System and method for managing patient care through automated messaging
First Claim
1. A system for notifying users of the occurrence of medication supply events, the system comprising:
- a medication dispenser configured to securely store a plurality of medications and to allow access to the medications upon entry of an authorized access code, the medication dispenser further configured to generate a medication supply event signal indicative of the occurrence at the dispenser of one of a set of medication supply events relating to a medication prescribed to a patient, wherein the set of medication supply events includes at least one of;
issuance of a new medical order;
modification of a medical order; and
discontinuation of a medical order;
wherein a medical order is an order issued by a caregiver;
a memory configured to store user-selected event types;
a messaging processor adapted to;
receive medication supply event signals from the medication dispenser;
compare the received medication supply event signals to any user-selected event types in the memory; and
send a message to a user of the medication dispenser via a communication link that the medical supply event has occurred based upon a determination that the comparison indicates that the medication supply event signals received by the messaging processor correspond to a user-selected event type in the memory; and
a messaging device carried by the user that is adapted to receive the message from the messaging processor and to communicate the received message to the user;
wherein the system is configured such that authorized access codes are provided to caregivers who administer the medication to the patient but not to the patient receiving the medication.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method in accordance with the invention allow a user to select when messages relating to medication events are sent and to select the content parameters of those messages. In one aspect, a user selects certain event types, the occurrence of which will cause a message to be sent to the user. For example, the user may select a message type that pertains to the availability of a medication in an automated dispensing machine for that user'"'"'s patient. In another aspect, the user may customize the contents of the message to include or exclude certain information. For example, the user may desire the message to indicate only the patient'"'"'s name and not the patient'"'"'s gender or age. In yet another aspect, the user may filter messages so that only certain messages are sent. For example, the user may select a filter that permits only messages pertaining to his or her patients to be sent. The system further comprise a user interface disposed on an automated dispensing machine that enables a user to configure the messaging system as he or she desires. A method in accordance with the invention comprises selecting medication event types about which a message will be sent to the user, the content of the message, and filters for messages.
45 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A system for notifying users of the occurrence of medication supply events, the system comprising:
a medication dispenser configured to securely store a plurality of medications and to allow access to the medications upon entry of an authorized access code, the medication dispenser further configured to generate a medication supply event signal indicative of the occurrence at the dispenser of one of a set of medication supply events relating to a medication prescribed to a patient, wherein the set of medication supply events includes at least one of; issuance of a new medical order; modification of a medical order; and discontinuation of a medical order;
wherein a medical order is an order issued by a caregiver;a memory configured to store user-selected event types; a messaging processor adapted to; receive medication supply event signals from the medication dispenser; compare the received medication supply event signals to any user-selected event types in the memory; and send a message to a user of the medication dispenser via a communication link that the medical supply event has occurred based upon a determination that the comparison indicates that the medication supply event signals received by the messaging processor correspond to a user-selected event type in the memory; and a messaging device carried by the user that is adapted to receive the message from the messaging processor and to communicate the received message to the user;
wherein the system is configured such that authorized access codes are provided to caregivers who administer the medication to the patient but not to the patient receiving the medication.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of notifying users of the occurrence of medication supply events, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing authorized access codes to caregivers who administer medications to a patient but not to the patient receiving the medication; a medication dispenser generating a medication supply event signal indicative of the occurrence of one of a set of medication supply events at a medication dispenser configured to securely store a plurality of medications and to allow access to the medications upon entry of an authorized access code, the medication supply event relating to a medication prescribed to a patient, wherein the set of medication supply events includes at least one of; issuance of a new medical order; modification of a medical order; and discontinuation of a medical order;
wherein a medical order is an order issued by a caregiver;storing user-selected event types in a memory; receiving medication supply event signals from the medication dispenser; comparing the received medication supply event signals to stored user-selected event types; sending a message to a user of the medication dispenser via a communication link that the event has occurred based upon a determination that the comparison indicates that the medication supply event signals received by the messaging processor correspond to a user-selected event type in the memory; receiving the message from the messaging processor by means of a messaging device carried by the user; and communicating the received message to the user. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A system for notifying users of the occurrence of medication supply events, the system comprising:
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an automated medication dispenser (ADM) coupled to a communication network, the ADM configured to securely store a plurality of medications and to allow access to the medications upon entry of an authorized access code, the ADM dispenser further configured to generate a medication supply event signal indicative of the occurrence at the dispenser of one of a set of medication supply events relating to a medication prescribed to a patient, wherein the set of medication supply events includes at least one of; issuance of a new medical order; modification of a medical order; and discontinuation of a medical order, wherein a medical order is an order issued by a caregiver; a memory configured to store user-selected event types, user-selected message parameters, and user-selected message filters; a messaging processor adapted to; receive the medication supply event signals from the medication dispenser; compare the received medication supply event signals to user-selected event types in the memory; and based upon a determination that the comparison indicates that the medication supply event signals received by the messaging processor correspond to a user-selected event type in the memory and that the event satisfies a message filter stored in memory, send a message to a user of the medication dispenser via a communication link that the event has occurred in accordance with user-selected message parameters contained in memory; and
a messaging device carried by the user that is adapted to receive the message from the messaging processor and to communicate the received message to the user wherein the system is configured such that authorized access codes are provided to caregivers who administer the medication to the patient but not to the patient receiving the medication. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification