The COVID-19 pandemic spurred the vending machine industry to unprecedented heights. Sellers could put their goods out there, customers could purchase them, all with minimal contact. Even though this is no longer necessary, new high-tech vending machines are still making waves. You can get groceries, gourmet meals, yarn, or even luxury goods through a machine. Now, there are even vending machines that could possibly save your life.
These aren't anything like your average soda or snack machine, however. These vending machines range from self-contained pharmacies all the way to sophisticated methods for allowing medical and emergency personnel to access and keep track of the supplies that they need.
Medical vending machines are vending machines that dispense medical supplies. Depending on the type of machine, they can be incredibly helpful for people who need some allergy medication or pain relief on-the-go, or downright lifesaving for people in emergency rooms.
There's more than one kind of medical vending machine. Simple ones operate a bit like a hybrid of a soda machine and a tiny pharmacy, dispensing first aid supplies and over-the-counter medication in single-use packages. More complex models may be used to dispense and track inventory for entire hospitals or long-term care facilities.
Basic retail medical vending machines operate like other vending machines: The user makes a selection, pays, and receives a product. These machines chiefly dispense products like antihistamines, cough drops, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), or even first aid supplies like alcohol wipes, bandages, or single-use ice packs. If you can find it on the shelves of your local pharmacy, you can probably find a smaller version in a medical vending machine.
More complicated models, on the other hand, aren't intended for the public. Their contents can only be accessed by preauthorized medical personnel, using their RFID cards, key fobs, or PINs. They can be placed where supplies are most often needed, instead of keeping everything in centralized inventory locations.
These machines provide items that you'd find in a hospital or clinic setting. Their contents can range from syringes and gauze to personal protection equipment like masks and gloves. They may also contain lifesaving drugs, or drugs that are considered controlled substances.
Medical vending machines are also useful for ambulances. By setting them up in EMS areas, emergency medical technicians can make sure that they always have the supplies they need.
Retail medical vending machines offer convenience that's hard to find elsewhere. Imagine getting a headache on your commute home. You have a bottle of pain reliever at home, so you don't want to buy another when all you need is a single dose. A medical vending machine can help you get relief when and where you need it, without having to buy quantities that you don't need.
Vending machines for medical settings are increasing in popularity for a lot of reasons. Chief among them is their speed and inventory control. Hospitals have to deal with a lot of shrinkage through waste and lost supplies, and these medical vending machines offer precise inventory management. Emergency medical services have reported savings of as much as 40% using medical vending machines for inventory control.
Machines that dispense lifesaving drugs or controlled substances can also help hospitals stay in line with regulatory requirements surrounding these important medications. Some controlled substances are even prone to theft, and these machines generate precise reports of what items are being dispensed, when, and to whom.
Some medical supplies, like items that must be kept sterile, need to stay in specific conditions. This includes strict control over the temperature and humidity levels. These vending machines can maintain these levels, ensuring the sterility and quality of these supplies.
Nursing homes and long-term care facilities can benefit from medical vending machines because there are strict regulations surrounding how many caregivers must be on duty on the premises. These machines give personnel access to incontinence products, hygiene products, and other supplies that they may need to grab at a moment's notice.
Medical vending machines can be found anywhere where medical supplies may be needed. Basic retail models are becoming popular fixtures for venues like health clubs or college infirmaries. More advanced models are finding homes in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, or even fire departments and ambulance companies. Any situation that benefits from access to medical supplies can also benefit from a medical vending machine.
Medical vending machines can benefit everyone, from consumers to doctors, to EMTs and patients. They do everything from provide access to basic over-the-counter medication, to ensure that sterile materials are properly stored, controlled substances are dispensed appropriately, and life-saving medical supplies get to the people who need them.
