Ormond Beach, FL, Dec. 9, 2024 – Germfree, a pioneering leader in modular and mobile cleanroom infrastructure, equipment, and services, today announced the launch of Smarthood, the world’s first software-agnostic, fully integrated intravenous (IV) workflow hardware solution. Smarthood is designed to solve persistent challenges in sterile compounding by uniting advanced technologies into a single platform that minimizes contamination risks, reduces workflow errors, and streamlines operations for pharmacists and technicians. *

For more than two decades, industry standards and regulations have evolved to prevent the compounding errors of the past. To achieve a truly effective IV workflow management system, hardware and software must be integrated to support a robust and safe sterile compounding process. Merely adding hardware to an already flawed workflow will not unlock the system’s full potential. Instead, hardware should elevate a good process into a great one.

As a comprehensive platform that integrates primary engineering controls and technology, Smarthood addresses poor aseptic technique caused by fragmented IV workflow implementation. It seamlessly connects all necessary hardware components with the pharmacy’s software of choice. By doing so, Smarthood helps healthcare systems avoid the challenges of assembling and maintaining multiple disjointed components. This ensures consistent practices, reduces variability, and leverages resources efficiently across multiple sites.

“The concept behind Smarthood was born from the need to bridge critical gaps in compounding practices,” said Judd Baker, VP of Healthcare Innovation at Germfree. “By integrating technology directly into the hood itself, Smarthood provides a level of accuracy, efficiency, and patient safety that’s truly unprecedented. From real-time video monitoring to gravimetric analysis, this comprehensive solution delivers everything the modern pharmacy needs to meet today’s challenges.”

“An ideal workflow management system should integrate seamlessly into the compounding environment, enable hands-free operation, utilize hardware components free of excess cabling, and work smoothly with the selected software or electronic health record— all without disrupting the aseptic processing environment or critical airflow,” said Kevin Hansen, Senior Director, Pharmacy Compounding Services at Premier Inc. and Smarthood advisor.

For a Smarthood demo, visit Germfree at booth #1819 during the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) Midyear Clinical Meeting & Exhibition, from December 8 – 12, 2024 in New Orleans, LA.

For more on Smarthood by Germfree,  click here.

Media Contacts:
Lauren Blum, Content Marketing Manager
marketing@germfree.com
SOURCE Germfree Laboratories LLC

Smarthood: A Breakthrough for Patient Safety and Compounding Efficiency

Smarthood addresses the increasingly stringent requirements for sterile compounding at hospital pharmacies, driving standard practices without the need for a piecemeal “Frankenstein” IV workflow from disparate hardware vendors. This solution is set to tackle challenges in sterile compounding that lowers contamination risks, minimizes workflow errors, and enhances efficiency for pharmacists and technicians.

Contamination Risks: Contamination risks in sterile compounding often arise from human error, improper handling, or external factors that compromise the sterile environment.
– Smarthood reduces contamination risks by incorporating advanced technology such as barcode scanning and built-in cameras, ensuring strict adherence to sterile procedures and minimizing human error.

Workflow Errors: Workflow errors occur due to inconsistent processes, poorly integrated systems, or lack of standardization, leading to confusion and inefficiency in compounding.
– Smarthood addresses workflow errors by standardizing processes within a unified system, allowing for better organization, real-time updates, and a smoother, error-free workflow for pharmacists and technicians.

Operational Efficiency: Inefficient operations in sterile compounding can result from outdated or fragmented equipment, leading to unnecessary delays and loss of productivity.
– Smarthood streamlines operations by integrating all necessary equipment, such as barcode scanners, cameras, and computers, into a single, user-friendly system that speeds up tasks and reduces time spent on each compounding procedure.