Pharmacy admixture management system and method

• US 20060265247A1
• Filed: 05/18/2006
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Anthony K. Chaudhuri
• Original Assignee: Anthony K. Chaudhuri
• Inventors: Chaudhuri, Anthony K.
• Application Number:
  US11/436,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20060265247A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/40 relating to drugs, e.g. their side effects or intended usage

Abstract

A pharmacy admixture system and method that validates the admixture preparation process by using bar code scanning to verify users of the system and components of an admixture. The system employs computers, preferably portable and wirelessly connected, with integrated non-contact bar code scanning capability to electronically validate orders, the compounding of admixtures and delivery.

Claims

1. A system for managing the admixing of pharmaceuticals, said system comprising:

A. means for verifying the validity of an order for a pharmaceutical admixture;

B. means for verifying the accuracy of compounding the order; and

C. means for verifying the order is properly delivered to a patient.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising after B:

means for verification by a third party after compounding the order.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a means for handling errors which may occur during the compounding process.

4. The system of claim 2 further comprising:

a means for handling errors which may occur during the compounding process.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a means for providing user security of the system.

6. The system of claim 2 further comprising:

a means for providing user security of the system.

7. The system of claim 3 further comprising:

a means for providing user security of the system.

8. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

a means for providing user security of the system.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for verifying the validity of an order for a pharmaceutical admixture comprises:

a user scanning a bar code on an order label, said bar code symbol containing at least an order identification number; and

checking the order identification number with a database to determine whether the order is valid, whether it has expired, been canceled, discontinued, already in process or fulfilled.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for verifying the accuracy of compounding the order comprises:

a user scanning a bar code label for an admixture to be made;

verification with a database to confirm whether an order has been discontinued or canceled and, if so, directions to “

not compound”

the admixture;

if an order has not been discontinued or canceled, a user scanning a bar code for a base solution for the admixture to verify that it is correct in type and in volume;

if a first drug is to be used included in the admixture, the user scans a bar code for said first drug to verify that it is correct;

if a volume calculation for said first drug is required, then the user as prompted adds the volume to determine if the volume is correct;

if a lot number and expiration date is required, then the user is prompted and adds the lot number and expiration;

if a second drug is required in the admixture, then the same process is repeated for the second drug as for the first drug;

after the scanning the bar codes for all drugs in the pharmaceutical admixture, compounding is completed; and

if a user is a pharmacist, then the user manufactures the product to fulfill the admixture order and if the user is not a pharmacist, then directions are first verified before the use of manufactured product to fulfill the admixture order.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for verifying the order is properly delivered to a patient comprises:

a user scanning a bar code on the order as it is being loaded for delivery;

a verification that the order is correct or incorrect and, if correct, the order is dispatched for delivery to patient and, if not, the order is returned to the pharmacist for checking; and

at a location delivery to a patient, the user again scans a delivery bar code to determine whether the order is correct and delivery location is accurate.

12. The system of claim 2 wherein the means for verification by a third party after compounding comprises:

a pharmacist scanning a bar code label for a finished product made from the pharmaceutical admixture order;

a verification of the database as to whether the order has been discontinued or canceled, in which case it is not delivered;

if the product has not been discontinued or canceled, a determination as to whether the product has been verified and if so, it is dispatched for delivery; and

if the product has not been verified, then the pharmacist may verify the accuracy of the product, may skip verification or may choose not to verify the product, in which case the product is returned to compounding for re-manufacturing.

13. The system of claim 3 wherein the means for handling errors which may occurring the compounding process comprises:

upon indication an error has occurred in compounding, then a technician may fix the error and re-scan a bar code on a base solution or drug in the admixture and may re-enter the correct volume;

and if a user has the appropriate level of authority to override an error, the error may be overridden and the compounding continued;

or alternatively, the user may skip a particular label indicating an error and scan a bar code on a different label for use in the admixture.

14. The system of claim 5 wherein the means for providing such user security for entry into the system comprises requiring a user to log in to the system by scanning a bar code on user badge or by manually logging in on a computer using a log-in name and password.

15. A method for managing pharmaceutical admixing comprising the steps of:

A. verifying the validity of an order for a pharmaceutical admixture;

B. verifying the accuracy of compounding the order; and

C. verifying the order is properly delivered to a patient.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising a step after Step B of:

verifying by a third party the accuracy of the compounding of the order.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

handling errors which may occur during the compounding process.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

handling errors which may occur during a compounding process.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

providing user security for entering into the system.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

providing user security for entry into the system.

21. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

providing user security for entry into the system.

22. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

providing user security for entry into the system.

23. The method of claim 15 wherein Step A comprises:

a user scanning a bar code on an order label, said bar code symbol containing at least an order identification number; and

a user checking the order with an identification number database to determine whether the order is valid, whether it has expired, been canceled, discontinued, already in process or fulfilled.

24. The method of claim 15 wherein Step B comprises:

a user scanning a bar code label for an admixture to be made;

verifying with a database to confirm whether an order has been discontinued or canceled and, if so, directing to “

not compound”

the admixture;

verifying if an order has not been discontinued or canceled, and user scanning a bar code for a base solution for the admixture to verify that it is correct in type and in volume;

verifying if a first drug is to be used and is included in the admixture, and the user scanning a bar code for said first drug to verify that it is correct;

verifying if a volume calculation for said first drug is required, and then the user, if prompted, adding the volume to determine if the volume is correct;

verifying if a lot number and expiration date is required, then the user, if prompted, adding the lot number and expiration date;

verifying if a second drug is required in the admixture, and then repeating the process for the second drug as for the first drug;

after the scanning the bar codes for all drugs in the pharmaceutical admixture, compounding is completed; and

if a user is a pharmacist, then the user manufactures the product to fulfill the admixture order and if the user is not a pharmacist, then directions are first verified before the use of manufactured product to fulfill the admixture order.

25. The method of claim 15 wherein Step C verifying the order is properly delivered to a patient comprises:

a user scanning the bar code on the finished product as it is being loaded for delivery;

a user verifying that the product is correct or incorrect and, if correct, the product is dispatched for delivery to patient and, if not, the order is returned to the pharmacist for checking; and

at a location delivery to a patient, the user again scanning a delivery bar code to determine whether the order is correct and delivery location is accurate.

26. The method of claim 16 wherein the step for verifying the accuracy of an admixture by a third party after compounding comprises:

a pharmacist scanning bar code label for a finished product made from the pharmaceutical admixture order;

verification of the database as to whether the order has been discontinued or canceled, in which case it is not delivered;

if the product has not been discontinued or canceled, a determination as to whether the product has been verified and if so, dispatching product for delivery; and

if the product has not been verified, then the pharmacist verifying the accuracy of the product, may skip verification or may choose not to verify the product, in which case the product is returned to compounding for re-manufacturing.

27. The method of claim 17 wherein handling errors which may occur during the compounding process comprises:

upon indication an error has occurred in compounding, a technician fixes the error and re-scans a bar code on a base solution or drug in the admixture and re-enters the correct volume; and

if a user has the appropriate level of authority to override an error, overriding the error and continuing the compounding;

or alternatively, user skipping a particular label indicating an error and scanning a bar code on a different label for use in the admixture.

28. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of providing user security for entry into the system comprises:

a user logging into the system by scanning a bar code on user badge or by manually logging in on a computer using a log-in name and password.