Jena, April 28, 2026. The Universitätsklinikum Jena (UKJ) is undergoing a profound modernization of its pharmaceutical supply. By using blister machines and digital medication cabinets, the hospital is actively addressing errors in tablet dispensing and specifically relieving the nursing staff on the wards.
- Topic: Introduction of digital medication systems
- Location: Universitätsklinikum Jena (UKJ)
- Technology: Blister machines and networked medication cabinets
- Responsibility: Institut für Krankenhauspharmazie (Andreas Iffland)
- Goal: Maximum patient safety and error prevention during shift work
Combating Sources of Error in the Night Shift
Fatigue during night shifts or stress on fully occupied wards are well-known risk factors in daily clinical routine. The Universitätsklinikum Jena is addressing this directly and is increasingly leaving the error-prone manual preparation of medication to modern technology. Andreas Iffland, department head at the Institut für Krankenhauspharmazie, is overseeing this digitalization process, which, according to the clinic, sets new standards in patient care.
The new blister machines in the central pharmacy portion the tablets for individual patients and seal them in small pouches, known as blisters. These are printed with the patient’s name and the exact time of administration. On the wards themselves, digital medication cabinets are also used, which regulate access and automatically document every withdrawal. This saves the nursing staff valuable time, which can flow directly into actual patient care.
Background: The UKJ in Jena-Lobeda
The Universitätsklinikum in the district of Lobeda is the only one of its kind in all of Thüringen and, as a maximum care provider, serves patients from a wide area. The digitalization of the medication supply is a central component in further increasing the quality of treatment while simultaneously addressing the nationwide shortage of skilled nursing staff.
Automated “blistering” virtually eliminates human errors that can occur during manual sorting. Especially for elderly or chronically ill patients who must take a variety of different preparations (polypharmacy), automated sorting and verification by the hospital pharmacy offers the highest level of safety against potential drug interactions.
Transparency Note: This article was automatically generated, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.