Inventory and Patient Management System

• US 20070198357A1
• Filed: 02/14/2007
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Resmed Limited (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ravazzolo, Kenneth
• Granted Patent: US 8,645,156 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/23
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/208 Input by product or record sensing, e.g. weighing or scanner processing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/70 relating to mental therapies, e.g. psychological therapy or autogenous training
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/50 for simulation or modelling of medical disorders

Abstract

A system and/or method for managing patients and products used in the treatment of their sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is provided. A barcode scanner preferably scans product data and wirelessly communicates it to a database for use in an inventory management system for tracking and generating product and patient information for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) treatment, for example, when receiving items into stock, dispensing products, returning loaned, rented, and/or defective products, etc. Custom patient reminders, notes, reports, and the like may be generated automatically based on the scanned data.

Claims

1. A system for managing the treatment of patients diagnosed with sleep-disordered breathing and products used in their treatment, comprising:

at least one barcode scanner that scans said products and retrieves identifying information about said products;

a product and patient database that stores said retrieved identifying product information and information about patients; and

,

a software application running on a computer terminal that can access said product and patient database;

said product and patient database being updated at least when said products are received and/or dispensed;

said updates being shown in said software application.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein information not contained in the identifying product information is stored to the product and patient database.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said information not contained in the identifying product information comprises at least one of a reminder and/or note associated with a patient and/or product, a rental and/or loaner agreement, and/or information about the transaction.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the barcode scanner is

a wireless barcode scanner;

and

wherein said retrieved identifying product information is stored to said product and patient database through a communications network.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a processor for manipulating said retrieved identifying product information before storing said retrieved identifying product information to said product and patient database.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said communications network is a cellular network.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said retrieved identifying product information is transmitted over a data connection of said cellular network.

8. The system of claim 1 for comprising

a plurality of barcode scanners that scan said products and retrieve identifying information about said products.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said plurality of barcode scanners are located in at least two different locations.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of software applications running on a plurality of computer terminals.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of software applications includes

a first application running on a computer terminal that can access said product and patient database;

and,

a second application running on a remote device that can access said product and patient database;

wherein said product and patient database updates are shown in said first application and said second application.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein updates to said product and patient database by said second application are shown in said first application.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said remote device is a computer.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein said remote device is a PDA.

15. A method for managing the treatment of patients diagnosed with sleep-disordered breathing and products used in their treatment, said method comprising:

scanning barcodes associated with said products to retrieve identifying information about said products;

storing said retrieved identifying product information and information about patients in a product and patient database;

using a software application running on a computer terminal to access said product and patient database; and

,

updating said product and patient database at least when said products are received and/or dispensed, wherein said updates may be shown in said software application.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising storing to the product and patient database information not contained in the identifying product information.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising creating at least one of a reminder and/or note associated with a patient and/or product, a rental and/or loaner agreement, and/or information about the transaction.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein

said retrieved identifying product information is communicated over a communications network.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising manipulating said retrieved identifying product information before storing said retrieved identifying product information to said product and patient database.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said communications network is a cellular network.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said retrieved identifying product information is transmitted over a data connection of said cellular network.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the scanning step is performed by a plurality of scanners.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the plurality of barcode scanners are located in at least two different locations.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising using a plurality of software applications running on a plurality of computer terminals.

25. A method of dispensing products to be used in the treatment of sleep-disordered breathing, said method comprising:

diagnosing a patient;

prescribing at least one product to be used by said patient;

issuing to said patient at least a barcode indicating said at least one product; and

,

scanning said at least one barcode at a place where said products may be dispensed.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of tracking said issued barcode indicating at least one product.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the at least one product is packaged within

an enclosure;

and

the barcode is provided to or otherwise associated with the medical product, the barcode being unique to the medical product.

28. The packaging of claim 27, wherein the enclosure is a plastic bag and the barcode is provided to a product card provided within the plastic bag.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of tracking delivery of the medical product, comprising:

placing the medical product within a plastic bag which is optionally sealed;

providing a product card within the plastic bag, the product card including a barcode that is uniquely associated with the medical product;

delivering the medical product to a patient;

upon delivery, removing the card from the bag; and

returning the card to a provider for processing.

30. A method of integrating a barcoded inventory system with a billing system, comprising:

receiving at least one product into inventory by scanning at least one barcode associated with the at least one product;

updating a database with information scanned in said receiving step;

printing a receipt of products received into inventory after at least one product is received into inventory, said receipt including at least one human-readable serial number and at least one barcode associated with the at least one human-readable identifying serial number; and

,

scanning into the billing system the at least one barcode from the receipt.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said receipt includes at least one human-readable serial number and at least one barcode associated with the at least one human-readable identifying serial number for all of the products received into inventory in the receiving step.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein said receipt includes at least one human-readable serial number and at least one barcode associated with the at least one human-readable identifying serial number for only the products in the database.

33. A printed receipt generated according to the method of claim 30.