire up my Tablet whilst eating breakfast and even before I have left my house, I know if one of the sites is short staffed. I am then able to call the site manager and schedule my day accordingly.”

Future plans for digital working

Checkit Work Management is customisable, cloud-based and proven for food and facility checks. It has enabled Pilgrims to maintain a 5-star food hygiene rating. Having used the digitised checklists for three
years, it is fully supportive of the value it brings to the charity.

Working with Checkit, Pilgrims Hospices is now looking to expand its use of digital checklists across its working practices. Ian is considering how to incorporate temperature monitoring of
catering fridges and freezers. He is also liaising with colleagues and exploring the use of Checkit for tasks such as legionella checks, asset lists and facility checks.

Learn more about digitised work management

More About Checkit

Tutela Monitoring Systems is part of Checkit UK Ltd.

Contact us to learn more

Download the full Pilgrims Case Study

The post Using digital checklists in hospice care appeared first on Tutela Monitoring Systems.

Recent headlines remind us of the importance of credible vaccine programmes. With the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting on measles outbreaks in many countries around the world. The recent shocking news from Samoa shows what can happen when public trust in vaccines and the programmes that deliver them fail. The outbreak on the pacific island nation was in part triggered following the deaths of two children in 2018, who were administered a wrongly mixed MMR vaccine. This news caused a decline in vaccine uptake. In-deed WHO has reported that vaccine hesitancy is one of the ten biggest health threats in 2019.

Closer to home we are seeing an early arrival of the ‘Flu season’ here in the UK and many are being urged to take the vaccine prior to visiting friends and family for Christmas. So, what needs to be considered when administering a successful immunisation programme?

Vaccine management and temperature monitoring

It is important that all staff involved in delivering immunisation programmes understand the correct ordering, storing and administering of vaccines. It is also important that they are aware of maintaining optimum cold chain conditions, so that vaccines remain potent and effective.

Safe storage of medicines and vaccines is something we all expect. With vaccine and medicine storage having to meet pharmacy temperature monitoring guidelines issued by the MHRA. The GPhC also require compliance with regulations, to protect standards and ensure best practice. With patient safety at the core of these regulations.

How should vaccines be stored?

Vaccines may lose their effectiveness if they become too hot or too cold at any time. Guidance on storage, distribution and disposal of vaccines can be found in the Green Book.

Vaccines should be stored in a validated vaccine fridge. A fridge that is monitored to meet regulatory compliance. This fridge should be set to store vaccines between the recommended +2°C to +8°C temperature range and used solely for the storage of vaccines. It is best practice to aim for a temperature of +5°C, the mid-point in the recommended temperature range.

It is important the medical fridge is large enough to hold vaccine stock, whilst allowing space around vaccines for air to circulate. This fridge should also be locked, or in a locked room. Having it wired into a switchless socket will avoid it being switched off. Fridges with glass doors and with labelling on the outside of the fridge, help avoid the door being open for longer than necessary.

How often should vaccine temperatures be monitored?

With manual monitoring it’s not possible to determine how long the stock was exposed to the out of spec temperature. With automated remote monitoring the process can be continuous. Alerts can be raised automatically if the storage environment falls out of the designated temperature remit. Meaning you can act quickly to ensure the efficacy of vaccine stock.

Annual calibration of temperature probes to UKAS standards is also recommended.

Managing your temperature sensitive storage is easier through automated remote monitoring. Data is automatically recorded and reports can be generated simply, meaning you can be inspection ready at any point.

Vaccine management processes

As well as safeguarding vaccines through the correct storage protocols it is also important to ensure the correct handling and management of the vaccine stock. This involves a series of processes and checks. From receipt of vaccines, through to administering.

On delivery a designated member of staff should check the order, looking for possible discrepancies or damage. Then, once accepted, swiftly store the delivery, in its original packaging, in a validated vaccine fridge. The designated member of staff should also record the receipt of the vaccines in the stock inventory record.

It is also important to maintain accurate records of vaccine stock. Vaccines should be tracked and accounted for and expiry dates monitored so that those close to their expiry are used first. Best practice recommendations for vaccine storage include weekly audits of the contents of the vaccine fridge, monthly stock check and rotations and the sharing of audit results and temperature logs quarterly with the local screening and immunisation teams.

Many of the manual processes could be checked and monitored through our Work Management application. Using a hand-held memo staff can use it as a prompt to review and provide evidence, through photos or barcodes, confirming that stock is in date, stored appropriately, with no damage to packaging, for example. With all checks being date and time stamped.

For both Work Management and Automated monitoring all data is stored in the Cloud and accessed through online dashboards. Meaning the immunisation manager or RP can have visibility of all storage and medicine management protocols at all times.

In conclusion.

Credibility of immunisations programmes can be undermined by inappropriate ordering, storing and handling of vaccines. Automating through technology, whether that be monitoring temperature sensitive storage or people driven processes can bring greater reliability.

With automated temperature monitoring correct vaccine storage can be monitored 24/7. With temperature alerts being issued in real-time, meaning any risk to vaccine storage can be acted on immediately. Additionally the management of vaccine stock can be assisted with digital stock inventories, or through digital checks and prompts, with tools such as our Work Management memo.

Whichever approach you take it is ultimately important to maintain high quality, safe and effective immunisation programmes. To intern maintain confidence within the community, so that uptake of vaccinations remains high, preventing disease outbreaks.

Contact us to learn more

Our work management tool provides smart digital checklists that are easy to use and configure. Checklists that make sure the right people do the right thing, in the right place, at the right time
Our UKAS accredited automated monitoring ensures compliance and mitigates loss of valuable drugs, bloods, samples and medicines. Monitoring that is backed by real-time 24/7/365 telephone support.
Our smart wireless sensing networks use Internet of Things technologies to replace manual checks with 24/7 monitoring, protecting valuable stock, appliances and processes.

The post Correct vaccine storage and management for successful immunisation appeared first on Tutela Monitoring Systems.

Community and retail pharmacies are under pressure, with the decline of the high street and competition from online providers. Pharmacy staff are needing to respond by adapting and evolving their service. How can new approaches to work and patient care help? Ultimately how do pharmacies ensure their place remains on our high streets and in our communities?

Differentiating face-to-face pharmacy from online competition

What differentiates the high street pharmacist from the online supplier is the provision of individual patient services and advice from qualified professionals, a value-add that the online pharmacist cannot match. Pharmacists are evolving to take on services traditionally catered for by GP’s, in a step to relieve pressures seen by doctor’s surgeries.

Broadening healthcare services beyond dispensing medicines is a positive move. It elevates, through the provision of personal service, the high street pharmacist above the price battle being waged by online drug providers.

Safe storage and dispensing of medication

In addition, the high street pharmacist can verify and confirm the validity of their prescriptions. Whereas there is much debate around the regulation and safety of drugs dispensed online.

The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), for the first time, has begun publishing pharmacy inspection reports into the public domain. In effect giving every high street pharmacy a publicly available rating. A positive move, yet one which may be perceived by some pharmacists as an added pressure. Yet should be embraced as a differentiator, a badge of honour, showing the value of the face to face service provided by high street pharmacists.

Managing medicines and devices, managing risk and keeping records

According to the GPhC, in their report Learning From Inspections, standards most commonly not met often relate to managing medicines and devices, managing risks and keeping records. The GPhC goes on to state that pharmacies that were well organised and using efficient processes across a range of activities were found to perform better overall.

Using technology to track work processes can bring efficiencies. For example, your pharmacy team could enter checks and actions into digital checklists that are recorded in the Cloud. Giving the Chief Pharmacist greater real-time visibility.

For example, on a Monday morning following the weekend break, the Chief Pharmacist would have visibility of whether the weekend team or locum carried out checks and actions that needed to be done. In fact, if these had not been completed an alert would have been sent in real-time. Using digital checks means the Chief Pharmacist can ensure compliance critical tasks are happening even when they are not physically in store.

Managing pharmaceutical stock

Digital checks can also apply to the management of vaccines and medicines.

On delivery pharmacy staff are to check the order for possible discrepancies or damage, and once accepted, ensure they are immediately stored correctly. Maintaining accurate records of stock is also important.

Digital technologies can be used to ensure greater accuracy, efficiency and of course compliance in line with MHRA and GpHC. By capturing data electronically, it is possible to view and monitor in real-time storage and process protocols. This data can be captured from multiple locations, suitable for those managing a group of pharmacies. Meaning you can have sight of all control checks and temperature monitoring on one reporting dashboard.

Monitoring temperature sensitive medicines

With manual monitoring it’s not possible to determine how long the stock was exposed to the out of spec temperature. So, the only safe option is to bin the stock. Preventing loss of stock should be a high priority for pharmacy managers. It’s been estimated that £300m of stock is written off each year throughout the pharmacy healthcare provision.

With an automated notification, you can take action to save the stock, in little to no time by: closing an open door, re-packing the fridge with proper circulation and space to allow the fridge to operate properly, or relocating. (or reconnecting to the mains supply after the cleaner has been)

In conclusion

Pharmacies are under increasing pressure to adapt. To provide greater convenience whilst also offering patient advice and guidance. All while meeting strict compliance guidelines. The Chief Pharmacist of multiple locations carries the responsibility of safe drug management and also, via their team, delivering good customer healthcare.

Tutela Monitoring Systems, part of Checkit UK Limited have a strong portfolio of products to support pharmacists with the correct storage of medicines and vaccines. Either through our temperature monitoring or via our work management application, that digitises checklists for work processes.

Contact us to learn more

We understand the importance of compliant storage protocols to CQC and MHRA standards.

Your needs and your requirements are of the utmost importance to us and we aim to make sure this is apparent from the first point of contact.

Your first conversations with us will probably start with contact with one of our Account Managers, so we’d like to introduce you to Gordon Muscat, who has worked in the biopharma and healthcare arena almost as long as we have.

He has vast experience in this sector and therefore knows many of the challenges you might be facing, no matter what healthcare field you specialise in, as he explains.

“I find it so interesting that one day I can be at a bio-pharmacy and the next I can be at a university or attending an industry meeting! I love the diversity, anywhere that requires temperature monitoring, I know we can be of great help and make a real difference.”

Your main driver for considering our monitoring system, may be compliance or it may be about making monetary savings. But whatever the reason, what you want is a system, that is live and alerts you if anything requires attention. Whether this be for the compliant storage of medicines or for monitoring that the correct processes are completed by staff. Our connected workflow management tools utilise IoT and digital checks to ensure correct processes are adhered to.

But we go even further, because as Gordon explains, it’s not just about the system.

“I like building a relationship with a customer, from initial call right through the installation, training and beyond. Because our system is so much more than ‘one size fits all’ solution, we have to fully understand the customer requirements and create a system that meets the customer’s exact requirement. So it’s great to be involved at all stages, from taking that first step, right through to seeing the end results and very happy customers.”

Monitoring the storage of valuable assets and samples for healthcare and biopharma industries

Nothing is more important than temperature regulation when it comes to the storage of valuable assets and samples for healthcare and biopharma industries. The continued monitoring of temperature sensitive products such as drugs or bloods is paramount to the care provided by bodies such as hospitals and hospices. And we have real world examples where we have had a huge positive impact for customers. Here is how Gordon helped one of his customers.

“Their driver was to cut waste and in this instance, waste constituted upwards of £80,000. With a choice of providers, we needed to be clear of our point of difference. One of the ways we did this was to highlight the fact that we don’t just send an email or a text message when a temperature alarm is triggered, we make sure that the message has been received and if possible rectify the problem remotely. The customer was impressed enough to put together a business case, which is of course fantastic for us; we then put a package together that suited their budget and goals and now they are on course to never have a temperature breach go unnoticed again.”

Not only is our system purpose made for the healthcare market, it’s also very easy to use with no need for additional hardware required. Our installation may take a little longer than a competitor, but that is because we think about every installation independently. We then run an IQOQ, an Installation Qualification, Operation Qualification which means that you get a far superior result because the system is more stable.

We think about data security, so are ISO2001 accredited. Plus, we do UKAS accredited calibration onsite, which means, you as a customer, don’t have to send probes and sensors back to the factories for calibration. With us doing that work onsite, you get a much faster, much better installation and a much more stable system, whether that be at single or multiple sites, as Gordon explains.

“We don’t want to give the customer, ‘alarm fatigue’; we want to only be calling them when there is a genuine problem that relates to temperature. Our superior installation process and with the help of our amazing support specialists, we make sure that the customer only gets notified when there is a real issue.

A perfect example would be one of my customers, who deliver medication for the NHS directly to patients who are convalescing at home. As they hold large quantities of medication at their remote facilities, a temperature fail could cost them tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands. We created a bespoke dashboard that lets them have insight into all of their sites from head office, that can be monitored by one person and we ensure that only real issues get alarm notifications.”

We believe that our track record speaks for itself. We have long standing customers and mature relationships, with a bespoke-system built around their requirement and the requirement of the healthcare and life science markets.

So if you’re considering replacing a paper and pen system, upgrading a legacy system or are in need of a system that will mitigate failures, keep you compliant, cut down on waste and ultimately save you money, why not give Gordon a call.

Gordon Muscat – Account Manager

T: 01252 406 398
Email: gmuscat@tutelamedical.com

The post Medical temperature monitoring delivered with a personal touch appeared first on Tutela Monitoring Systems.

The safe storage of medicines in hospitals and pharmacy are paramount to reducing waste. The rising cost of medicines is a major focus for a healthcare sector that is struggling with financial challenges. In the NHS, for example, it is estimated that annual spending on medicines rose from around £12bn to £18.2bn in the seven years up to 2017/18.

There are numerous initiatives to address these rises, from supply chain negotiations to prescribing policies. But one area that is often overlooked is the cost that arises from medicines being discarded. Not all waste is avoidable, of course but one study found that up to half of overall wastage could be prevented. The safe storage of medicines by pharmacy has an important part to play in reducing waste.

“Tutela quickly proved its worth, when the compressor failed for our main cold store, causing temperatures to increase. This store holds medicines to the value of £500,000. The robust monitoring provided by Tutela meant we were able to act quickly, saving our valuable stock by transferring it to alternative storage.” Melanie Goodrum, Acting-Up Operations Manager, Pharmacy Quality Services at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Safe storage of medicines

There are many reasons why a proportion of medicines are thrown away, including unsuitable storage conditions and failure to identify expiration dates.

The correct storage of temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical inventory has traditionally relied on staff performing regular checks on fridges and freezers.

However, staff shortages and increasing healthcare demands have combined to make routine temperature and inventory checks more difficult to maintain.

According to the GPhC’s Learning From Inspections report, the standards most commonly missed relate to managing medicines and devices, managing risks and keeping records.

As a result, growing number of hospitals, pharmacies, GP surgeries and other healthcare facilities are turning to automated temperature monitoring and digital checklists to reduce the manual burden, instil greater confidence and identify lapses immediately.

There’s a recognition that this form of protection will improve quality, save resources and allow staff to focus on tasks that add value to patient care.

Automated temperature monitoring for pharmacy fridge

Regular monitoring of storage conditions is vital. Vaccines, for example, are particularly vulnerable to losing their effectiveness if they become too hot or too cold.

In its guidance on storage, distribution and disposal of vaccines, the Green Book advises that they should be stored in a validated vaccine fridge, which is monitored to meet regulatory standards. This fridge should be set to store vaccines between the recommended +2°C to +8°C temperature range and used solely for the storage of vaccines.

Automated temperature monitoring systems such as Tutela, from Checkit, provide continuous real-time data, alerts and notifications when necessary parameters are breached. They also deliver a digital audit trail to help services achieve inspection-ready status.

Download our guide: The business case for automated temperature monitoring

Setting aside the potential to avoid expensive loss of medicines due to unforeseen spoilage – and all the financial, reputational and operational consequences – the workforce efficiency gains of minimising manual checking routines provides a valuable return too.

Helping healthcare staff with routine tasks

Routine stock checks, administrative tasks and safety and hygiene procedures have to be completed on a regular basis. Evidence of task completion is often confined to pen-and-paper, which can create gaps in process adherence and compliance. Missed checks, unreliable data and loss of paperwork are not uncommon.

There is growing adoption of digital work management technologies, such as Checkit. The system prompts and guides staff to perform routine tasks via a mobile handset preconfigured with essential checklists. It also enables employees to provide time-stamped evidence through photos or barcodes. They can confirm that stock is in date, stored appropriately and free from damage, for example.

Actions are logged in the cloud and visible to managers within an intuitive online dashboard that provides alerts, analysis and insight.

In a pharmacy environment, for example, staff are obliged to check orders for possible discrepancies or damage and, once accepted, ensure they are immediately stored correctly, as well as creating a record of current stock levels.

As a result, staff gain more time to focus on the care of patients or customers and best practice is consistently applied.

Read more about how Work Management can improve consistency, efficiency and effectiveness in busy healthcare environments.

The post Safe storage of medicines: How technology is cutting the risk of drugs going to waste appeared first on Tutela Monitoring Systems.

Hosted by the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA), Tutela Monitoring Systems LLC will be exhibiting at the 2014 Plasma Protein Forum to be held in Washington.

The Plasma Protein Forum is the premier conference for the plasma protein therapeutics industry in North America. Held annually each June, the Forum brings industry, policymakers, physicians, scientists and patients together to learn about key developments and issues.

For more about this event, please click here.

Tutela will attend this event, and give delegates the opportunity to see the Tutela Tutela Genesis II Wireless Temperature Monitoring System.

For more information about Tutela Monitoring Systems click here.

Author

Meet Tutela Medical Monitoring Systems at the Pharmig Irish one day conference 16th May 2013

Pharmig is an influential forum for microbiology in the pharmaceutical, healthcare and allied industries and provides a focus for continuing professional development and a unique opportunity for the exchange of microbiological information.

Contact Fiona Davidson for more information or to arrange to meet at the symposium.

For more information about the symposium, please visit the website.

Recent reports indicate that the NHS spent £17.4 billion on medicines in 2016/17. That’s nearly 20% of the total spending budget, therefore you would think that ensuring medicine optimisation and medicine management best practices are a priority. After all, providing medicines in optimal condition ensures patients receive the maximum benefit from their medication.

Leadership and vision – vital components of medicine management planning

According to the General Pharmaceutical Council, one of the challenges in future will be how we support a system-wide approach to medicines optimisation – putting governance frameworks in place and supporting local pharmacy leaders to help people and the NHS get the most health benefit and the best value from medicines.

The problem for the hard-working pharmacist is that these phrases and words are too broad and fail to reflect what’s going on at the coal face. The real challenge is how to infer clear leadership and guidance from this rather woolly mission statement.

At least there is one thing we can all agree on: it is the expertise and clinical knowledge of pharmacists which can achieve this. However, to imply they can relieve the pressures within primary care and provide simultaneously the skills needed to enable system-wide medicines optimisation is a tall order.

Having personally met with and discussed the pressures pharmacists face, they struggle to meet their current workload.

Are Primary Care networks up to the task?

They should be, but recent CQC inspections indicate a worrying trend to poor quality controls applied to stored medicines. Also, a recent report highlighted the growing trend for GPs to work part-time and, against funding cuts in community pharmacy, this is hardly a firm footing on which to present leadership at it best.

CQC are now increasing inspections of GP practices and clinical providers, and published reports indicate that focus on medicine management and optimisation is often truly shocking.

One report extract reads as follows:

“We found that the maximum temperature for one refrigerator had been consistently recorded at 17oC since August 2017 and the maximum temperature of a second refrigerator had been recorded at 9oC in March and April 2018 and at 14oC on numerous occasions in November 2017. Staff responsible for recording the temperatures had failed to act and report that the temperatures had fallen outside the recommended range of 2oC and 8oC.”

Greater recognition of the value of medicines is required

To ensure that every patient receives the expected benefit from their medication, there must be a commitment to the correct storage, management and optimisation of medicines. This process must be shared and not lumped solely onto the pharmacist. While he or she is accountable, the responsibility must be shared equally, and this is currently not the case.

Pharmacovigilance should drive quality improvement and patient safety, but front-line staff just don’t have the time to take responsibility, or they lack strong leadership.

Enablers of improvement: digital innovation and technology?

The Government asked NHS England to set out a long-term plan for the future of the NHS by the autumn Budget 2018. At the start of this process, NHS asked people to contribute their ideas, experiences and insights.

This was published on a web page on the NHS England consultation page on the 24th of August 2018 and closed on the 30th September.

4 questions were asked of Digital Innovation:

3.8 How can digital technology help the NHS to:

Improve patient care and experience?

Enable people and patients to manage their own health and care?

Improve the efficiency of delivering care?

3.9 What can the health and care system usefully learn from other industries who use digital technology well?

3.10 How do we encourage people to use digital tools and services? (What are the issues and considerations that people may have?)

3.11 How do we ensure we don’t widen inequalities through digital services and technology?

I believe these questions not only failed to address the management and optimisation of medicines but also gave the industry only 5 weeks to respond to a highly complex and important issue. I’m not sure if I were a Pharmacist that this addressed my needs or provided the clear leadership I might seek.

Does independent medicine monitoring make a difference?

The simple answer is yes, but simple monitoring is only half of the solution. To change health outcomes, monitoring must be supported by active contact systems where staff responsible for medicine management are notified immediately by trained independent individuals of a failing fridge or freezer so they can act, before the damage is done.

The storage of vaccines, bloods, insulin and a range of medicines don’t just become inactive, they can become outright dangerous if used, putting lives at risk.

But the sheer commercial cost of medicine loss can be avoided, protecting margins and helping to reduce the cost of medicines for your organisation. In the case of the NHS this has been identified as a key targeted improvement area such is the incredible size of the medicine bill each year.

What role can technology support?

Tutela is the world’s largest independent healthcare and life science temperature monitoring and data insights platform for critical process control of temperature sensitive biological inventory and products.

Tutela have supplied 1000’s of systems to the NHS, Biotech and Pharmaceutical industries as well as research facilities such as the APHA (Defra).

Tutela’s technology can remotely monitor every fridge or freezer door, temperature, ambient and humidity. In every room, ward, department, hospital or remote clinic all under one account. Protected, secure with full reporting and action audit trail.

Our goals are simple

With clear leadership and independent monitoring of the healthcare and drug development activity, together Tutela aim to Improve health outcomes, protect reputations and support the pharmacist and his team.

We protect your business or organisation from catastrophic loss and damage which cannot be recovered.

Can you afford not to take temperature and data monitoring seriously?

To find out more visit the website www.tutelamedical.com or contact TutelaUKsales@tutelamedical.com

Meet Tutela Medical Monitoring Systems at the UK CRF two day conference 11/12th July 2013

Hosted by the NIHR/Welcome Trust Birmingham CRF, this year’s conference theme is “Research Across the Seven Ages of Man – a seamless approach”.

Paediatric facilities through to centres studying ageing will be presenting at the conference, and patient involvement in research will also be discussed – a key strategic aim of NIHR being to put patients at the heart of the research carried out.

The Conference will be held at the University of Birmingham Medical School, 11^th & 12^th July 2013.

Tutela will attend this event, and give delegate the opportunity to see the Tutela Wireless Temperature Monitoring System in operation. The Tutela System has been developed specifically as a laboratory temperature management system for products and samples stored in scientific and medical facilities.

For details of how to register, or for more information on this year’s speakers, parallel sessions and business meetings visit the UKCRF Network Portal

Contact Zoe Adams for more information or to arrange to meet at the symposium.

Want to continue the monitoring debate? Then JOIN our LinkedIn Group

Cool Exchange is a LINKEDIN group, the sole purpose of which is to share ideas about best practice in temperature monitoring and compliance in the medical and scientific functions.

Sign up here NOW

Meet Zoe Adams from Tutela at the Crick 2nd Symposium – Infection and Immunity – 1st November 2012.

The Francis Crick Institute is a world-leading centre of biomedical research and innovation. It promotes connections between researchers, disciplines and academic institutions, and between healthcare organisations and businesses. Dedicated to research excellence, the Institute has the scale, vision and expertise to tackle the most challenging scientific questions underpinning health and disease.

The meeting will discuss the interplay between host and pathogen, from pathogen detection and recognition to host immune responses. Tutela are providers of MHRA compliant temperature monitoring systems for medical facilities.

Contact Zoe Adams for more information or to arrange to meet at the symposium.

For more information about the symposium, please visit the website.

Tutela will be attending the Health Connect Hospital Pharmacy Spring Conference, May 5-7 in ST Louis, MO. The conference promises to be a high intensity mix of :

Peer networking amongst up to 250 Hospital Pharmacy Directors from America’s most prestigious hospitals and health systems.
Accredited educational sessions to assist in expanding your industry intelligence
Innovative solutions for management of pharmacy departments

The Conference is located in central Atlanta at Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch, St. Louis, MO.

For more information and registration, please follow this link.

For more information about Tutela Monitoring Systems click here.

Tampa, Florida – August 4, 2014 – ImmunoTek BioCenters, a plasma collection organization, has chosen Tutela Medical as the provider for their temperature monitoring needs. ImmunoTek collects human blood plasma and operates multiple collection sites throughout the Southeast.

ImmunoTek will use the Tutela customisable dashboard enables them to view multiple facilities all in one screen, showing any data they need. Our customizable software and cloud-based platform benefits any organization that has multiple locations and it provides all of the necessary compliance documentation required by the FDA.

ImmunoTek joins the ranks of other top medical product and healthcare clients like Biotest Pharmaceutical, Gen Probe, Sloan Kettering, Grifols Plasma, and The University of Miami Tissue Bank.

Tutela Monitoring Systems, LLC is a division of ‘Next Controls Systems’ providing temperature monitoring solutions in North America and Europe.

Contact:

Jennifer Dickmann

jdickmann@1080514341.test.prositehosting.co.uk

14930 N. Florida Ave.

Tampa, FL 33613

414-690-3615

Meet Tutela at the London Regenerative Medicine Network Meeting with the MHRA 4th April 2013

‘The UK regulatory landscape in 2013′

The meeting will discuss the evolving regulatory landscape for medical products and its implications on MHRA compliance.

Room 501/502, 5th floor at the MHRA Headquarters, 151 Buckingham Palace Road, Victoria, London, SW1W 9SZ

Tutela are providers of MHRA compliant temperature monitoring systems for medical facilities.

Contact Zoe Adams for more information or to arrange to meet at the symposium.

For more information about the meeting, please visit the website.

Tutela Monitoring Systems, the world’s leading provider of monitoring systems, appoints Aaron Ball as Service Technician

Aaron Ball joins Tutela as a service technician at a time when the company is rapidly growing. Aaron will be field based, helping the installation engineers by calibrating and servicing the Tutela products across the UK. He will also help with installation of Tutela Wireless Monitoring Systems on the larger sites.

Aaron comes to Tutela having previously worked for a high precision, ISO:9001 Company, assembling a range of DC motors and stepper motor drivers, and he has recently completed an HNC in electronic engineering. He hopes to use this knowledge and experience in this role to ensure that Tutela continues to grow and still provide high class customer service.

Aaron commented “Tutela is a fast growing company that I am very grateful to be a part of at such an exciting time. I am looking forward to meeting the customers at the different sites, and maintaining a strong relationship with them. I am looking forward to the challenges that will be presented to me, and trust that Tutela will help develop my skills.”

Visit the website for more information on Tutela Monitoring Systems

About Tutela Monitoring Systems

Tutela Monitoring Systems (Farnborough Hampshire) supply and install fully validated and compliant web-based, monitoring and recording systems for Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Academic & Clinical Research, Laboratories & Blood Banks worldwide.

Tutela Monitoring Systems are part of Next Control Systems, an ISO9001:2008 company that has been successfully marketing web-based medical monitoring and recording systems worldwide for over 20 years.

For more information, contact:

Tutela Monitoring Systems

On the 7th March 2013, the The Guidelines on the Good Distribution Practice of Medicinal Products for Human Use (2013/C 68/01) were issued by the European Commission. The revised guidelines enter into force September 7th 2013.

Here are some useful excerpts
“It is the responsibility of the supplying wholesale distributor to protect medicinal products against breakage, adulteration and theft, and to ensure that temperature conditions are maintained within acceptable limits during transport. Regardless of the mode of transport, it should be possible to demonstrate that the medicines have not been exposed to conditions that may compromise their quality and integrity. A risk based approach should be utilised when planning transportation.”

The required storage conditions for medicinal products should be maintained during transportation within the defined limits as described by the manufacturers or on the outer packaging.

If a deviation such as temperature excursion or product damage has occurred during transportation, this should be reported to the distributor and recipient of the affected medicinal products. A procedure should also be in place for investigating and handling temperature excursions.
Risk assessment of delivery routes should be used to determine where temperature controls are required. Equipment used for temperature monitoring during transport within vehicles and/or containers, should be maintained and calibrated at regular intervals at least once a year.
Dedicated vehicles and equipment should be used, where possible, when handling medicinal products. Where non-dedicated vehicles and equipment are used procedures should be in place to ensure that the quality of the medicinal product will not be compromised.
Where transportation is performed by a third party, the contract in place should encompass the requirements of Chapter 7. Transporters should be made aware by the wholesale distributor of the relevant transport conditions applicable to the consignment. Where the transportation route includes unloading and reloading or transit storage at a transportation hub, particular attention should be paid to temperature monitoring, cleanliness and the security of any intermediate storage facilities.
Provision should be made to minimise the duration of temporary storage while awaiting the next stage of the transportation route.

“Containers should bear labels providing sufficient information on handling and storage requirements and precautions to ensure that the products are properly handled and secured at all times. The containers should enable identification of the contents of the containers and the source.”
For more information, follow this link to a downloadable PDF.