Omnicell vs Pyxis

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Surgical, CVICU & Oncology, Med/Surg.

Do you prefer Omnicell or Pyxis? & if you're in NYS please list your hospital and what they use.

I prefer Omnicell but wanted to get a group idea.

0 Votes

I think most of us still call the omnicell the pyxis or vice versa. Kind of like calling the copier machine the Xerox machine.

1 Votes
Specializes in Surgical, CVICU & Oncology, Med/Surg.
I think most of us still call the omnicell the pyxis or vice versa. Kind of like calling the copier machine the Xerox machine.

Intended for the same function, yet different; different companies, look different but both are automated med dispsnsers. Omnicell is actually a newer version. Pyxis is older.

0 Votes

People are unlikely to want to state their places of employment on an anonymous site like this one.

I am interested in why you're interested, though.

1 Votes
Specializes in Emergency Department.

Where I'm at, we use Omnicell. In the past I have used the Pyxis and also simple tool-chest type carts (100% manual) with paper logs for controlled substances. Which one do I prefer? None of them. I've even used open cabinets and lock boxes for controlled stuff. Seriously, I don't care what I've got as long as I can get whatever I need when I need it. My only issue with automated systems is that pharmacy may have to "approve" certain meds, therefore if I need to administer something quickly, I have to either wait for pharmacy to approve the med or try to override the item. With manual systems, you don't have to wait... but you must also be VERY sure what you've pulled.

So... I just get trained on how to use the system I have to use and then I use it. The only thing I like about automated systems is not having to count controlled substances at every shift change. If the system won't dispense it, you just enter a "current" bin level and then pull what's needed. The next person behind you enters a current bin level and that's when any discrepancies can be found. The only caveat is that you have to be very accurate in counting or you could inadvertently trigger a witnessed recount.

0 Votes
Specializes in Critical Care and ED.

I currently use Omnicell and used Pyxis in the past. I find the user interface of the Omnicell very nice to use but honestly it can be a little frustrating sometimes when you want to waste or return as it's not a obvious workflow and I end up messing it up. Pyxis tended to be more straightforward but wasn't as pretty.

0 Votes
Specializes in Surgical, CVICU & Oncology, Med/Surg.
People are unlikely to want to state their places of employment on an anonymous site like this one.

I am interested in why you're interested, though.

Lol, I see where your first thought went. Sour lemon, like I said. I prefer Omnicell. And getting a tally to hopefully have most hospitals update their automated med dispensers to a user friendly interface that's safer and more efficient.

0 Votes
Specializes in Surgical, CVICU & Oncology, Med/Surg.
Where I'm at, we use Omnicell. In the past I have used the Pyxis and also simple tool-chest type carts (100% manual) with paper logs for controlled substances. Which one do I prefer? None of them. I've even used open cabinets and lock boxes for controlled stuff. Seriously, I don't care what I've got as long as I can get whatever I need when I need it. My only issue with automated systems is that pharmacy may have to "approve" certain meds, therefore if I need to administer something quickly, I have to either wait for pharmacy to approve the med or try to override the item. With manual systems, you don't have to wait... but you must also be VERY sure what you've pulled.

So... I just get trained on how to use the system I have to use and then I use it. The only thing I like about automated systems is not having to count controlled substances at every shift change. If the system won't dispense it, you just enter a "current" bin level and then pull what's needed. The next person behind you enters a current bin level and that's when any discrepancies can be found. The only caveat is that you have to be very accurate in counting or you could inadvertently trigger a witnessed recount.

I totally agree that with automated med systems, if a medication hasn't been approved/verified by pharmacy, it would not populate on the system (which can be frustrating if you urgently need a med) but it's also set up this way as a safety feature for pharmacists to verify meds ordered with a pt's med lists, interactions, allergies, prior to dispensing. There are those meds that may be needed for emergencies which one can override. In emergency settings like the OR, ICU, PACU where a pt's state may change rapidly and in a spur's moment, the override feature is at its best funtion (but these settings also have providers at bedside to give the verbal approval). I hate pyxis because some hospitals complement the pyxis with the manual-draws that you mentioned. I find this unsafe and even tedious. I think the manual counting of controlled substances is outdated and newer systems like the omnicell should be in place to avoid this. The return and waste feature is amazing on the Omnicell. With Omnicell, you can also waste your meds using the "anywhereRN" feature on your COW...basically on the go with another RN sign off. Pyxis system does not offer this...at least not that I know of. But thanks for the input. I feel that as you use Omnicell more, you will find it to be better than pyxis.

0 Votes
Specializes in Surgical, CVICU & Oncology, Med/Surg.
I currently use Omnicell and used Pyxis in the past. I find the user interface of the Omnicell very nice to use but honestly it can be a little frustrating sometimes when you want to waste or return as it's not a obvious workflow and I end up messing it up. Pyxis tended to be more straightforward but wasn't as pretty.

I had some of your frustration when I first started using Omnicell but over time and as I learned more of its functionalities, I have come to love the system

0 Votes

Our facility has Pyxis brand cabinets. In fact, they just upgraded/replaced our Pyxis cabinets with newer versions a while back. I've used both. I don't see much of a difference in my personal experience. More - just making sure one knows how to use what they are working with.

For what it's worth, we do not return anything to the Pyxis in our department - goes to our satellite pharmacy for restocking or wasting (ex. something that should be refrigerated but has been out of the cabinet too long).

On another mostly unrelated note - one of my former hospitals used Pyxis machines for their medication dispensing, but used an Omnicell cabinet for most supplies.

0 Votes
Specializes in Burn, ICU.

I'm at a hospital that uses Pyxis for meds and Omnicell for disposables. I'm sure there are different models of Omnicells but our current ones are over 6 feet tall and about 18" deep...I can't see the practicality of storing tiny pill packets in one! Are there drawers inside yours? Granted, they'd be great for IV meds and bags of fluid.

Our pills and syringe meds come from Pyxis where they are in nice flat drawers; each compartment within each drawer has its own electric lid so you can't accidentally pull from the wrong pocket. Our IV fluids, on the other hand, are loose on shelves with no inventory control.

0 Votes
I totally agree that with automated med systems, if a medication hasn't been approved/verified by pharmacy, it would not populate on the system (which can be frustrating if you urgently need a med) but it's also set up this way as a safety feature for pharmacists to verify meds ordered with a pt's med lists, interactions, allergies, prior to dispensing. There are those meds that may be needed for emergencies which one can override. In emergency settings like the OR, ICU, PACU where a pt's state may change rapidly and in a spur's moment, the override feature is at its best funtion (but these settings also have providers at bedside to give the verbal approval). I hate pyxis because some hospitals complement the pyxis with the manual-draws that you mentioned. I find this unsafe and even tedious. I think the manual counting of controlled substances is outdated and newer systems like the omnicell should be in place to avoid this. The return and waste feature is amazing on the Omnicell. With Omnicell, you can also waste your meds using the "anywhereRN" feature on your COW...basically on the go with another RN sign off. Pyxis system does not offer this...at least not that I know of. But thanks for the input. I feel that as you use Omnicell more, you will find it to be better than pyxis.

You can with Pyxis as well. It depends on what version you have.

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment