At Flynns Pharmacy, we are committed to helping our patients manage their medications safely and effectively. One of the ways we do this is through Medication Dispensing Systems (MDS), which organise doses by day and time, making medication management simpler and more reliable.

Advanced solutions like the Tosho pouch system take this even further, offering clear benefits for both patients and carers. Here are 10 ways MDS improves patient outcomes:

1. Enhances Medication Adherence

MDS clearly organises each dose by day and time, helping patients, especially those with memory challenges or complex regimens, take the right medication at the right moment. This significantly reduces missed or extra doses, supporting consistent treatment and better health outcomes.

2. Provides Clear Visual Verification

With pre-sorted pouches or blister packs, patients and carers can instantly see whether a dose has been taken. The Tosho system enhances this by printing detailed patient and drug information on each pouch, making it easy for anyone to verify at a glance.

3. Simplifies Administration for Carers

For formal carers, MDS speeds up medication rounds and reduces the mental load of sorting multiple medications. Family or informal carers also benefit, as the system removes the stress and complexity of manually organising medicines.

4. Reduces Certain Medication Errors

Professionally prepared MDS minimises the risk of dosing mistakes or mixing up medications from multiple bottles. Automated systems like Tosho add an extra safety layer by mechanically dispensing tablets from pre-calibrated cassettes, reducing human error during packing.

5. Increases Patient Independence and Confidence

MDS empowers patients who might otherwise struggle to manage their medications, allowing them to take control safely. This independence boosts confidence and promotes a sense of autonomy in daily life.

6. Enables Structured Pharmacist Review

The regular cycle of preparing MDS packs encourages closer monitoring by pharmacists. This provides opportunities to review medication use, adjust prescriptions if needed, and offer timely counselling for patients.

7. Optimises Pharmacy Efficiency and Accuracy (Tosho-specific)

Automated pouch packing systems like Tosho improve pharmacy operations by handling large volumes efficiently. Integration with dispensing software ensures faster, accurate production and better stock control, freeing up pharmacists to focus on patient care.

8. Facilitates Advanced Safety Checks (Tosho-specific)

Technology such as the Pouch Inspector scans and verifies each pouch’s contents against prescriptions. This provides a documented quality check that manual methods cannot easily achieve, giving carers and patients extra reassurance.

9. Reduces Medication Waste

Structured supply cycles and timely administration through MDS ensure medications are taken as intended. This can reduce stockpiling and minimise waste, benefiting both patients and the healthcare system.

10. Supports Broader Healthcare System Goals

By improving adherence and reducing errors, MDS contributes to better management of chronic conditions. This can lead to fewer preventable hospital admissions and lower healthcare costs, helping the system work more efficiently for everyone.

At Flynns Pharmacy, we are proud to offer MDS solutions, including the advanced Tosho pouch system, to support safer, simpler and more effective medication management. Speak to one of our pharmacists today to see how MDS can make a difference for you or your loved ones.