System and method for drug management utilizing transferable labels

• US 20040243434A1
• Filed: 05/27/2003
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardinal Health Technologies, LLC (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cardinal Health Technologies, LLC (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Peterka, Michael Anthony, Martin, James Robert
• Granted Patent: US 6,994,249 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• 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 drug management using transferable labels provides a chain of identity for medications from their arrival in a pharmacy to administration to a patient. Drug information is read, in some embodiments optically, and imprinted on a transferable label optionally fabricated of low stretch, chemical resistant material, that is attached to the medication package. The transferable label is checked to make sure that it correctly corresponds to the drug information. At the time of preparation for administration, the transferable label is transferred from the medication package to the administration device, typically a syringe or dose cup. The health care giver scans the patient identification information, usually found on an identification bracelet, the transferable label, and optionally, a unique code belonging to the administering party. The system will reject non-matches between scanned inputs, and may be configured with a variety of safety steps, displays, and reports.

Claims

1. A method for drug management using transferable labels, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a medication package containing at least one medication and primary information;

applying a transferable label containing transferable label information expressed as machine readable code to the medication package, the transferable label information being at least relative to the medication;

scanning the transferable label with a drug information collection unit adapted to obtain the transferable label information from the transferable label;

communicating the transferable label information from the drug information collection unit to a computer system;

comparing the transferable label information and primary information obtained from the medication package;

preparing the medication for final administration in a patient administration vehicle if the transferable label information corresponds to the primary information;

transferring the transferable label from the medication package to the patient administration vehicle;

scanning a patient identification device with a data collection unit adapted to obtain patient identification information from the patient identification device and the transferable label;

scanning the transferable label with the data collection unit to obtain the transferable label information;

comparing the patient identification information and the transferable label information; and

administering the medication if the patient identification information corresponds to the transferable label information.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the step of:

communicating the patient identification information to the computer system and associating the patient identification information to at least one unique patient medical history file.

3. The method of claim 2, further including the step of:

scanning at least one administration identification device with the data collection unit further adapted to obtain administration identification information and communicating the administration identification information to the computer system.

4. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

scanning at least one administration identification device with the data collection unit, further adapted to obtain administration identification information, within a predetermined amount of time of scanning the patient identification device and communicating the administration identification information to the computer system; and

denying access to the patient medical history file if the time between the scanning of the patient identification device and the administration identification device exceeds the predetermined time limit.

5. The method of claim 2, further including the steps of:

comparing the transferable label information and the patient medical history file; and

generating and displaying a warning message on at least one warning device in communication with the computer system if comparing produces non-agreement between the transferable label information and the patient medical history file.

6. The method of claim 3, further including the steps of:

comparing the transferable label information, the patient medical history file, and the administration identification information; and

generating and displaying a warning message on at least one warning device in communication with the computer system if comparing produces non-agreement between any two of the transferable label information, the patient medical history file, and the administration identification information.

7. The method of claim 5, further including the step of:

generating an incident report if the comparing between the transferable label information and the patient identification information produces non-agreement.

8. The method of claim 6, further including the step of:

generating an incident report if comparing between any two of the transferable label information, the patient identification information, and the administration identification information, produces non-agreement.

9. The method of claim 7, further including the step of:

denying access to the unique patient medical history file following the generation of the incident report, the access being capable of restoration only by an authorized person.

10. The method of claim 8, further including the step of:

denying access to the unique patient medical history file following the generation of the incident report, the access being capable of restoration only by an authorized person.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of comparing the patient identification information and the transferable label information further includes:

communicating the patient identification information and the transferable label identification to the computer system.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

recording the administration of the medication on the data collection unit and communicating the administration to the computer system.

13. A system for drug management using transferable labels, the system comprising:

a computer system containing at least one unique patient medical history file and a plurality of medication information relative for each of a plurality of predetermined drugs;

a plurality of input means capable of receiving a plurality of information and communicating with the computer system;

a plurality of display means capable of displaying any of the plurality of information and communicating with the computer system;

at least one printer in communication with the computer system and capable of printing a transferable label containing transferable label information expressed as machine readable code corresponding to the information relative to the medication;

at least one transferable label, imprinted with the machine readable code; and

a patient administration vehicle for delivery of the medication to a patient.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of input means includes at least one drug information collection unit capable of reading machine readable code expressed on the transferable label.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the printer is further capable of affixing any of the at least one transferable labels to at least one medication package.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the machine readable code is a datamatrix code.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the machine readable code is a 2D datamatrix code having a capacity of up to 2335 characters in a 0.72 inch square.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the machine readable code contains an error correction code allowing for correct scanning with up to 50% of the code damaged.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one transferable label is a shaped as a tabbed label having an adhesive backing capable of multiple adhesion-removal cycles.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one transferable label is constructed of a material substantially resistant to alcohol and povidone-iodine solutions.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one transferable label is constructed of a low stretch material.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the low stretch material is polypropylene.

23. The system of claim 13, wherein the patient administration vehicle is a syringe.

24. The system of claim 13, wherein the patient administration vehicle is a dose cup.

25. A method for drug management using transferable labels, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a medication package containing at least one medication;

applying a transferable label containing transferable label information expressed as machine readable code to the medication package, the transferable label information being at least relative to the medication;

scanning the transferable label with a drug information collection unit adapted to obtain the transferable label information from the transferable label;

communicating the transferable label information from the drug information collection unit to a computer system;

comparing the transferable label information and primary information obtained from the medication package;

preparing the medication for final administration in a patient administration vehicle if the transferable label information corresponds to the primary information;

transferring the transferable label from the medication package to the patient administration vehicle;

scanning a patient identification device with a data collection unit adapted to obtain patient identification information from the patient identification device and the transferable label;

communicating the patient identification information to the computer system and associating the patient identification information to at least one unique patient medical history file;

scanning the transferable label with the data collection unit to obtain the transferable label information;

displaying on at least one display device at least a portion of the information contained in the computer system;

comparing the patient identification information and the transferable label information; and

administering the medication if the patient identification information corresponds to the transferable label information.