MANAGING MEDICATIONS AT THE BEDSIDE

• US 20090108011A1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Cardinal Health 303 Incorporated (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Heffron, David
• Granted Patent: US 10,037,646 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/001 Trolleys for transport of medicaments, food, linen, nursing supplies carts specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis A61B50/13; hand carts B62B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/004 Restocking arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

Systems and methods for dispensing medications to hospitalized individuals through a first apparatus containing optional medications that is configured to be replenished by optional medication from a central storage location. Some embodiments provide that the first apparatus is associated with an individual patient. The first apparatus is preferably secured at a location near the individual patient, such as, for example, within the individual patient'"'"'s room. By creating multiple dispensing apparatuses, a caregiver who administers required medications no longer has to retrieve optional medications from a central storage location.

Claims

1. A system for dispensing medication from within a patient'"'"'s room, the system comprising:

a first dispenser positioned within the patient'"'"'s room that is configured to contain optional medication and to provide access to the optional medication only by authorized personnel; and

a central storage location that stores optional medication for replenishing the first dispenser for optional medication.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first dispenser is affixed within the patient'"'"'s room.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the optional medication comprises PRN medication.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first dispenser monitors what medications are stored within and dispensed from the first dispenser.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first dispenser is configured to associate medication dispensed from the first dispenser with the patient for billing purposes.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first dispenser is configured to dispense optional medication by instructions provided from a central control.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first dispenser is configured to provide access to only one dose of an optional medication upon a request for access to the optional medication.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a mobile dispenser that is configured to contain required medication for administration to the patient.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the central storage location stores required medication for replenishing the mobile dispenser.

10. A method for dispensing medication in a care facility, the method comprising:

dispensing a first medication from a dispenser if a request is obtained by a patient for an optional medication, the dispenser being associated with and affixed to a location within a room of the care facility in which the patient is staying; and

replenishing the dispenser with the first medication from medication stored at a central storage location.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising administering the first medication to the patient by care facility personnel.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein dispensing the first medication from the dispenser comprises unlocking a security mechanism on the first apparatus.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein dispensing the first medication comprises providing access to one dose of the first medication.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein dispensing the first medication comprises dispensing a PRN medication.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising logging administrative information corresponding to accessing medication within the dispenser.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising automatically tracking by the dispenser which medications have been dispensed from the dispenser.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising automatically billing a patient for optional medication dispensed from the dispenser.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein dispensing the first medication comprises remotely providing instructions to the dispenser to allow the patient to have access to the optional medication.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein replenishing the first medication comprises storing optional medication within the dispenser based on projected needs of the patient.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein the dispenser is accessed by at least one of a lock and key set, fingerprint recognition device, and voice recognition device.

21. A method for dispensing different types of medication to a plurality of patients, the method comprising:

selectively dispensing an optional medication from an affixed secured apparatus located within an individual patient'"'"'s room in response to a request for the optional medication; and

dispensing a required medication for the individual patient from a portable apparatus.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising repeating the method for each individual patient within the plurality of patients.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein dispensing the optional medication from the affixed apparatus comprises unlocking a security mechanism on the secured apparatus.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

automatically logging administrative information corresponding to dispensing from the affixed secured apparatus; and

managing the administrative information from a central control.