Automated utilization driven inventory management

• US 10,650,925 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2013
• Issued: 05/12/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Utech, Thomas William, Jaskela, Maria Consolacion
• Primary Examiner(s): Go, John P
• Application Number:
  US13/931,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20140350952A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,510 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

Methods for automated inventory management are provided. In one aspect, a method includes receiving storage capability data for an item in a dispensing unit, retrospective usage data for the item in the dispensing unit, and an indicator of a minimum time period for which to stock the item in the dispensing unit. The dispensing unit includes a compartment assigned for storing stock of the item. The method also includes determining, based on the minimum time period for which to stock the item, the storage capability data, and the retrospective usage data, a minimum number of stock of the item to store in the compartment, and providing a notification indicating the determined minimum number of stock of the item to store in the compartment. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.

Claims

1. A system for automated inventory management of a healthcare item dispensing unit for a healthcare facility, the system comprising:

a memory comprising storage capability data for the dispensing unit, the dispensing unit comprising a first compartment assigned for storing stock of a plurality of items of an item type; and

one or more processors configured to;

monitor real time usage of the plurality of items of the item type;

automatically determine, based on monitoring the real time usage over a period of time, a minimum time period for which to stock a supply of the item type in the dispensing unit before a refill request is triggered for the item type;

receive an order for the item type, wherein the order includes a request for a plurality of item units;

based on monitoring the real time usage of the plurality of items of the item type, and in response to receiving the order;

determine a length of stay in a care area for at least one patient associated with the item type;

determine at least a current usage of the item type during a first period of time within the care area of the at least one patient;

determine a number of patients admitted to the care area during a second period of time; and

determine a minimum number of stock of the item type to store in the first compartment of the dispensing unit based on the determined length of stay, a number of new orders for the item type, the determined current usage of the item type during the first period of time within the care area, the determined number of patients admitted to the care area during a second period of time, and the minimum time period for which to stock the item supply;

automatically determine a first maximum number of stock of the item type that can be stored in the first compartment based on a volumetric space of an item unit of the item type when loaded into the first compartment;

automatically determine a second maximum number of stock of the item type that can be stored in a second compartment of the dispensing unit based on the determined first maximum number, the volumetric space of the item unit when loaded into the first compartment, and a change of volume between the first and second compartments;

automatically provide, in response to determining the minimum number of stock of the item type, a notification to a device remote from the system indicating the minimum number of stock of the item type to store in the first compartment;

determine a number of stock of the item type to store in the first compartment; and

if the number of stock of the item type to store in the first compartment exceeds the first maximum number of stock of the item type that can be stored the first compartment, provide a notification assigning the second compartment for storage of one or more of the item units based on the determined second maximum number.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors is further configured to send a request for additional stock for the item type when the minimum number of stock of the item type to store in the first compartment is less than a current stock of the item type in the compartment.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the minimum time period comprises a minimum number of days for which to have the item type in stock in the dispensing unit.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the storage capability data comprises a user-defined minimum number of stock of the item type to store in the first compartment.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the one or more processors is further configured to change the user-defined minimum number of stock of the item type to store in the first compartment to the determined minimum number of stock of the item type to store in the first compartment when the determined minimum number of stock of the item type to store in the first compartment is greater than a threshold defined by the user.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

determine, based on the real time over a period of time usage, at least one of a daily average use of the item type from the first compartment or a daily maximum use of the item from the first compartment.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the length of stay includes an average length of stay, and wherein the number of stock of the item type to store in the compartment is determined based on an average daily item usage indicated by the order and the average length of stay.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the length of stay includes an individual average daily item usage for the item type, and wherein the one or more processors is further configured to:

determine a care area average daily item usage for the item type based on the individual average daily item usage for the item type and an average number of patients associated with the item that are admitted during the second period of time;

update the minimum number of stock of the item type to store in the first compartment based on the care area average daily item usage for the item type and the minimum time period for which to stock the item type;

wherein the number of stock of the item type to store in the first compartment is determined based on the care area average daily item usage for the item type and a maximum time period for which to stock the item type.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

determining that there is a respective item unit of a respective item not stocked in the dispensing unit that meets or exceeds a need for a scheduled time period; and

sending, based on determining that the respective item unit is not stocked, a notification to load stock of the respective item type to the dispensing unit, including a suggestion of a particular compartment to load the stock of the respective item type, a minimum number of stock of the respective item type to store in the particular compartment, and a maximum number of stock of the respective item type that can be stored in the particular compartment; and

receiving, after sending the notification, a user acceptance or rejection of the compartment.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

cause the dispensing unit to deploy the compartment for storing at least the minimum number of stock of the item type.

9. A method for automated inventory management of a healthcare item dispensing unit for a healthcare facility, the method comprising:

monitoring real time usage of a plurality of items of an item type associated with care of patients in a care area;

automatically determine, based on monitoring the real time usage over a period of time, a minimum time period for which to stock a supply of the item type in the dispensing unit before a refill request is triggered for the item type;

receive an order for the item type, wherein the order includes a request for a plurality of item units;

based on monitoring the real time usage of the plurality of item of the item type, and in response to receiving the order;

determining a length of stay in the care area for at least one patient associated with the item type;

determining a current usage of the item type during a first period of time within the care area;

determining a number of patients admitted to the care area during a second period of time; and

determining a minimum number of stock of the item type to store in a first compartment of the dispensing unit based on the determined minimum time period for which to stock the item supply, a storage capability of the dispensing unit, the determined length of stay, a number of new orders for the item type, the determined current usage of the item type during a first period of time within the care area, and the determined number of patients admitted to the care area during a second period of time;

automatically determining a first maximum number of stock of the item type that can be stored in the first compartment of the dispensing unit based on a volumetric space of an item unit of the item type when loaded into the first compartment;

automatically determining a second maximum number of stock of the item type that can be stored in a second compartment of the dispensing unit based on the determined first maximum number, the volumetric space of the item unit when loaded into the first compartment, and a change of volume between the first and second compartments;

automatically providing, in response to determining the minimum number of stock of the item type, by the one or more computing devices, a notification to a device remote from the one or more computing devices, indicating the minimum number of stock of the item type to store in the first compartment;

determining a number of stock of the item type to store in the first compartment; and

if the number of stock of the item type to store in the first compartment exceeds the first maximum number of stock of the item type that can be stored the first compartment, provide a notification assigning the second compartment for storage of one or more of the item units based on the determined second maximum number.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising sending a request for additional stock for the item type when the minimum number of stock of the item type to store in the first compartment is less than a current stock of the item type in the first compartment.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the minimum time period comprises a minimum number of days for which to have the item in stock in the dispensing unit.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the storage capability comprises a user-defined minimum number of stock of the item type to store in the first compartment.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising changing the user-defined minimum number of stock of the item type to store in the first compartment to the determined minimum number of stock of the item type to store in the first compartment when the determined minimum number of stock of the item type to store in the first compartment is greater than a threshold defined by the user.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining, based on the real time over a period of time usage data, at least one of a daily average use of the item type from the compartment or a daily maximum use of the item type from the compartment.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the length of stay is an average length of stay, the method further comprising:

updating the minimum number of stock of the item type to store in the first compartment based on an average daily item usage for the item type, a number of the new orders of the item of the item type, and a value indicating a minimum number of days before the item type is reordered; and

wherein the maximum number of stock of the item type to store in the first compartment is determined based on an average daily item usage indicated by the order and the average length of stay for at least one patient associated with the item type.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the length of stay is an average length of stay, the method further comprising:

determining a care area average daily item usage for the item type based on an individual average daily item usage for the item type and an average number of patients associated with the item that are admitted during the second period of time;

updating the minimum number of stock of the item type to store in the compartment based on the care area average daily item usage for the item type and the minimum time period for which to stock the item type; and

determining a maximum number of stock of the item type to store in the first compartment based on the care area average daily item usage for the item type and a maximum time period for which to stock the item type.

18. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

causing the dispensing unit to deploy the first compartment for storing at least the minimum number of stock of the item type.

17. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising machine-readable instructions for causing a processor to execute a method for automated inventory management of a healthcare item dispensing unit for a healthcare facility, the method comprising:

monitoring real time usage of a plurality of items of an item type associated with care of patients in a care area;

automatically determine, based on monitoring the real time usage over a period of time, a minimum time period for which to stock an item supply of the item type in the dispensing unit before a refill request is triggered for the item type;

receive an order for the item type, wherein the order includes a request for a plurality of item units;

based on monitoring the real time usage of the plurality of items of the item type, and in response to receiving the order;

determining a length of stay in the care area for at least one patient associated with the item type;

determining a current usage of the item type during a first period of time within the care area;

determining a number of patients admitted to the care area during a second period of time; and

determining a minimum number of stock of the item type to store in a first compartment of the dispensing unit based on the determined minimum time period for which to stock the item supply, a storage capability of the dispensing unit, the determined length of stay, a number of new orders for the item type, the determined current usage of the item type during a first period of time within the care area, and the determined number of patients admitted to the care area during a second period of time;

automatically determine a first maximum number of stock of the item type that can be stored in the first compartment of the dispensing unit based on a volumetric space of an item unit of the item type when loaded into the first compartment;

automatically determine a second maximum number of stock of the item that can be stored in a second compartment of the dispensing unit based on the determined first maximum number, the volumetric space of the item unit when loaded into the first compartment, and a change of volume between the first and second compartments;

automatically providing, in response to determining the minimum number of stock of the item type, by the one or more computing devices, a notification to a device remote from the one or more computing devices, indicating the minimum number of stock of the item type to store in the compartment;

determining a number of stock of the item type to store in the first compartment; and

if the number of stock of the item type to store in the first compartment exceeds the first maximum number of stock of the item type that can be stored the first compartment, provide a notification assigning the second compartment for storage of the item type based on the determined second maximum number.

19. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 17, the method further comprising:

causing the dispensing unit to deploy the first compartment for storing at least the minimum number of stock of the item type.