Apparatuses, systems, and methods for transporting medications from a central pharmacy to a patient in a healthcare facility
First Claim
1. A method for inventory management of a medication unit dose storage device, the method comprising:
- receiving, within the storage device, a plurality of unit dose medications of a plurality of medication types;
identifying, for each of the plurality of unit dose medications, medication information associated with the respective unit dose medication;
providing for storage of the plurality of unit dose medications, each unit dose medication stored in a uniquely identified storage location within the storage device;
monitoring contents of the storage device;
providing, via a communications interface, an indication of removal of one or more of the plurality of unit dose medications;
determining demand for a first medication type;
determining a future shortage of the first medication type in response to the determined demand; and
generating a restock request for the first medication type.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Provided herein are various apparatuses, systems, and methods for improving the efficiency of medication distribution within a healthcare facility. In particular, embodiments may provide for dispensing medications needed and medications anticipated to be needed to an authorized medical person for administration to a patient in a healthcare facility. Methods may include receiving an indication of one or more unit dose medications anticipated to be needed by a patient; retrieving the one or more unit dose medications from a unit storage device; loading the one or more unit dose medications onto a transport device; transporting the one or more unit dose medications from the unit storage device to a location proximate the patient; and transferring the one or more unit dose medications from the transport device to a staging area at the location proximate the patient.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for inventory management of a medication unit dose storage device, the method comprising:
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receiving, within the storage device, a plurality of unit dose medications of a plurality of medication types; identifying, for each of the plurality of unit dose medications, medication information associated with the respective unit dose medication; providing for storage of the plurality of unit dose medications, each unit dose medication stored in a uniquely identified storage location within the storage device; monitoring contents of the storage device; providing, via a communications interface, an indication of removal of one or more of the plurality of unit dose medications; determining demand for a first medication type; determining a future shortage of the first medication type in response to the determined demand; and generating a restock request for the first medication type. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus comprising processing circuitry and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the processing circuitry, cause the apparatus to at least:
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receive, within a storage device, a plurality of unit dose medications of a plurality of medication types; identify, for each of the plurality of unit dose medications, medication information associated with the respective unit dose medication; provide for storage of the plurality of unit dose medications, each unit dose medication stored in a uniquely identified storage location within the storage device; monitor contents of the storage device; provide an indication of removal of one or more of the plurality of unit dose medications; determine demand for a first medication type; determine a future shortage of the first medication type in response to the determined demand; and generate a restock request for the first medication type. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An inventory control system comprising:
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a memory comprising medication unit dose storage information; and processing circuitry configured to; receive, within a storage device, a plurality of unit dose medications of a plurality of medication types; identify, for each of the plurality of unit dose medications, medication information associated with the respective unit dose medication; provide for storage of the plurality of unit dose medications, each unit dose medication stored in a uniquely identified storage location within the storage device; monitor contents of the storage device; provide an indication of removal of one or more of the plurality of unit dose medications; determine demand for a first medication type; determine a future shortage of the first medication type in response to the determined demand; and generate a restock request for the first medication type. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification