MODES AND WORKFLOWS FOR PROCESSING MEDICATION REQUESTS

• US 20120173255A1
• Filed: 12/29/2010
• Published: 07/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnicell Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Aesynt, Inc. (Omnicell Incorporated)
• Inventors: Korhnak, Daniel J., Gadagno, Russ, Kepes, Eric, Whaley, Chayla, Moon, Douglas J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,269,085 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/50 Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for processing medication requests. In one embodiment, a user may define an operational mode that can be initiated by one or more triggers. A user may also define one or more workflows for processing medication requests. The one or more workflows can be associated with the operational mode. In response to the occurrence of the appropriate triggers, the operational mode can automatically, semi-automatically, and/or manually be initiated. When the operational mode is initiated, the associated workflows are used for processing medication requests.

Claims

1. A method for processing medication requests, the method comprising:

associating a first operational mode with a first workflow of a plurality of workflows for processing medication requests, wherein the first operational mode is initiated by one or more triggers;

determining, via one or more processors, whether one of the one or more triggers of the first operational mode have occurred;

after determining that one of the one or more triggers of the first operational mode have occurred, initiating, via the one or more processors, the first operational mode; and

processing a plurality of medication requests in accordance with the first workflow.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving input defining the first operational mode that is initiated by the one or more triggers; and

receiving input defining the plurality of workflows for processing medication requests.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

receiving, via the one or more processors, the plurality of medication requests; and

filling at least one of the plurality of medication requests via a medication filling device.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

associating, via the one or more processors, the first operational mode with a second workflow of the plurality of workflows; and

processing, via the one or more processors, the plurality of medication requests in accordance with the first and second workflows.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

receiving input defining a second operational mode that is initiated by one or more triggers;

associating, via the one or more processors, the second operational mode with a third workflow of the plurality of workflows;

determining, via the one or more processors, whether one of the one or more triggers of the second operational mode have occurred;

after determining that one of the one or more triggers of the second operational mode have occurred, initiating the second operational mode; and

processing, via the one or more processors, the plurality of medication requests in accordance with the third workflow.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

associating, via the one or more processors, a fourth workflow of the plurality of workflows for processing medication requests with the second operational mode; and

processing, via the one or more processors, the plurality of medication requests in accordance with the third and fourth workflows.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more triggers of the first operational mode are selected from the group consisting of (a) a day of the week, (b) a time of day, (c) a number of medication requests received over a time period, and (d) a frequency of medication requests received over a time period.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) each of the plurality of workflows for processing medication requests comprises (i) a patient workflow or (ii) an inventory workflow and (b) each of the plurality of workflows identifies at least one medication filling device to be used for filling the medication requests.

9. A computer program product for processing medication requests, the computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

an executable portion configured to associate a first operational mode with a first workflow of a plurality of workflows for processing medication requests, wherein the first operational mode is initiated by one or more triggers;

an executable portion configured to determine whether one of the one or more triggers of the first operational mode have occurred;

an executable portion configured to, after determining that one of the one or more triggers of the first operational mode have occurred, initiate the first operational mode; and

an executable portion configured to process a plurality of medication requests in accordance with the first workflow.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 further comprising:

an executable portion configured to receive input defining the first operational mode that is initiated by the one or more triggers; and

an executable portion configured to receive input defining the plurality of workflows for processing medication requests.

11. The computer program product of claim 10 further comprising:

an executable portion configured to receive the plurality of medication requests; and

an executable portion configured to associate the first operational mode with a second workflow of the plurality of workflows; and

an executable portion configured to process the plurality of medication requests in accordance with the first and second workflows.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 further comprising:

an executable portion configured to receive input defining a second operational mode that is initiated by one or more triggers;

an executable portion configured to associate the second operational mode with a third workflow of the plurality of workflows;

an executable portion configured to determine whether one of the one or more triggers of the second operational mode have occurred;

an executable portion configured to, after determining that one of the one or more triggers of the second operational mode have occurred, initiate the second operational mode; and

an executable portion configured to process the plurality of medication requests in accordance with the third workflow.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 further comprising:

an executable portion configured to associate a fourth workflow of the plurality of workflows for processing medication requests with the second operational mode; and

an executable portion configured to process the plurality of medication requests in accordance with the third and fourth workflows.

14. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the one or more triggers of the first operational mode are selected from the group consisting of (a) a day of the week, (b) a time of day, (c) a number of medication requests received over a time period, and (d) a frequency of medication requests received over a time period.

15. The computer program product of claim 9 further comprising, wherein (a) each of the plurality of workflows for processing medication requests comprises (i) a patient workflow or (ii) an inventory workflow and (b) each of the plurality of workflows identifies at least one medication filling device to be used for filling the medication requests.

16. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

associate a first operational mode with a first workflow of a plurality of workflows for processing medication requests, wherein the first operational mode is initiated by one or more triggers;

determine whether one of the one or more triggers of the first operational mode have occurred;

after determining that one of the one or more triggers of the first operational mode have occurred, initiate the first operational mode; and

process a plurality of medication requests in accordance with the first workflow.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive input defining the first operational mode that is initiated by the one or more triggers; and

receive input defining the plurality of workflows for processing medication requests.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive the plurality of medication requests; and

associate the first operational mode with a second workflow of the plurality of workflows; and

process the plurality of medication requests in accordance with the first and second workflows.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive input defining a second operational mode that is initiated by one or more triggers;

associate the second operational mode with a third workflow of the plurality of workflows;

determine whether one of the one or more triggers of the second operational mode have occurred;

after determining that one of the one or more triggers of the second operational mode have occurred, initiate the second operational mode; and

process the plurality of medication requests in accordance with the third workflow.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the memory and computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

associate a fourth workflow of the plurality of workflows for processing medication requests with the second operational mode; and

process the plurality of medication requests in accordance with the third and fourth workflows.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the one or more triggers of the first operational mode are selected from the group consisting of (a) a day of the week, (b) a time of day, (c) a number of medication requests received over a time period, and (d) a frequency of medication requests received over a time period.

22. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising, wherein (a) each of the plurality of workflows for processing medication requests comprises (i) a patient workflow or (ii) an inventory workflow and (b) each of the plurality of workflows identifies at least one medication filling device to be used for filling the medication requests.