System and method for management of pharmacy workflow

• US 20040088187A1
• Filed: 10/30/2002
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ArXium, Inc. (Van Humbeck Family)
• Original Assignee: AutoMed Technologies Incorporated (Cencora, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schultz, David A., Chudy, Duane S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,860,724 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/66 Trinkets, e.g. shirt buttons or jewellery items recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• 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

A system and method for optimized management of pharmacy workflow, specifically, workflow associated with fulfillment of prescription orders for medications and health-related products in a pharmacy environment. A computer-controlled system coordinates and controls pharmacy workflow to sequence prescriptions for fulfillment in a most efficient path thereby minimizing a cost function associated with fulfillment of the prescription order. The system coordinates and controls prescription order fulfillment from automated and non-automated storage locations and can be easily adapted to the specific layout and level of automation desired by the operator.

Claims

1. A system for optimized management of workflow associated with fulfillment of medication prescription orders in a personnel-driven pharmacy operation, each prescription order including at least one prescription, and for minimizing a pharmacy workflow cost function associated with the fulfillment of the prescription orders, the system comprising:

a plurality of spaced-apart medication storage locations;

a medication inventory including plural medications stored at predetermined storage locations;

a control computer electronically connected to a pharmacy information system, said control computer configured to receive the prescription orders provided by the pharmacy information system and being programmed to perform the workflow optimization, said control computer including;

a medication inventory database adapted to describe the medications stored at each predetermined storage location;

a prescription order database adapted to store the received prescription orders;

programmed instructions adapted to;

minimize the cost function associated with fulfillment of the prescription orders stored in the prescription order database, said programmed instructions enabling;

(1) for each prescription within the prescription order, selection of the medication storage location from which to obtain the medication required to fulfill the prescription; and

(2) for each prescription order, determination of a prescription sequence corresponding to the sequence in which each prescription is fulfilled, first to last, within the prescription order;

present in human-readable form, for each prescription order, the prescription sequence and the storage location of the medication comprising each sequenced prescription to direct the personnel to the storage locations, first to last, according to the prescription sequence; and

generate a print_label command; and

a label printer electronically connected to the control computer configured to print a label including prescription information and machine-readable indicia for each sequenced prescription responsive to the print_label command, said label being adapted for application to a container for each prescription within the prescription order.

2. The system of claim 1 further including a work station, said work station having:

a display device electronically connected to the control computer, said display device adapted to visually present the prescription sequence; and

an input device electronically connected to the control computer configured to permit selection of each sequenced prescription.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the prescription sequence includes, for each sequenced prescription:

text information;

medication image information; and

an icon representing each storage location corresponding to the sequenced prescription.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the work station further includes:

a printer electronically connected to the control computer, said printer being adapted to print a sequence sheet; and

the sequence sheet includes the prescription sequence printed thereon including the machine-readable indicia for each sequenced prescription, said sequence sheet being adapted to be manually carried to each storage location as directed by the prescription sequence.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the control computer further includes preprogrammed instructions adapted to:

receive an initiate_dispense signal before obtaining each prescription in the order, said initiate_dispense signal being triggered by the input device;

receive a medication_dispensed signal during or after obtaining each prescription in the order; and

the print_label command is generated in response to agreement between the initiate_dispense signal and the medication_dispensed signal.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein the work station further includes a work station computer electronically connected to the control computer and the input device includes a reader device electronically connected to the workstation computer, the work station computer including preprogrammed instructions for validating each prescription order before release of the prescription order, said instructions being adapted to:

receive a first validation signal generated by selecting, with the input device, a prescription from the prescription sequence presented on the display device;

receive a second validation signal generated by reading, with the reader device, the machine-readable indicia on the label applied to the container corresponding to each selected prescription;

determine agreement between the first and second validation signals; and

release the prescription order after agreement for each prescription is determined.

7. The system of claim 2 wherein the control computer further includes preprogrammed instructions adapted to determine the sequence of prescriptions within the prescription order which minimizes total time required to fulfill the prescription order, thereby minimizing the cost function.

8. The system of claim 2 wherein the control computer further includes preprogrammed instructions adapted to determine the sequence of prescriptions within the prescription order which minimizes total distance traveled between medication storage locations required to fulfill the prescription order, thereby minimizing the cost function.

9. The system of claim 2 wherein the control computer further includes preprogrammed instructions adapted to determine the sequence of prescriptions within the prescription order which minimizes a weighted sum of the total time required to fulfill the prescription order and the total distance traveled between medication storage locations required to fulfill the prescription order, thereby minimizing the cost function.

10. The system of claim 2 wherein the prescription order is a first prescription order and the control computer further includes preprogrammed instructions adapted to determine the sequence of prescriptions within the first prescription order which avoids simultaneous dispensing from the same storage location with prescription orders to be filled immediately after the first prescription order, thereby minimizing the cost function.

11. A method of managing pharmacy workflow for fulfillment of prescription orders from a medication inventory including medications stored at plural storage locations and for minimizing a cost function associated with said prescription order fulfillment, in a personnel-driven pharmacy operation comprising, the steps of:

receiving the prescription orders into an electronic database stored on a control computer, each prescription order comprising at least one prescription;

by means of preprogrammed instructions;

for each prescription within each prescription order, selecting the medication storage location from which to obtain the medication required to fulfill the prescription according to the minimized cost function; and

for each prescription order, determining a prescription sequence in which each prescription is fulfilled within the prescription order, first to last, according to the minimized cost function;

for each prescription order, presenting in human-readable form the prescription sequence and the storage location of the medication for each sequenced prescription to direct the personnel to each presented storage location, first to last, according to the prescription sequence; and

for each prescription order, fulfilling each prescription in the prescription sequence, first to last, by;

obtaining the required medication from the selected storage location;

printing a label including information and machine-readable indica identifying the prescription; and

applying the label to a container holding the required medication.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of determining the prescription sequence comprises sequencing the prescriptions within the prescription order to minimize total time required to fulfill the prescription order, thereby minimizing the cost function.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of determining the prescription sequence comprises sequencing the prescriptions within the prescription order to minimize total distance traveled between medication storage locations required to fulfill the prescription order, thereby minimizing the cost function.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of determining the prescription sequence comprises sequencing the prescriptions within the prescription order wherein the cost function is a weighted sum of the total time required to fulfill the prescription order and the total distance traveled between medication storage locations required to fulfill the prescription order.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of determining the prescription sequence comprises sequencing the prescriptions within the prescription order to avoid simultaneous dispensing from the same storage location of other prescription orders, thereby minimizing the cost function.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising, the steps of:

before the fulfilling step for each prescription, providing an initiate_dispense signal;

during or after the obtaining step for each prescription, providing a medication_dispensed signal;

automatically comparing the initiate_dispense signal and the medication_dispensed signal; and

generating a print_label command if the signals are in agreement, said print_label command causing a printer to print the label.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein:

the presenting step further comprises presenting the prescription sequence on a visual display device, said prescription sequence including for each prescription, text information, medication image information and an icon representing the storage location corresponding to the prescription; and

the step of providing the initiate_dispense signal comprises selecting one of the sequenced prescriptions on the display.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein:

the presenting step further comprises printing the prescription sequence on a sequence sheet, said prescription sequence including for each prescription, text information, medication image information, machine-readable indicia identifying the prescription and an icon representing the storage location corresponding to the prescription; and

the step of providing the initiate_dispense signal comprises scanning the machine-readable indicia corresponding to one sequenced prescription.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the machine-readable indicia on the sequence sheet is a bar code.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising, after the fulfilling step for all prescriptions within the prescription order, performing a prescription order validation, comprising the steps of:

presenting the prescriptions within the prescription order on a display device for prescription order validation;

for each prescription, providing a first validation signal corresponding to selection of the prescription;

for each prescription, providing a second validation signal by reading the machine-readable indicia on the label applied to the container of the selected prescription;

automatically comparing the first and second validation signals for agreement between the signals; and

releasing the prescription order after agreement for each prescription is determined.

21. The method of claim 20 further including, before the releasing step, the step of visually comparing a medication stock image with the obtained medication.

22. The method of claim 20 further including, before the presenting step, the steps of:

entering a personal identification code for a person indicating authority to validate the prescription order; and

if the code is valid, permitting the person to validate the prescription order or, if the code is not valid, blocking the person from validating the prescription order.

23. The method of claim 11 further including, before the selecting step, the step of selecting between automatic and manual dispense modes.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of selecting the manual display mode comprises selecting a patient prescription order from among orders displayed on the display device.

25. The method of claim 11 further including a replenishment process comprising, the steps of:

monitoring the quantities of medication in inventory;

comparing the quantities with predetermined replenishment levels; and

automatically ordering additional medications when the quantities in inventory are below the predetermined replenishment level.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising, the steps of:

scanning a machine-readable indicia on a container of the additional medication;

identifying for an operator a medication storage location corresponding to the additional medication;

scanning a machine-readable indicia at the identified storage location;

if there is agreement between the identified storage location and the scanned indicia on the medication container, directing the operator to replenish the medication; and

automatically updating the quantity of medication in inventory.

27. An integrated pharmacy workflow system in a personnel-driven pharmacy operation including automated and manual processes for fulfillment of medication prescription orders, each prescription order including at least one prescription, such system adapted to minimize a pharmacy workflow cost function associated with fulfillment of the prescription orders, the system comprising:

at least one automated dispensing apparatus, each apparatus automatically dispensing medications from a plurality of medication storage locations;

at least one manually-accessed medication storage apparatus, each apparatus having a plurality of spaced-apart medication storage locations;

a medication inventory including plural medications stored at predetermined storage locations;

at least one input/output apparatus, each apparatus including a visual display and an input device;

at least one label printer adjacent to the automated dispensing apparatus and the manually-accessed medication storage apparatus;

a controller electronically connected to;

(1) a pharmacy information system adapted to provide prescription orders;

(2) the at least one automated dispensing apparatus;

(3) the at least one input/output device;

(4) the at least one label printer;

(5) a medication inventory database adapted to describe the medications stored at each predetermined storage location; and

(6) a prescription order database adapted to store prescription orders received from the pharmacy information system, said controller having preprogrammed workflow management instructions adapted to;

minimize the cost function associated with fulfillment of the prescription orders stored in the prescription order database, said preprogrammed instructions enabling;

(1) for each prescription within the prescription order, selection of the medication storage location from which to obtain the medication required to fulfill the prescription;

(2) for each prescription order, determination of a prescription sequence in which each prescription is fulfilled, first to last, within the prescription order;

display on at least one display device the prescription sequence for each prescription order including the storage location of the medication corresponding to each sequenced prescription to direct the personnel to each displayed storage location, first to last, according to the prescription sequence; and

generate a print_label command to one label printer for each prescription in the prescription order, said command including prescription information for application to the label.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the at least one automated dispensing apparatus comprises:

a first automated dispensing apparatus adapted to automatically dispense bulk-form medications from bulk-form medication storage locations; and

a second automated dispensing apparatus adapted to automatically dispense pre-packaged form medications.

29. The system of claim 27 wherein the preprogrammed instructions enable display of the prescription sequence on the display device, including for each prescription, text information, medication image information and an icon representing the storage location corresponding to the sequenced prescription.

30. The system of claim 27 wherein the preprogrammed instructions enable, for each sequenced prescription within the prescription order:

generation of an initiate_dispense signal triggered from one of the input devices;

generation of a medication_dispensed signal signifying collection of the medication corresponding to the sequenced prescription;

an automatic comparison of the initiate_dispense signal and the medication_dispensed signal; and

generation of the print_label command if the signals are in agreement, said print_label command causing the label printer to print the label.

31. The system of claim 30 further including:

a reader electronically connected to the controller, said reader being configured to read machine-readable indicia;

a printer electronically connected to the controller, said printer being adapted to print a sequence sheet including the prescription sequence; and

the sequence sheet includes the prescription sequence printed thereon, such prescription sequence further including machine-readable indicia for each sequenced prescription, said sequence sheet being adapted to be manually carried to each storage location as directed by the prescription sequence.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the prescription sequence on the sequence sheet further includes, for each prescription, text information, medication image information. and an icon representing the storage location corresponding to the sequenced prescription.

33. The system of claim 31 wherein the preprogrammed instructions enable, for each sequenced prescription within the prescription order, generation of the initiate_dispense signal triggered by reading the sequence sheet machine-readable indicia with the reader.

34. The system of claim 30 wherein one of the input apparatus includes a reader device and the controller further includes preprogrammed instructions for validating each prescription order before completing fulfillment of the prescription order, said instructions being adapted to:

receive a first validation signal generated by selecting, with one input apparatus, a prescription from the prescription order presented on the display device;

receive a second validation signal generated by reading, with the reader device, the machine-readable indicia on the label applied to the container corresponding to each selected prescription;

determine agreement between the first and second validation signals; and

release the prescription order after agreement for each prescription is determined.

35. The system of claim 27 wherein the controller comprises a network of computers.

36. The system of claim 27 wherein the controller further includes preprogrammed instructions adapted to determine the sequence of prescriptions within the prescription order which minimizes total time required to fulfill the prescription order, thereby minimizing the cost function.

37. The system of claim 27 wherein the controller further includes preprogrammed instructions adapted to determine the sequence of prescriptions within the prescription order which minimizes total distance traveled between medication storage locations required to fulfill the prescription order, thereby minimizing the cost function.

38. The system of claim 27 wherein the control computer further includes preprogrammed instructions adapted to determine the sequence of prescriptions within the prescription order which minimizes a weighted sum of total time required to fulfill the prescription order and total distance traveled between medication storage locations required to fulfill the prescription order, thereby minimizing the cost function.

39. The system of claim 27 wherein the prescription order is a first prescription order and the controller further includes preprogrammed instructions adapted to determine the sequence of prescriptions within the first prescription order which avoids simultaneous dispensing of co-pending prescription orders from the same storage location, thereby minimizing the cost function.