Tracking Technology in Hospital ORs - Omnicell Optiflex
While there is no pre-existing information to fully answer your question, we've used the available data to pull together key findings. Solution costs can vary widely depending on the size of the facility and sanitation needs. Also, first-year licensing and use is typically higher than subsequent years due to initial installation and training. Below you'll find an outline of our research methodology to better understand why information you've requested is publicly unavailable, as well as a deep dive into our findings.
Methodology
Omnicell has a range of solutions and products on the market, accompanied by plenty of brochures, press releases, financial quarterly reports, and more. We searched the company website for any costs associated with the OptiFlex solution. We did not find any examples of RFPs or government contracts through the Department of Health and Human Services or the Department of Defense that included Omnicell. When that did not turn up any information, we broadened our search to examples of hospitals or case studies that used the solution for any information. While we found several sets of hospitals using OptiFlex, these case studies provided no data on the cost of the solution.
Helpful Findings
Our only piece of insight into potential costs was an article published by the Australian digital healthcare solutions provider, ScanCare. The author notes that any attempt to ask for a price off the bat is most likely going to be met with questions about the organization's needs and requirements. Examples noted in the article include the following questions: Is tracking needed for...
... going through a washing process?
... assembly and packaging process?
... release of items through departments?
... use of sterile items when treating patients?
... return to sterilization units?
... batch tracking, laser etching, or scanning?
... integration with sterilizers and washers?
... prosthesis tracking?
These are questions additional to the obvious influence of scale, meaning how many operating rooms and facilities are being outfitted for the solution. The article breaks down seven main influencers on cost of inventory tracking technology:
1. What your organisation needs
2. What it is your organisation does
3. Software Licensing
4. Installation
5. Training
6. Hardware
7. Consumables
Other considerations could be an upfront fee versus a recurring fee for the product license. Is there a fee for support or is that optional? Cost of installation may raise the price for a first initial year. Training may be included or additional. We could not find any of this information for Ominicell's OptiFlex solution and suggest contacting them for more information. Average Costs as Per Facility Size
The following costs are published as of 2016, and most likely in AUD currency. I've taken their estimates from their article and published the US cost rounded out and based on the exchange rate of December 2016.
Small facility (1-2 procedure rooms)
Medium facility (2-4 procedures rooms)
Large facility (6-12 procedure rooms)
Very large facility (12-20 procedure rooms) Rankings
Top performing companies tend to have the highest cost for products. In 2016, Omnicell was #4 of the top-10 companies in the US Medical Software industry by revenues. This may give you an idea of their prices as compared to other industry leaders. Hospital Use
The OptiFlex solution utilizes Automated Physician Preference Cards (pg 4). Barcodes on each item let you add uses and charges to patients easily. The company offers a variety of dimensions and types of cabinets used in their solution to scale and customize the use.
OptiFlex has been noted for use in the following medical centers:
Conclusion
You can find a summary of our findings in your spreadsheet column H. We were unable to find a pricing scale specific to the Omnicell OptiFlex solution, but estimates for a generic solution range from $15,000-120,000 per year depending on facility size and needs.