BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), a leading global medical technology company, announced a pharmacy automation partnership with Henry Ford Health to shape the “pharmacy of the future.” The initiative will begin with the deployment of a robotic prescription solution designed to give patients around-the-clock access to select medications-24 hours a day, seven days a week.
This first-of-its-kind collaboration in the U.S. will leverage the BD Rowa Vmax, a cutting-edge pharmacy automation robot widely adopted in Europe. The solution will be integrated into Henry Ford Health’s hospital-based community pharmacies across Southeast and Central Michigan, reinforcing the health system’s commitment to patient-centered innovation and improved access to care.
“Modern pharmacy needs industrial-grade reliability and human-centered design. That’s the driving force behind our High Value Pharmacy Enterprise – uniting every pharmacy touchpoint under one vision to deliver safer care, better access and measurable outcomes,” said Jennifer Tryon, MS, FASHP, chief pharmacy officer at Henry Ford Health. “This partnership with BD advances that vision. By introducing this automation, we free our teams to focus on high-impact, patient-centered work. It’s a bold step toward transforming how we serve our patients, our communities and our industry.”
Also Read: Digi International Launches Connect EZ 4 WS for Medical Use
Transforming Patient Access with Pharmacy Automation
The BD Rowa™ Vmax is a high-speed, modular, large-capacity robotic storage system that automates the safe and accurate dispensing of prescriptions. By integrating this technology into pharmacy operations, Henry Ford Health will offer patients greater convenience—whether picking up medications from a community location or receiving them immediately upon hospital discharge.
Key benefits of the collaboration include:
-
Enhanced patient experience through automation in community pharmacies.
-
High-capacity automated storage and retrieval, boosting accuracy and efficiency.
-
24/7 prescription pickup, ensuring convenience and continuity of care.
-
Real-time tracking with scalable modular design.
-
Secure housing for prescriptions, refrigerated medications, supplies, and OTC products.
“Henry Ford Health has one of the most innovative and patient-centered visions for what a health system pharmacy can do for patients,” said Chad Glover, vice president and general manager of Pharmacy Automation at BD. “BD’s robotics and pharmacy automation technologies are well aligned to support such a vision, and we are looking forward to this initial implementation as well as future collaborations to further advance Henry Ford Health‘s hospital and community pharmacies.”