Integrated suite of medical tools

• US 20050113969A1
• Filed: 11/24/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnicell Incorporated
• Original Assignee: McKesson Automation Incorporated (Omnicell Inc)
• Inventors: Switalski, Eric J., Spano, Philip H. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,865,263 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/237
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/04 Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a tool that can be used to order, dispense, locate, request and administer medications as well as locate, issue and administer medical items and supplies for patients from a plurality of entry points into the system, e.g. handheld devices, mobile cart, etc. New workflows and functionality for various devices such as dispensing devices (automated dispensing cabinets) and issuing devices (e.g. open shelving) are also disclosed. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an automated medication dispensing device;

a computer located remotely of said dispensing device for communicating with said dispensing device and for sending a queue of dispensing orders to said dispensing device; and

an authentication device for confirming when the user is located proximate to said dispensing device, said dispensing device being responsive to said authentication device for performing said queued dispensing orders.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer is a wireless, handheld computer used for administering dispensed medications.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer is located on a mobile cart.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said automated medication dispensing device comprises a computer controlled dispensing cabinet and wherein said queue of dispensing orders is organized per user and per patient.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said dispensing cabinet accepts logon information input to the computer located remotely of said dispensing device.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said dispensing device is part of a dispensing system, said computer for communicating with said dispensing system to identify the location of medications within said dispensing system.

7. The system of claim 6 additionally comprising a pharmacy, said computer for requesting a medication from said pharmacy which is missing from said dispensing system.

8. The system of claim 1 additionally comprising a supply issuing system, said computer for communicating with said supply issuing system to identify the location of supplies within said supply issuing system.

9. A system, comprising:

a medication dispensing device;

at least one database for maintaining an inventory of items located within said dispensing device;

a computer located remotely of said dispensing device for communicating with said database to create a list of medications to be dispensed; and

a device for confirming when the user is located proximate to said dispensing device, said list of medications being sent to said dispensing device in response to said confirmation.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said computer is located remotely of said database.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said computer is a wireless, handheld computer used for administering dispensed medications.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein said computer is located on a mobile cart.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein said automated medication dispensing device comprises a computer controlled dispensing cabinet and wherein said list of medications to be dispensed is organized per user and per patient.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said dispensing cabinet accepts logon information input to the computer located remotely of said dispensing device.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein said dispensing device is part of a dispensing system, said computer for communicating with said database to identify a location for each of the medications on the list to be dispensed.

16. The system of claim 15 additionally comprising a pharmacy, said computer for requesting a medication from said pharmacy which is missing from said dispensing system.

17. The system of claim 9 additionally comprising a supply issuing system, said computer for communicating with said supply issuing system to identify the location of supplies within said supply issuing system.

18. The system of claim 9 additionally comprising a data replicator for updating the database with an inventory of medications within said medication dispensing device.

19. A system, comprising:

a medication dispensing system; and

a computer located remotely of said dispensing system for communicating with said dispensing system to identify a location within said medication dispensing system where items to be dispensed are located.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said computer is a wireless, handheld computer used for administering dispensed medications.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein said computer is located on a mobile cart.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein said computer communicates with said medication dispensing system and sends a queue of dispensing orders to a device within said dispensing system, said system further comprising an authentication device for confirming when a user is located proximate to said dispensing device, said dispensing device being responsive to said authentication device for performing said queued dispensing orders.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein said queue of dispensing orders is organized per user per patient.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein said dispensing device accepts logon information input to the computer located remotely of said dispensing system.

25. The system of claim 19 additionally comprising a pharmacy, said computer for requesting a medication from said pharmacy which is missing from said dispensing system.

26. The system of claim 19 additionally comprising a supply issuing system, said computer for communicating with said supply issuing system to identify the location of supplies within said supply issuing system.

27. A system, comprising:

a medication dispensing system;

at least one database for maintaining an inventory of items located within said dispensing system;

a computer located remotely of said dispensing system for communicating with said database to identify a location within said medication dispensing system where items to be dispensed are located.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein said computer is located remotely of said database.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein said computer is a wireless, handheld computer used for administering dispensed medications.

30. The system of claim 28 wherein said computer is located on a mobile cart.

31. The system of claim 27 wherein said computer communicates with said medication dispensing system and sends a queue of dispensing orders to a device within said dispensing system, said system further comprising an authentication device for confirming when a user is located proximate to said dispensing device, said dispensing device being responsive to said authentication device for performing said queued dispensing orders.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein said queue of dispensing orders is organized per user per patient.

33. The system of claim 31 wherein said dispensing system accepts logon information input to the computer located remotely of said dispensing device.

34. The system of claim 27 additionally comprising a pharmacy, said computer for requesting a medication from said pharmacy which is missing from said dispensing system.

35. The system of claim 27 additionally comprising a supply issuing system, said computer for communicating with said supply issuing system to identify the location of supplies within said supply issuing system.

36. The system of claim 27 additionally comprising a data replicator for updating the database with an inventory of medications within said medication dispensing system.

37. A method, comprising:

inputting logon information into a system via a remote computer;

creating via said remote computer a list of medications to dispense;

verifying that an authorized user is located proximate to a dispensing device;

transmitting the list of medications to the dispensing device; and

dispensing the medications on said list.

38. The method of claim 37 additionally comprising administering the dispensed medications using the remote computer.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein said list is organized per user and per patient.

40. The method of claim 37 wherein the dispensing device accepts the logon information input to the system as logon information for the dispensing device.

41. The method of claim 37 additionally comprising identifying the location of the medications to be dispensed within a medication dispensing system.

42. The method of claim 41 additionally comprising requesting from a pharmacy a medication which is missing from the dispensing system.

43. The method of claim 37 additionally comprising issuing supplies using the remote computer.

44. A method comprising:

inputting logon information into a system via a remote computer;

maintaining in a database an inventory of items located within a dispensing device;

communicating with the database via the remote computer to build a list of medications to be dispensed;

verifying that an authorized user is located proximate to the dispensing device;

transmitting the list of medications to the dispensing device; and

dispensing the medications on said list.

45. The method of claim 44 additionally comprising administering the dispensed medications using the remote computer.

46. The method of claim 44 wherein said list is organized per user and per patient.

47. The method of claim 44 wherein the dispensing device accepts the logon information input to the system as logon information for the dispensing device.

48. The method of claim 44 additionally comprising identifying the location of the medications to be dispensed within a medication dispensing system.

49. The method of claim 48 additionally comprising requesting from a pharmacy a medication which is missing from the dispensing system.

50. The method of claim 44 additionally comprising issuing supplies using the remote computer.

51. The method of claim 44 additionally comprising updating the inventory of items located within the dispensing device.

52. A method, comprising;

inputting logon information into a system via a remote computer; and

identifying via the remote computer a location within a medication dispensing system where items to be dispensed are located.

53. The method of claim 52 additionally comprising:

creating via the remote computer a list of medications to dispense;

verifying that an authorized user is located proximate to a dispensing device;

transmitting the list of medications to the dispensing device; and

dispensing the medications on the list.

54. The method of claim 53 additionally comprising administering the dispensed medications using the remote computer.

55. The method of claim 53 wherein the list is organized per user and per patient.

56. The method of claim 53 wherein the dispensing device accepts the logon information input to the system as logon information for the dispensing device.

57. The method of claim 52 additionally comprising requesting from a pharmacy a medication which is missing from the dispensing system.

58. The method of claim 52 additionally comprising issuing supplies using the remote computer.

59. A method, comprising:

inputting logon information into a system via a remote computer;

maintaining in a database an inventory of items located within a dispensing system; and

communicating with the database via the remote computer to identify a location within the medication dispensing system where a medication to be dispensed is located.

60. The method of claim 59 additionally comprising:

communicating via the remote computer with the database to create a list of medications to dispense;

verifying that an authorized user is located proximate to a dispensing device;

transmitting the list of medications to the dispensing device; and

dispensing the medications on the list.

61. The method of claim 60 additionally comprising administering the dispensed medications using the remote computer.

62. The method of claim 60 wherein the list is organized per user and per patient.

63. The method of claim 60 wherein the dispensing device accepts the logon information input to the system as logon information for the dispensing device.

64. The method of claim 59 additionally comprising requesting from a pharmacy a medication which is missing from the dispensing system.

65. The method of claim 59 additionally comprising issuing supplies using the remote computer.

66. A method of preparing a mobile cart for medication administration rounds, comprising:

loading the cart with medications already dispensed for a specific patient;

dispensing additional medications for said patient; and

loading said additional medications onto the cart.

67. The method of claim 66 wherein said loading the cart with medications already dispensed for a specific patient includes loading onto the cart a patient specific cassette.

68. The method of claim 67 wherein said loading said additional medications onto the cart includes loading the additional medications into the patient specific cassette.