System for dispensing drugs in health care institutions
First Claim
1. A system for the delivery of medications under the control of a pharmacy to patients in the wards of a health care institution comprising:
- a computer system;
one or more pharmacy terminals operatively connected to said computer system;
one or more dispensing stations located in the wards of said health care institution, each of said stations including,(a) a station terminal operatively connected to said computer system;
(b) a station printer operatively connected to said computer system; and
(c) a dispensing cabinet for holding a plurality of unit dose medication packages, said dispensing cabinet electrically controllable by said computer system to dispense one or more of said packages at a time;
said computer system including means for maintianing,(a) medication order data entered by said pharmacy, said order data indicating medication orders for patients admitted to said health care institution, said orders including the administration schedule for the medication and the identity of the dispensing station from which medications are to be obtained for said patients;
(b) station drug data of each of said dispensing stations, said station drug data indicating the medication stored at said station and if the medication stored at said station is stored in said dispensing cabinet the location of said medications in said cabinet and the quantity of said medication currently at said dispensing station;
software means operable in said computer system for;
(a) automatically reading said patient order data on a periodic basis and determining for each dispensing station the medication that is scheduled to be administered during an upcoming medication round to patients serviced by each said dispensing station and for generating a medication requirement report for each said determination, said report being printed at each said dispensing station on said station printer whereby it is made available to medication administration personnel; and
(b) responding to a medication dispensing request entered at the terminal of a said dispensing station, said request for the medication ordered for a specified patient, and reading said patient order data to determine the medication scheduled to be administered to said specified patient in the upcoming medication round and;
(1) if medication scheduled to be administered in the upcoming medication round is held in the dispensing cabinet at said dispensing station at which said request is entered causing said dispensing cabinet to dispense the scheduled medication in unit dose package or packages whereby the dispensed medication may be taken by the person making the dispensing request and administered to said specified patient; and
(2) if medication scheduled to be administered in the upcoming medication round is not held in the dispensing cabinet notifying the person making the request to obtain the medication from the medications stored outside the dispensing cabinet whereby the medication may be taken by the person making the request and administered to said patient.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for dispensing medications in a health care institution includes a computer system connected to control a plurality of remote medication dispensers. Pharmacy terminals are provided for entering medication orders and software in the computer system controls the dispensers to dispense medications according to the orders specified. The system includes support for dispensing medications from floor stocks. In either case, medications are administered in accordance with instructions from the computer system generated in accordance with said orders. The system further includes software for identifying medication duplications and potentially dangerous drug interactions based on orders entered into the system at the pharmacy. Inventory control and restocking features are also provided.
958 Citations
97 Claims
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1. A system for the delivery of medications under the control of a pharmacy to patients in the wards of a health care institution comprising:
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a computer system; one or more pharmacy terminals operatively connected to said computer system; one or more dispensing stations located in the wards of said health care institution, each of said stations including, (a) a station terminal operatively connected to said computer system; (b) a station printer operatively connected to said computer system; and (c) a dispensing cabinet for holding a plurality of unit dose medication packages, said dispensing cabinet electrically controllable by said computer system to dispense one or more of said packages at a time; said computer system including means for maintianing, (a) medication order data entered by said pharmacy, said order data indicating medication orders for patients admitted to said health care institution, said orders including the administration schedule for the medication and the identity of the dispensing station from which medications are to be obtained for said patients; (b) station drug data of each of said dispensing stations, said station drug data indicating the medication stored at said station and if the medication stored at said station is stored in said dispensing cabinet the location of said medications in said cabinet and the quantity of said medication currently at said dispensing station; software means operable in said computer system for; (a) automatically reading said patient order data on a periodic basis and determining for each dispensing station the medication that is scheduled to be administered during an upcoming medication round to patients serviced by each said dispensing station and for generating a medication requirement report for each said determination, said report being printed at each said dispensing station on said station printer whereby it is made available to medication administration personnel; and (b) responding to a medication dispensing request entered at the terminal of a said dispensing station, said request for the medication ordered for a specified patient, and reading said patient order data to determine the medication scheduled to be administered to said specified patient in the upcoming medication round and; (1) if medication scheduled to be administered in the upcoming medication round is held in the dispensing cabinet at said dispensing station at which said request is entered causing said dispensing cabinet to dispense the scheduled medication in unit dose package or packages whereby the dispensed medication may be taken by the person making the dispensing request and administered to said specified patient; and (2) if medication scheduled to be administered in the upcoming medication round is not held in the dispensing cabinet notifying the person making the request to obtain the medication from the medications stored outside the dispensing cabinet whereby the medication may be taken by the person making the request and administered to said patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for dispensing medications in unit dose packages to patients in a health care institution, comprising:
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one or more dispensing cabinet means for holding a plurality of different types of said medications in unit dose packages, and each selectively controllable for dispensing any one of said different types of medications one or more of said unit dose packages at a time; a dispensing cabinet printer means for each said dispensing cabinet means; control means connected for controlling said dispensing cabinet means and said printer means, said control means including; (a) database means for holding medication order data specifying medication orders for patients in said institution in accordance with medication prescriptions for said patients, each said order specifying the medication dose, the scheduled times for administration of said dose and which of said dispensing cabinet means it is to be dispensed from; (b) dispensing control means responsive to said medication order data for controlling each said dispensing cabinet means to cause each to selectively dispense for a said patent a said dose in accordance with said medication order data, said dispensing control means capable of causing any one of said unit dose packages of any of said different types of medications to be dispensed for any one of said patients; and (c) report generating means responsive to said data for preparing a medication requirement report for each of said dispensing cabinet means and for causing said report to be printed at said dispensing cabinet printer means for each said dispensing cabinet means, said medication requirement report having information on the doses being dispensed for each said patient, including the scheduled time for administration of said dose, whereby doses dispensed from said dispensing cabinet means can be taken and administered to said patients in accordance with said medication requirement report. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 94, 96)
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33. A system for dispensing medications in a health care institution, comprising:
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one or more dispensing stocks for holding a plurality of different types of said medications; a dispensing stock printer means for each said dispensing stock; control means connected for controlling said dispensing stock printer means, said control means including; (a) database means for holding medication order data specifying medication orders for patients in said institution in accordance with medication prescriptions for said patients, each said order specifying the medication dose, the scheduled times for administration of said dose and which of said dispensing stocks it is to be administered from; and (b) report generating means responsive to said data for preparing a medication requirement report for each of said dispensing stocks and for causing said report to be printed at said dispensing stock printer means for each said dispensing stock, said medication requirement report having information on the dose to be administered for each said patient, including the scheduled time for administration of said dose, whereby doses can be taken from said stock and administered to said patients in accordance with said medication requirement report. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 95)
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42. A system for dispensing medications in unit dose packages to patients in a health care institution, comprising:
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one or more dispensing cabinet means for holding a plurality of different types of said medications in unit dose packages, and each selectively controllable for dispensing any one of said different types of medications one or more of said unit dose packages at a time; a dispensing cabinet printer means for each of said dispensing cabinet means; control means connected for controlling said dispensing cabinet means and said printer means, said control means including; (a) database means for holding medication order data specifying medication orders for patients in said institution in accordance with medication prescriptions for said patients, each said order specifying the medication dose, the scheduled times for administration of said medication dose and which of said dispensing cabinet means it is to be dispensed from; (b) dispensing control means including a dispensing cabinet input means for each said dispensing cabinet means so that each said dispensing cabinet means has an associated input means, said input means for entering a request to dispense medication for a specified patient from its associated dispensing cabinet means, said control means responsive to a said request for controlling a said dispensing cabinet means to cause it to selectively dispense for said specified patient each said dose ordered to be administered to said specified patient according to said orders, each said dose being dispensed from said cabinet means in said unit dose packages, said dispensing control means capable of causing any one of said unit dose packages of any of said different types of medications to be dispensed for any one of said patients; and (c) report generating means responsive to said data for preparing a medication requirement report for each of said dispensing cabinet means and for causing said medicatio requirement report to be printed on said printer means for each said dispensing cabinet means, said medication requirement report having information on each said dose dispensed for said patients, including the dose and scheduled time for administration, whereby said doses dispensed from said dispensing cabinet means can be taken and administered to said patients in accordance with said medication requirement report. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A system for dispensing medications to patients in a health care institution, comprising:
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one or more dispensing stocks for holding a plurality of different types of said medications; a dispensing stock printer means and a dispensing stock terminal for each of said dispensing stocks; control means connected for controlling said dispensing stock terminal and said printer means, said control means including; (a) database means for holding medication order data specifying medication orders for patients in said institution in accordance with medication prescriptions for said patients, each said order specifying the medication dose, the scheduled times for administration of said medication dose and which of said dispensing stocks it is to be dispensed from; (b) dispensing control means including input means for entering a request to specify medication to be administered for a specified patient, said control means responsive to a said request for causing said dispensing stock terminal to identify for said specified patient each said dose ordered to be administered to said specified patient according to said orders and the location of each said dose in said stock whereby said dose can be taken from said stock; and (c) report generating means responsive to said data for preparing a medication requirement report for each of said dispensing stocks and for causing said medication requirement report to be printed on said printer means for each dispensing stock, said medication requirement report having information on each said dose to be administered to said patients, including the dose and scheduled time for administration, whereby said medication administration personnel can request said control means to specify the location of said dose so that it can be taken and administered to said patients in accordance with said medication requirement report. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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68. A system for delivering medications to patients in a health care institution, said institution having a pharmacy supply stock of medications, said system comprising:
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one or more dispensing cabinet means for holding a plurality of different types of said medications in unit dose packages, and each selectively controllable for dispensing any one of said different types of medications one or more of said unit dose packages at a time, said medications stocked in said cabinet means from said pharmacy supply stock; control means connected for controlling said dispensing cabinet means, said control means including; (a) first database means for holding medication order data specifying medication orders for patients in said institution in accordance with medication prescriptions for said patients, each said order specifying the medication dose, the scheduled times for administration of said dose and which of said dispensing cabinet means it is to be dispensed from; (b) second database means for holding dispensing cabinet medication data specifying the types, quantity and location of unit dose packages held in each of said dispensing cabinet means; (c) dispensing control means responsive to said medication order data for controlling each said dispensing cabinet means to cause each to selectively dispense for said patient a said dose in accordance with said orders, said dose being dispensed from said cabinet means in said unit dose packages, said dispensing control means capable of causing any one of said unit dose packages of any of said different types of medications to be dispensed for any one of said patients; (d) pharmacy terminal means for inputting new medication order data so that new medication orders can be specified in said medication order data, and for outputting notifications; and (e) allocation means for reserving unit dose packages held in each said cabinet means according to medication orders specified in said medication order data, said allocation means including means for determining for each new medication order specified whether a said dispensing cabinet means is currently holding unreserved unit dose packages which can be reserved to fulfill said new medication order and if an insufficient quantity is available notifying institution personnel on said pharmacy terminal means so that medications to fulfill the order can be delivered to said patient from said supply stock. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75)
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76. A system for dispensing medications to patients in a health care institution, said institution having a pharmacy supply stock, said system comprising:
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one or more station dispensing stocks of a plurality of different types of said medications, said medications stocked in said dispensing stocks from said pharmacy supply stock, said dispensing stocks used to fulfill the medication needs of said patients; control means for controlling the dispensing of said medications including; (a) first database means for holding medication order data specifying medication orders for patients in said institution in accordance with medication prescriptions for said patients, each said order specifying the medication dose, the scheduled times for administration of said dose and which of said dispensing stocks it is to be administered from; (b) second database means for holding dispensing stock medication data specifying the types and quantities of medications stocked in each of said dispensing stocks; (c) a station terminal connected to said control means; (d) station notification means responsive to said medication orders for generating a report to notify medication administration personnel of each said medication dose ordered to be administered to said patients as specified in said medication order data, said report generated at said station terminal means; (e) pharmacy terminal means for inputting new medication order data so that new medications ordered to be administered can be specified in said medication order data, and for outputting notifications; and (f) allocation means for reserving medications stocked in each said dispensing stock according to medication orders specified in said medication order data, said allocation means including means for determining for each new medication order specified whether a said dispensing stock is currently stocked with unreserved medications which can be reserved to fulfill said new medication order and if an insufficient supply is available in said dispensing stock notifying institution personnel on said pharmacy terminal means so that medications to fulfill the order can be delivered to said patient from said pharmacy supply stock. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85)
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86. A system for delivering medications to patients in two or more wards of a health care institution, said institution having a pharmacy supply stock of said medications, said system comprising:
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a dispensing stock of different types of said medications located in a first of one of said wards, said medications stocked in said dispensing stock from said pharmacy supply stock; dispensing cabinet means for holding a plurality of different types of said medications in unit dose packages, and selectively controllable for dispensing any one of said different types of medications one or more of said unit dose packages at a time, said medications stocked in said cabinet means from said pharmacy supply stock, said dispensing cabinet means located in a second one of said wards; control means for controlling the delivery of said medications including; (a) database means for holding medication order data specifying medication orders for patients in said institution in accordance with medication prescriptions for said patients, said orders specifying the dose and the scheduled times for administration of said dose, and which wards the patients are located in; (b) second database means for holding medication stock data specifying the types and quantities of medications held in said dispensing stock and the types, quantities and locations of medication unit dose packages held in said dispensing cabinet means; (c) pharmacy terminal means for inputting new medication order data so that new medications ordered to be administered can be specified in said medication order data, and for outputting notifications; (d) dispensing control means responsive to said medication order data for controlling said dispensing cabinet means to cause it to selectively dispense for a said patient a said dose in accordance with said orders, said dose being dispensed from said cabinet means in said unit dose packages said dispensing control means capable of causing any one of said unit dose packages of any of said different types of medications to be dispensed for any one of said patients; (e) a station terminal connected to said control means; (f) notification means responsive to said medication order data for generating a report at said station terminal for notifying the personnel in said first one of said wards of medications ordered to be administered from said dispensing stock to said patients in said first one of said wards; and (g) allocation means for reserving medications held in said cabinet means and in said dispensing stock according to medications orders specified in said medication order data, said allocation means including means for determining for each new medication order specified whether the specified medication order can be filled from unreserved medications and if an insufficient supply is available notifying institution personnel on said pharmacy terminal means so that medications to fill the order can be delivered to said patient from said pharmacy supply stock. - View Dependent Claims (87, 88, 89, 90)
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91. A system for delivering medications to patients in a health care institution, said system comprising;
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a stock of plurality of different types of said medications, used to fulfill the medication needs of said patients; control means for controlling the delivery of said medications including; (a) first database means for holding medication order data specifying medication orders for patients in said institution in accordance with medication prescriptions for said patients, said orders specifying the dose and the scheduled times for administration of said doses; (b) second database means for holding drug master data specifying medications available to the pharmacy of said health care institution, said drug master data specifying interaction information and therapeutic equivalent information for each said medication; (c) terminal means for entering a new medication order into said medication order data; and (d) means for reading said drug master data and said medication data order to determine if a said new medication order is therapeutically equivalent to any prior medication orders for the same patient and for determining if a said new medication order has an interaction problem with other medication order for the same patient, and for warning the personnel entering said new medication order of any interaction problem or therapeutic equivalent medication identified, said warning issued on said terminal means; (e) a station terminal connected to said control means; and (f) notification means for generating a report to notify medication administration personnel of each said medication dose ordered to be administered to said patients as specified in said medication order data, said report generated at said station terminal. - View Dependent Claims (92, 93)
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97. A system for creating a schedule for the administration of routine medications comprising:
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(a) computer means including storage means, display means and input means; (b) data stored in said storage means specifying a plurality of standard medication schedules, said data including an entry for each different schedule specified, each of said entries including an alphanumeric descriptor of said schedule and a specification of the corresponding daily hours schedule for administration; (c) software means operable on said computer means for displaying a 24 hour clock on said display means, said clock including an individual representation for each hour in the day;
said software means including;(d) means responsive to said input means so that one of said schedules can be selected from said data; (e) means for displaying scheduled hours indicators adjacent said displayed 24 hour clock which indicate which hours are scheduled for medication administration according to the selected schedule from said data; (f) means responsive to said input means for adding new scheduled hour indicators or deleting scheduled hour indicators adjacent said individual representations for each hour in the day until the desired indicated scheduled hours are obtained; and (g) means for creating a medication administration schedule in accordance with the scheduled hour indicators displayed on said display means, said administration schedule of a medication ordered for a patient.
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Specification