Södertälje recaptures 800,000 annual minutes of nurse capacity

Valuing nurse time at 40 minutes per client per day

Södertälje Municipality partnered with Evondos for an eight-month pilot to gather robust data on the holistic impact of automated medicine dispensing (AMD). The goal was to prove the strategic value of a comprehensive, high-reliability solution by tracking the true return on investment (ROI) across operational capacity and patient outcomes. 

This case study demonstrates how moving beyond the unit price and focusing on the verifiable recovery of staff time — estimated at 40 minutes per client per day — translated into immense cost savings and improved quality of work, with the impact exceeding all expectations. This level of value and service is unmatched by low-cost alternatives, proving the wisdom of investing in a long-term partner.

The hidden cost of manual processes

The challenge: Inefficiency and reduced staff wellbeing

Södertälje understood that manual medication assistance was a drain on both efficiency and staff morale. The core challenge was twofold:

• Capacity hemorrhage: Routine medication visits, requiring physical presence multiple times a day, were consuming valuable nurse minutes that could be better used for complex care or rest.
• Staff stress: The inherent reliability demands of manual dispensing increased staff stress and compromised their professional quality of work.

The municipality needed a trusted partner and a complete solution that would ease the burden of repetitive, high-effort work while guaranteeing adherence and releasing the most valuable resource, nurse capacity. This decision was about long-term safety, trust, and quality behind the scenes.

The goal: Strategic metrics for municipal expansion

The pilot was intentionally designed to deliver quantifiable metrics that would justify a municipality-wide strategic roll-out. The key objectives were:

• 1. Measure capacity recovery: Determine the exact amount of nurse time saved compared to the manual process.
• 2. Validate clinical excellence: Achieve demonstrably high medication adherence rates and boost client autonomy.
• 3. Improve work quality: Reduce staff stress and improve the perceived quality of work life.

Evondos' comprehensive solution

Partnering for scale and reliability

Södertälje chose Evondos for its proven track record of successful, large-scale support and its ability to deliver high-volume, reliable service, enabling the pilot to focus exclusively on measuring benefits, not managing technology failures.

• Guaranteed dose delivery: The system provided reliable, on-schedule delivery, eliminating the need for frequent physical checks.
• Client empowerment: The system was intuitive enough that 83% of clients reported increased independence, successfully taking control of their daily medication schedule.
• Best-in-class reliability: Staff could trust the technology due to Evondos' proven reliability, allowing them to redirect their focus during shifts and reduce overall job stress.

Shifting workflow to proactive care

The success of the pilot allowed the municipality to begin shifting the entire workflow away from reactive medication prompts and toward proactive patient engagement.

Quantified value: The measurable return on investment

Outcome-driven results

The pilot confirmed the massive potential for cost savings and improved quality, securing the strategic value of the Evondos investment.

Workforce empowerment: Capacity creation

The operational efficiencies translated directly into quantifiable staff minutes recovered:

• 40 minutes per client per day saved: This direct time recovery exceeded expectations compared to the manual process.
• 800,000 minutes per year recaptured: Extrapolated over 50 clients, this equates to 800,000 minutes of staff capacity recovered annually, ready for reinvestment into complex patient needs.
• Reduced staff stress: Staff reported a significant improvement in the quality of their work due to the robot's reliability, tackling the issue of staff retention.

Outcome-driven care: Clinical excellence and autonomy

The investment delivered clear, superior patient outcomes:

• 98.6% medication adherence: The highly reliable Evondos service ensured nearly perfect adherence, which is critical for stabilising patient condition and preventing costly health deterioration.
• 83% client independence: The majority of clients reported increased independence and self-determination, fulfilling the primary goal of modern homecare.

Cost-conscious innovation: Confirmed savings potential

The data validated the strategic financial wisdom of the investment:

• Significant cost savings potential: The immense time savings confirmed the pilot's potential for immediate and long-term cost savings across the municipality.
• High ROI justification: The combination of time savings and clinical excellence provided an undeniable business case, proving that the cost of the premium solution was warranted by the strategic ROI. By including avoided errors, improved adherence and freed-up staff time, the total value became undeniable: It’s not what it costs today, it’s what it saves tomorrow.

Why Södertälje chose investment over low cost

For Södertälje, the investment in Evondos proved to be a fundamental commitment to operational excellence: They purchased guaranteed capacity, clinical reliability, and a verified pathway to cost savings, transforming a routine process into a strategic asset. 

The immense value of the Evondos full service — quality, safety and experienced partnership — ensured they could depend on the solution to achieve their strategic goals with no compromises.

Ready to see the Evondos impact for yourself? Speak to us today to find out how we can provide the long-term value and strategic partnership needed to future-proof your healthcare service.