Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital Reduces Storage Footprint by 50% with Vertical Carousels
Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital Reduces Storage Footprint by 50% with Vertical Carousels
Challenge
Challenge
Moses H. Cone Hospital’s pharmaceutical network functions at a warehouse scale, fulfilling orders not only for its own facility but also for sister facilities and clinics within its broader healthcare system. Prior to implementing our solution, inventory was stored on static shelving units in cardboard bins, with technicians manually selecting items to fulfill a daily 24-hour cart supply.
This manual picking process was time-intensive, taking technicians approximately four hours to complete a single day’s worth of order fulfillment. Furthermore, the reliance on manual picking introduced a significant risk of errors, as the accuracy of each selection depended entirely on the technician’s precision. The hospital recognized the need for a more centralized, streamlined solution that would enhance both inventory accuracy and operational efficiency, ultimately reducing the potential for human error and optimizing workflow.
Solution
Solution
At Moses H. Cone Hospital, the integration of a vertical carousel system within their inpatient facility has provided a seamless interface with their electronic medical record system, as well as the clinics of their sister facilities. The hospital also customized the carousels with refrigeration and specialized doors to maintain the integrity of refrigerated medications.
Each clean-room is equipped with doors on both the interior and exterior, designed to ensure that one side can only open if the opposite side is securely closed. This system guarantees secure handling and access. Technicians working within the clean-room can monitor the carousel inventory via their console. Upon selection of a product, the carousel automatically closes the exterior door and opens the interior door, rotating to present the item at an ergonomic height. To comply with strict regulations, the carousel is also equipped with HEPA filtration, ensuring the safety and cleanliness of the environment.
Additionally, the system utilizes barcode scanning technology, enabling pharmacy technicians to assign unique barcodes to products. Once assigned, these barcodes are stored in the pharmacy’s database, creating an efficient, traceable link between the inventory and its associated barcode, further streamlining inventory management and enhancing accuracy.

Results
Results
Following the installation of vertical carousels at Moses Cone Hospital, the facility successfully streamlined operations, enhancing both accuracy and space utilization.
“Before the vertical carousels, we had 28 refrigerators in this area. We were able to consolidate all of that refrigerated inventory into a single carousel, with ample room to spare,” remarked Jim Mundy, the Assistant Director of Pharmacy. This transformation has not only optimized space but also significantly improved efficiency, safety, and productivity.
By incorporating advanced technology, the vertical carousels have halved the time and personnel previously required for replenishment tasks. This efficiency gain has allowed for a more strategic allocation of staff, enabling them to assume more specialized roles.
Furthermore, the system has greatly enhanced inventory management, centralizing storage and improving operational flow within the facility.