Medication order processing and dispensing system

• US 20050033606A1
• Filed: 01/09/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions Health Services Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions Health Services Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Miller, Raymond F.
• Application Number:
  US10/755,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20050033606A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients

Abstract

A system enables a pharmacist to review a Physician initiated medication order prior to the order being entered into a pharmacy order processing system and to enter data identifying a correct product and a pathway of administration and drug vendor, that are compatible with a pharmacy inventory to fulfill the order. A system for use in dispensing medication includes an input processor for receiving data representing a first order to provide a particular medication to a particular patient. A search processor searches an inventory of medications to identify a plurality of candidate medications for the particular medication in response to the received first order. A display generator initiates generation of data representing at least one display image enabling a user to select a particular one of the candidate medications for dispensing. An order processor initiates processing order information to dispense a selected candidate medication in response to a user command entered via the at least one display image.

Claims

1. A system for use in dispensing medication, comprising:

an input processor for receiving data representing a first order to provide a particular medication to a particular patient;

a search processor for searching an inventory of medications to identify a plurality of candidate medications for said particular medication in response to said received first order;

a display generator for initiating generation of data representing at least one display image enabling a user to select a particular one of said candidate medications for dispensing; and

an order processor for initiating processing order information to dispense a selected candidate medication in response to a user command entered via said at least one display image.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said at least one display image enables a user to select a particular one of said candidate medications for dispensing before said order processor initiates processing of said order information.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said at least one display image enables a user to select items determining a dispensable order for said selected candidate medication including at least one item of,

(a) a method of administering said selected candidate medication to a patient,

(b) a dose of said selected candidate medication,

(c) a form of said selected candidate medication,

(d) a drug vendor of said selected candidate medication, and

(e) a dosage form strength indicator of said selected candidate medication.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein

said at least one display image enables a user to pre-populate a displayed form with at least one of said user selectable items.

5. A system according to claim 3, wherein

said at least one display image includes a displayed form automatically pre-populated with at least one of said user selectable items.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said data representing said first order includes at least one item of,

(a) a medication identifier,

(b) a drug vendor identifier,

(c) an identifier identifying a method of administration of a medication as well as the medication,

(d) an identifier identifying a method of administration, the medication and a form of the medication,

(e) an identifier of a form of a medication,

(f) a dosage form strength identifier,

(g) a packaged medication identifier,

(h) a method of administration identifier and

(i) a dispensable medication identifier.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein

said search processor searches said inventory of medications to identify a plurality of candidate medications for said particular medication using said at least one item.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said input processor receives data representing information identifying a clinical alert associated with said first order for said particular medication, and

said at least one display image displays said message identifying said clinical alert to a user in response to user command.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein

said information identifying said clinical alert associated with said first order comprises information indicating a clinical alert overridden by a physician.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein

said clinical alert is overridden by said physician during a process of placing said first order.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said at least one display image presents a view of said first order as prepared by a physician.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said data representing said first order includes a code identifying said particular medication and

said order processor compares said first order code with a code identifying said dispensed selected candidate medication to determine compatibility of said ordered and said dispensed medication.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein

said order processor compares said first order code with said code identifying said dispensed selected candidate medication by comparing code items including at least one of, (a) a medication identifier, (b) a medication vendor identifier, (c) an identifier identifying a method of administration of a medication and (d) an identifier of a form of a medication, to determine compatibility of said ordered and said dispensed medication

14. A system according to claim 12, wherein

said order processor compares said first order code with said code identifying said dispensed selected candidate medication by comparing code items including a dosage form strength identifier, to determine compatibility of said ordered and said dispensed medication

15. A system according to claim 12, wherein

said first order code identifying said particular medication and

said code identifying said dispensed selected candidate medication is derived from a common set of codes.

16. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said first order is initiated by a physician and

said at least one display image enables a user to view said first order substantially as prepared by said physician initiating said first order

17. A system for use in dispensing medication, comprising:

an input processor for receiving data representing a first order including a code identifying a particular medication to be provided to a particular patient;

a search processor for searching an inventory of medications to identify a plurality of candidate medications for said particular medication in response to said received first order;

a display generator for initiating generation of data representing at least one display image enabling a user to select a particular one of said candidate medications for dispensing; and

an order processor for identifying a candidate medication for dispensation by comparing said first order code with a code identifying a selected candidate medication to determine compatibility of said ordered medication and said selected candidate medication, in response to a user command entered via said at least one display image.

18. A system for use in dispensing medication, comprising:

an input processor for receiving data representing a first order to provide a particular medication to a particular patient;

a search processor for searching an inventory of medications to identify a plurality of candidate medications for said particular medication in response to said received first order;

a display generator for initiating generation of data representing at least one display image enabling a user to select a particular one of said candidate medications for dispensing and enabling a user to select items determining a dispensable order for a selected candidate medication from at least one item of, (a) a method of administering said selected candidate medication to a patient, (b) a dose of said selected candidate medication and (c) a form of said selected candidate medication; and

a storage processor for storing user entered order information to dispense a selected candidate medication in response to a user command entered via said at least one display image.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein

said at least one display image enables a user to select a particular one of said candidate medications and said at least one item, before order information is ready for processing for dispensing a medication.

20. A system for use in dispensing medication, comprising:

an input processor for receiving data representing a first order to provide a particular medication to a particular patient, said data representing said first order includes at least one item of, (a) a medication identifier, (b) an identifier identifying a method of administration of a medication and (c) an identifier identifying a form of a medication;

a search processor for searching an inventory of medications to identify a plurality of candidate medications for said particular medication in response to said received first order;

a display generator for initiating generation of data representing at least one display image enabling a user to select a particular one of said candidate medications for dispensing; and

a storage processor for storing user entered order information to dispense a selected candidate medication in response to a user command entered via said at least one display image.

21. A method for use in dispensing medication, comprising the activities of:

receiving data representing a first order to provide a particular medication to a particular patient;

searching an inventory of medications to identify a plurality of candidate medications for said particular medication in response to said received first order;

initiating generation of data representing at least one display image enabling a user to select a particular one of said candidate medications for dispensing; and

initiating processing order information to dispense a selected candidate medication in response to a user command entered via said at least one display image.

22. A method for use in dispensing medication, comprising the activities of:

receiving data representing a first order to provide a particular medication to a particular patient;

searching an inventory of medications to identify a plurality of candidate medications for said particular medication in response to said received first order;

initiating generation of data representing at least one display image enabling a user to select a particular one of said candidate medications for dispensing and enabling a user to select items determining a dispensable order for a selected candidate medication from at least one item of, (a) a method of administering said selected candidate medication to a patient, (b) a dose of said selected candidate medication and (c) a form of said selected candidate medication; and

storing user entered order information to dispense a selected candidate medication in response to a user command entered via said at least one display image.

23. A method for use in dispensing medication, comprising the activities of:

receiving data representing a first order to provide a particular medication to a particular patient, said data representing said first order includes at least one item of, (a) a medication identifier, (b) an identifier identifying a method of administration of a medication and (c) an identifier identifying a form of a medication;

searching an inventory of medications to identify a plurality of candidate medications for said particular medication in response to said received first order;

initiating generation of data representing at least one display image enabling a user to select a particular one of said candidate medications for dispensing; and

storing user entered order information to dispense a selected candidate medication in response to a user command entered via said at least one display image.