SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE DELIVERY OF MEDICATION TO A PATIENT

• US 20070124177A1
• Filed: 01/26/2007
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Cardinal Health 303 Incorporated (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: CHAMBERLAIN, CRAIG, ENGLESON, JOSEPH
• Granted Patent: US 7,483,756 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/10 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/30 Printed labels
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14208 with a programmable infusion control system, characterised by the infusion program
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• 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 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A care management system in which the management of the administration of care for patients is automated. Hospital information systems are monitored and the information from those systems is used in verifying the administrations of care to patients. The care management system monitors ongoing administrations for progress and automatically updates records and provides alarms when necessary. The care management system is modular in nature but is fully integrated among its modules. Particular lists of data, such as the termination times of all ongoing infusions, provide hospital staff current information for increased accuracy and efficiency in planning. Features include the automatic provision of infusion parameters to pumps for accurate and efficient configuration of the pump, and providing an alarm when an unscheduled suspension of an infusion exceeds a predetermined length of time. A passive recognition system for identifying patients and care givers is provided.

Claims

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A system for programming a processor to dispense medication to a patient in accordance with prescribed dispensing parameters, comprising:

a memory in which is stored information pertaining to the dispensation of medication to a patient, the information including prescribed dispensing parameters associated with patient identification information;

a first processor in operable communication with the memory;

an input device operatively connected to the first processor for providing input of patient identification information to the first processor;

a medication dispensing device in operable communication with the first processor;

wherein the first processor causes the medication dispensing device to dispense a medication in accordance with the prescribed dispensing parameters associated with the patient identification information stored in the memory if the input patient identification information compares favorably to the patient identification information stored in the memory.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the medication dispensing device is configured to dispense oral medication.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the medication dispensing device is configured to dispense injectable medication.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the prescribed dispensing parameters associated with the patient identification information is a dose value.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the prescribed dispensing parameters associated with the patient identification information is a quantity value.

18. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a means for generating patient condition information, and wherein the patient condition information is compared to records of predetermined acceptable values of patient condition information stored in the memory and indicates a discrepancy condition if the generated patient condition information is outside of the range of predetermined acceptable values.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the means for generating patient condition information is a vital sign monitor.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the means for generating patient condition information is a laboratory test.

21. A method for controlling the delivery of medication to a patient by a medication dispensing device, comprising:

inputting information related to the delivery of medication to a first processor;

storing a database of records in a memory in communication with a second processor, each record containing patient identification information associated with medication dispensing information related to the delivery of medication to an associated patient;

comparing at least one inputted patient information value with the records stored in the database; and

downloading the medication dispensing information related to the delivery of medication associated with the inputted patient identification information to the first processor to program and operate a medication dispensing device in accordance with the downloaded medication dispensing information if the comparison satisfies a predetermined condition.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

storing a range of values representing an acceptable range of values for selected patient condition parameters;

monitoring the patient and generating a value representative of a condition of the patient;

detecting whether the generated value is within a range of predetermined acceptable values for the selected patient condition parameters; and

alerting a care giver if the value representative of the condition of the patient is not within the range of predetermined acceptable values.

23. A system for programming a processor to dispense medication to a patient in accordance with prescribed dispensing parameters, comprising:

a memory in which is stored information pertaining to the dispensation of medication to a patient, the information including prescribed dispensing parameters associated with patient identification information;

a first processor in operable communication with the memory;

input means operatively connected to the first processor for input of patient identification information to the first processor;

a medication dispensing device; and

a second processor in operable communication with the medication dispensing device and the first processor;

wherein inputted patient identification information is compared to the stored patient information and the first processor programs the second processor to control the medication dispensing device to dispense a medication in accordance with the prescribed dispensing parameters associated with the stored patient identification information if the comparison of satisfies a predetermined condition.