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Kirby Lester pioneered the pharmacy automation industry in 1971, and for the past five decades, pharmacists and technicians worldwide have counted on Kirby Lester machines to help them accurately and efficiently fill prescriptions and manage pharmacy inventory. Now, a new generation of the legendary counter continues the legacy of trust and reliability Kirby Lester devices have earned over many years of service in pharmacies of all sizes.
The KL1v is an eighth-generation product, and it represents the most significant technological advancement in Capsa’s Kirby Lester counter lineup. The KL1v was developed in close partnership with pharmacy users. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians provided input and feedback that guided the engineering teams as they designed our most advanced counting device ever.
This next-gen Kirby Lester device retains everything pharmacy users love about the previous models. The KL1v has the same compact footprint, meaning the device can fit into just about any space in all kinds of pharmacy environments. Whether you need a countertop device or an inventory management tool in the narcotics vault, the KL1v is designed to fit your use case. It may look a bit like its predecessor, but the KL1v is a revolutionary product, engineered to support pharmacists and pharmacy technicians with a device powered by industry-leading counting and inventory management technology.
One of the hallmarks of the Kirby Lester product line has always been value. The pharmacy business has significant overhead, and ROI matters when it comes to replacing devices or implementing new technology.
Hashim Zaibak is founder and CEO of Hayat Pharmacy, which encompasses 19 locations in the Milwaukee metro area. Hayat Pharmacy took part in Capsa’s pilot program to give feedback on the KL1v.
Since the first pharmacy opened its doors in 2011, Zaibak has insisted on Kirby Lester counters. Why? It comes down to accuracy, efficiency, and cost control.
“Most brand name oral solids are $20 or more per tablet or capsule,” Zaibak says. “If you miscount a tablet here or there, you are in the negative for the whole day, especially in the current PBM reimbursement environment. The same applies to controlled medications, which also can be expensive.”
Zaibak believes that Kirby Lester devices offer the features and functionality his business needs while providing excellent value. “I always look for technology that has a fast ROI,” he says. “There are a lot of gadgets and new software platforms out there. Some it seems to be expensive for the sake of being the shiniest or newest or flashiest. I look for technology that is within budget, and that will give us a quick ROI. Kirby Lester devices have always provided that fast return.”
The new KL1v pill counter is packed with innovative features designed to make filling prescriptions faster, easier, and less stressful for pharmacy staff. Arwa Kamil is the pharmacist in charge at one of Hayat’s 19 locations. Kamil has been using Kirby Lester counters for years, and she’s always appreciated how the devices make her job easier. “Some of our patients have up to 20 prescriptions to be filled,” she says. “Using a Kirby Lester counter is like having someone do half the work for you.”
For Kamil, the KL1v is a leap forward. Kamil and her staff agree that the device’s new touch screen interface offers better-than-ever visibility and functionality.
“On our older Kirby, those functions like partial pill indicator weren’t as apparent,” she says. “You could overlook them. Now with the new touch screen, you can’t miss anything. And the functions are just easy on the eyes. It’s like an intelligent navigation, but it’s still a very simple, friendly device to use. Nothing intimidating at all, just fast and easy.”
Chicago-based Kedvon Pharmacy was another pilot site for the KL1v. Yuliya Starr, pharmacist in charge at two Kedvon Pharmacy locations, agrees on how easy the device is to use. When she asked her staff about their experience with the KL1v, they were unanimous about how trouble-free the device is.
“They all found it easy to use, easy to clean,” she says. “Not bulky. Easy to maintain. The key word here is ‘easy.’ So many aspects of pharmacy are complicated or a headache. We are constantly problem-solving all day. It’s a relief that the KL1v was simple. No strings attached.”
Kamil has seen significant productivity gains using the KL1v. “Our retail pharmacy script volume was up 10% during the time we were part of this pilot program for Capsa. And using the new KL1v was a real asset. Even though we had higher workloads, our technicians didn’t feel it, because the new device helped them keep pace.”
Productivity gains are a tremendous benefit on their own, but the greater benefit, in Kamil’s view, is better patient care. “We are filling more scripts faster, freeing up our staff, not getting bogged down in manual tasks. That really does equal more time to focus on our patients and not on just filling,” she says.
Starr agrees that the KL1v is an essential asset for better care. “You need every second you have to talk to customers, grow your business, deal with other software,” she says. “So having worry-free counting of prescriptions was really welcome. We can focus. One less thing to worry about. We spend so much of our time on relationships with our customers.”
The Kirby Lester KL1v brings a significant upgrade in features and functionality, with an all-new graphical user interface, a new inventory mode, capabilities for handling non-standard pill shapes and gel caps, and more. But at its core, this next-gen device retains the Kirby Lester DNA that has made the counter legendary among pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
The KL1v offers industry-leading counting speed that works 55% faster than counting by hand. It builds on previous models to further refine the user experience for unparalleled convenience and ease of use. And, most important, it is another step toward fulfilling Capsa’s mission of helping healthcare professionals focus on what they do best: caring for patients.
Learn more about the next-generation KL1v