FFF Enterprises Debuts VERIFIED(TM) Inventory Program Consignment (VIPc) at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Midyear Meeting

New Program Utilizes RFID Technology to Continuously Monitor the Inventory of Critical-Care Products, Freeing Providers to Focus on Patient Care While Reducing Inventory Costs


TEMECULA, CA--(Marketwired - Dec 17, 2013) - On Monday, December 9, 2013, FFF Enterprises launched its VERIFIED™ Inventory Program-Consignment (VIPc) at the Midyear Meeting of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) in Orlando, Fla. This state-of-the-art, passive RFID technology is exclusive to FFF, and is poised to revolutionize the consignment marketplace.

More than mere consignment, VIPc provides inventory management utilizing advanced RFID technology that eliminates carrying costs, and invoices only when products are used. The system continuously monitors critical-care inventory to ensure the right amount of product is on-hand and automatically replenished as it is used. Furthermore, VIPc preemptively pulls and replaces product well before its beyond-use date, so there is no liability for expired product.

"VIPc is an innovative solution for healthcare providers that streamlines inventory management with no hidden fees or surprises," says Patrick M. Schmidt, chief executive officer, FFF Enterprises, Inc. "The system also provides real-time inventory alerts and immediate notification when temperatures fluctuate out of specifications -- all of these program benefits optimize inventory management and give providers more time to focus on patient care."

As the nation's largest distributor of plasma products and vaccines, FFF has historically discouraged the practice of consigning specialty pharmaceuticals, factor concentrates and other expensive biopharmaceuticals, due to the company's commitment to Guaranteed Channel Integrity™ that requires it to purchase product only from manufacturers and ship only to healthcare providers.

"Our previous policy was influenced by our strongly-held belief that unused, consigned products that are returned from a consignee are subject to pedigree requirements, even though title of ownership did not transfer," explains Schmidt. "VIPc takes our Guaranteed Channel Integrity to the next level by enabling us to track, trace, and verify a product's moment of use and previous storage location and conditions -- with absolute certainty."

Consequently, the increased real-time visibility of inventory provided with the RFID technology not only upholds FFF's long-held dedication to Guaranteed Channel Integrity, but furthers its mission of Helping Healthcare Care.

The VIPc interactive demonstration presented at ASHP was extremely well received by directors of pharmacy, pharmacists, supply chain executives and healthcare executives from around the United States who were impressed with its advanced capabilities and ease of use.

The VERIFIED Inventory Program-Consignment (VIPc) is the result of an exclusive partnership between FFF and MEPS Real-Time, Inc., and its Intelliguard® RFID Inventory Management System.

About FFF Enterprises, Inc.
Temecula-based FFF Enterprises is the largest and most trusted distributor of plasma products, vaccines and other biopharmaceuticals in the U.S. Founded in 1988, FFF is now in its 26th year with more than a billion dollars in annual sales and a flawless safety track record. FFF has taken a leadership position in regard to supply chain safety and innovation, setting new standards and pioneering industry firsts. FFF's commitment to Guaranteed Channel Integrity™ ensures that products are purchased only from the manufacturer and shipped only to healthcare providers, with additional steps taken to safely store, handle and ship products to ensure patient safety is never compromised. FFF's proprietary systems, Verified Electronic Pedigree™ and Lot-Track™, provide verification of this secure channel, and FFF's MyFluVaccine (www.MyFluVaccine.com) and VaxAmerica (www.VaxAmerica.com) are revolutionary vaccination programs that have added a new level of safety, convenience and reliability to both healthcare providers and consumers.

About MEPS Real-Time, Inc.
Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Carlsbad, Calif., MEPS Real-Time, Inc. (mepsrealtime.com) is a leading provider of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) solutions for the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. Its suite of Intelliguard® RFID Management Systems offer healthcare providers unprecedented real-time visibility of medical and pharmaceutical inventory to reduce supply chain costs, improve patient safety, increase efficiency of pharmacy and nursing staff, and enhance diversion prevention. Intelliguard® solutions include Medication Management, Inventory Management, and Kit and Tray Management Systems. MEPS, MEPS Real-Time and Intelliguard are registered trademarks and RFID Solutions for Critical Inventory are trademarks of MEPS Real-Time, Inc.

Contact Information:

For more information, contact:
Patrick M. Schmidt
(800) 843-7477, ext. 1121