While the Eyecon is known for automated pill counting, the system is designed to handle unit of use (UoU) items, such as inhalers & sprays, injectables, blister packs, liquids, and other small dispensing units through its Hand Count feature. This allows pharmacies to run all prescriptions through a single, consistent validation process, regardless of whether the item is a loose tablet or a liquid, powder, or packaged unit.
How Hand Count Mode Works
The Hand Count feature lets pharmacists and technicians dispense any item while the Eyecon validates the drug, quantity, and staff member involved. When an item is scanned for the first time, the system asks whether it's a trained pill or a hand count. Selecting hand count brings up a simple interface: the target quantity on one side, dispensed quantity on the other.
For items with variable quantities—like liquids or powders—the Unit of Use button displays the total bottle size. You can either confirm the entire amount or key in a specific quantity. Once the correct amount is reached, the screen turns green and you can press Finish. The Eyecon then validates that the right drug at the right quantity was dispensed by the right person.
A Practical Example: Oral Medication Syrup
Consider dispensing Amantadine syrup at 25 milliliters. You scan the stock bottle's barcode, select Hand Count when prompted, and the Eyecon shows "0 dispensed, 25 target." Pressing Unit of Use reveals the bottle size (473 mL in this case). You key in 25 mL as your target pour amount. Once you've measured and dispensed that quantity, the indicator turns green. Press Finish, and the system records the completed fill with full validation.
Why One Process Matters
Many pharmacies prefer to run every prescription through the Eyecon, not just those with countable pills. Sending all prescriptions through one consistent workflow helps ensure a higher degree of quality throughout the pharmacy. Each fill generates a documented record of the drug, quantity, and technician, creating both an audit trail and a built-in safeguard against dispensing errors.
The Bottom Line
The Eyecon is more than a pill counter. The Hand Count feature extends the system's validation capabilities to any item in your pharmacy, ensuring that whether you're dispensing tablets, capsules, liquids, or blisters, every prescription is verified through the same rigorous process.
For more information on operating the Eyecon, visit https://eyeconvpc.com/manuals/.
.svg)
