Method and Apparatus for Verification of Medication Administration Adherence

• US 20120296666A1
• Filed: 07/26/2012
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AI Cure Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: AI Cure Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Hanina, Adam, Kessler, Gordon
• Granted Patent: US 8,781,856 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24573 using data annotations, e.g. user-defined metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/20 Analysis of motion motion estimation for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/43, H04N19/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/166 using acquisition arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/20 Movements or behaviour, e.g. gesture recognition recognition of facial expressions G06V40/16
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/61 based on recognised objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/611 where the recognised objects include parts of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/634 Warning indications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A system and method of confirming administration of medication is provided. The method comprises the steps of receiving information identifying a particular medication prescription regimen, determining one or more procedures for administering such prescription regimen and identifying one or more activity sequences associated with such procedures. Activity sequences of actual administration of such prescription regimen are captured and then compared to the identified activity sequences to determine differences therebetween. A notice is provided if differences are determined.

Claims

1. A method of confirming administration of medication, comprising the steps of:

receiving information identifying a particular medication prescription regimen;

determining one or more procedures for administering such prescription regimen including ingestion of the medication;

identifying one or more video activity sequences associated with such procedures;

capturing video activity sequences of actual administration including ingestion of such prescription regimen by a video capture device;

storing the captured video activity sequences to a non-transitory computer readable storage medium;

comparing the stored video activity sequences to the identified video activity sequences by a computer processor to determine differences therebetween; and

providing a notice if differences are determined, thereby automatically determining by the computer processor that confirmation of proper medication administration including ingestion has failed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the prescription regimen is provided by a medical professional.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the prescription regimen is retrieved from a medical database.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the procedures for administering the prescription regimen are retrieved from a database.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the retrieved procedures for administering the prescription regimen are modified by a medical professional.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

retrieving medical history information of a patient to receive the administered medication; and

confirming that the administered medication is safe for the patient.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

before capturing the one or more video activity sequences of administration of the prescription regimen including ingestion of the medication, determining the identity of a particular medication to be used in such administration; and

issuing a warning if it is determined by the computer processor that the determined identity is not the medication associated with the upcoming prescription regimen.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the warning includes contact to a medical profession

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

capturing video activity sequences of actual administration of the prescription regimen including ingestion of the medication during multiple instances of administration;

comparing by the computer processor the captured video activity sequences to the identified video activity sequences to determine differences therebetween, thereby automatically determining by the computer processor that confirmation of proper medication administration has failed; and

providing an analysis of adherence to a particular prescription regimen in accordance with the multiple instances of administration.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of providing additional instructions to a medication administrator in accordance with the provided analysis.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the notice comprises contact to a medical professional.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the notice comprises additional instructions to a medication administrator.

13. A method of confirming administration of medication, comprising the steps of:

authenticating a prescribing medical professional;

receiving information identifying a particular medication prescription regimen from the authenticated medical professional;

determining one or more procedures for administering such medication prescription regimen including ingestion of the medication from one or more databases including prescription regimen information in accordance with prescription information provided by the authenticated medical professional;

modifying the procedures, if necessary, by the authenticated medical professional;

providing a set of instructions including an instruction for ingestion of the medication in accordance with which the prescription regimen is to be administered;

identifying one or more video activity sequences associated with such instructions;

capturing one or more video activity sequences by a video capture device of actual administration of such prescription regimen including ingestion of the medication over a plurality of administrations of the prescription regimen;

storing the captured one or more video activity sequences including ingestion of the medication to a non-transitory computer readable storage medium;

comparing by a computer processor the one or more stored video activity sequences to the identified video activity sequences to determine differences therebetween, thereby automatically determining by the computer processor that confirmation of proper medication administration including ingestion has failed;

providing an immediate notice if differences are determined by the computer processor in the comparing step that may place a patient receiving the prescription regimen in danger; and

providing a notice if differences are determined by the computer processor in the comparing step that may improve future administration of the prescription regimen.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of performing a statistical analysis of differences determined in the comparing step.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the differences determined in the comparing step comprise determining an incorrect medication.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the differences determined in the comparing step comprise determining an incorrect amount of medication.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the differences determined in the comparing step comprise determining an incorrect administration procedure.

18. A system for confirming administration of medication, comprising:

an authentication apparatus for authenticating a prescribing medical professional;

an input device for receiving information identifying a particular medication prescription regimen from the authenticated medical professional;

a database comprising prescription administration information,

a storage device for storing prescription administration selected from the database and being associated with the identified medication prescription, a set of instructions in accordance with which the prescription regimen is to be administered including ingestion of the medication, and one or more activity sequences associated with such instructions;

a video capture device for capturing video activity sequences of actual administration of such prescription regimen including ingestion of the medication over a plurality of administrations of the prescription regimen;

a processor for comparing the captured video activity sequences to the identified video activity sequences including ingestion of the medication to determine differences therebetween, thereby automatically determining by the processor that confirmation of proper medication administration has failed; and

an output device for providing an immediate notice if differences are determined in the comparing step that may place a patient receiving the prescription regimen in danger; and

for providing a notice if differences are determined in the comparing step that may improve future administration of the prescription regimen.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the information stored on the storage device may be modified by the authenticated medical professional.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the capture device is further adapted to capture images of a particular medication to allow identification thereof.

21. A method of confirming administration of medication, comprising the steps of:

authenticating a prescribing medical professional;

receiving information identifying a particular medication prescription regimen from the authenticated medical professional;

determining one or more procedures for administering such prescription regimen including ingestion of the medication from one or more databases including prescription regimen information in accordance with prescription information provided by the authenticated medical professional;

modifying the procedures, if necessary, by the authenticated medical professional;

providing a set of instructions including ingestion of the medication in accordance with which the prescription regimen is to be administered;

identifying one or more visual indicia for determining confirmation of prescription administration including ingestion of the medication associated with such instructions;

capturing appropriate visual indicia of actual administration including ingestion of such prescription regimen over a plurality of administrations of the prescription regimen by a video capture device;

storing the captured visual indicia to a non-transitory computer readable storage medium;

comparing the stored visual indicia for determining confirmation of prescription administration to the identified indicia for determining confirmation of prescription administration by a computer processor to determine differences therebetween, thereby automatically determining by the computer processor that confirmation of proper medication administration including ingestion has failed;

providing an immediate notice if differences are determined by the computer processor in the comparing step that may place a patient receiving the prescription regimen in danger; and

providing a notice if differences are determined in the comparing step by the computer processor that may improve future administration of the prescription regimen.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the visual indicia for determining confirmation of prescription administration comprises one or more video activity sequences.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the indicia for determining confirmation of prescription administration comprises an additional alternative method.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

capturing visual indicia of activity of a patient before medication administration by the video capture device; and

providing a reminder to the patient at least in part in accordance with the captured visual indicia before medication administration.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of capturing visual indicia of activity of a patient by the video capture device before medication administration, wherein the captured visual indicia before medication administration comprises evidence of patient consent.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

capturing visual indicia of activity of a patient by the video capture device after medication administration;

providing notification to a medical service provider of the activity; and

modifying at least one aspect of a prescription regimen in accordance with the captured visual indicia after medication administration.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the captured visual indicia after medication administration comprises an adverse reaction to the medication.