EMS1’s Spotlight articles introduce the products and services of a valued sponsor in their own words. This article shines a spotlight on BD, a global medical technology company dedicated to improving medical discovery, diagnostics and the delivery of care. Bill Hertz, Direction of Marketing, Medication Administration, provides background on the company.
Where did your company name originate from?
BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) was founded in 1897 by Maxwell Becton and Fairleigh Dickinson. For over 125 years, BD has been known for innovation in medication management and advancing the world of health.
What is your signature product and how does it work?
BD Pyxis™ MedBank™ is a secure, automated medication dispensing solution built to help EMS professionals safeguard controlled substances, simplify inventory workflows, and support regulatory compliance.
Using bio‑ID fingerprint authentication and role‑based credentials, MedBank™ ensures only authorized team members can access medications. Controlled substances are stored in secure CUBIE™ pockets that open only when a user selects the specific medication on the touchscreen. This prevents unauthorized access and reduces the risk of diversion.
Each transaction is automatically tracked, including user, date/time, quantity, lot numbers and expiration, giving agencies full visibility and a reliable audit trail without manual paperwork.
Why do you believe your products are essential to the EMS and fire community?
EMS and fire agencies rely on accurate, compliant medication management, and often operate under intense time pressure. BD Pyxis™ MedBank™ solution delivers a combination of security, efficiency, and visibility that directly addresses these challenges:
- Medication security: Bio‑ID fingerprint authentication and secure CUBIE™ pockets provide single‑line medication access, reducing diversion risks.
- Automated discrepancy management: Near real‑time reporting helps agencies quickly identify and resolve discrepancies.
- Inventory & expiration management: Near real time inventory insights and configurable par levels help improve medication availability and reduce waste.
- Electronic logbook: Automatic documentation replaces manual paper logs, saving time and reducing errors.
With a cloud‑based platform, agencies can monitor multiple stations, track usage trends, manage permissions, and run compliance reports from one place.
What do your customers like best about you and your products?
Customers consistently highlight:
- Full visibility into inventory: Clear tracking of when medications are received, stored and dispensed, including expirations and usage trends.
- Customizable reporting: Customizable reports for audits, compliance reviews and operational insights.
- Ease of use: Intuitive, user‑friendly software.
- Support for compliance: Helps agencies meet state and federal regulatory requirements for controlled‑substance management.
What is the most rewarding part of serving the first responder/local government community?
The most rewarding part of serving EMS and fire professionals is helping them stay focused on what matters most – caring for their communities. By providing secure, reliable medication management tools, we help ensure the medications they need are available, tracked and protected, so they can dedicate their time to patient care, not paperwork.