Pneumatic tubing is an ancient invention, a system where carriers are sent through tubes with air; it’s been around as early as the 19th century. Slowly this has moved from an archaic invention into an essential part of multiple industries, and most notably as of late, hospitals.
Hospitals have become extremely overworked and understaffed following the pandemic. Shortages are common, waste is high, and care is overall lower than normal. Anything that works to increase efficiency and lower error is essential. Pneumatic tubes are one of those essential innovations.
Tubing in hospitals and nearby facilities allows for a few essential processes to occur incredibly fast. The University of Iowa, through their pneumatic tubing, can move medicine from pharmacy to hospital, lab tests from hospital to lab, and over 6,000 total carriers daily.
When it comes to tests this can save up to 25 minutes per test. This is a significant amount of time and is only made to be far more significant when the amount of tests and medicine moved daily in hospitals is considered. Today 16% of pharmaceutical inventory is wasted. A lot of that waste is due to tests that are processed too late or things lost in transit.
Pneumatic tubing streamlines this all. The increase in care and quality assurance due to less time wasted transferring materials and drugs cannot be overstates. While pneumatic tubes are not an end-all solution, they serve to help hospitals become more efficient and less of a hassle to those inside them.
Source: Swisslog Healthcare