System and method for remotely supervising and verifying pharmacy functions

• US 8,374,887 B1
• Filed: 02/11/2005
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Emily H. Alexander
• Inventors: Alexander, Emily H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phongsvirajati, Sind
• Application Number:
  US11/056,511
• Time in Patent Office: 2,923 Days
• Field of Search: 705 2- 4, 700/241, 700/216, 700/237, 700/244
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A system and method for remotely supervising and verifying pharmacy functions performed by a non-pharmacist at an institutional pharmacy. The institutional pharmacy and a remotely located pharmacist are linked via wired and/or wireless telecommunication systems in a manner that enables the pharmacist to remotely supervise and verify the correct performance of pharmacy functions by non-pharmacist personnel. Images of the pharmacy work performed may be captured using any of a number of types image capture devices. Captured images and corresponding documentation may be transmitted from institutional pharmacy to the remotely located pharmacist, either directly or via a web site accessible to both. After verifying that the pharmacy work was correctly performed, the remote pharmacist may provide the institutional pharmacy with an initialed copy the captured image(s), or other documentation, indicating such verification. Receiving the pharmacist'"'"'s verification may authorize the non-pharmacist to further process the work.

Claims

1. A method for remote supervision and verification of pharmacy functions that are performed by a non-pharmacist person, comprising:

in response to performance, by a non-pharmacist person, of pharmacy work to prepare a medication at an institutional pharmacy, wherein the pharmacy work requires pharmacist verification of the pharmacy work, wherein performing the pharmacy work comprises the non-pharmacist person performing, at a workstation in the institutional pharmacy, a sterile compounding process to prepare the medication, wherein the medication is compounded from a plurality of material components at the workstation within the institutional pharmacy;

capturing, via an image capture device at the workstation in the institutional pharmacy, one or more images of the pharmacy work performed by the non-pharmacist person as the work is performed by the non-pharmacist person at the institutional pharmacy, wherein at least one of the images is an image of the sterile compounding process performed by the non-pharmacist person that requires verification by a pharmacist for medications to be placed into pharmacy stock;

implementing verification software, via one or more computers at the institutional pharmacy, to remotely verify the work performed by the non-pharmacist person, wherein remote verification of the work performed by the non-pharmacist person comprises;

transmitting the one or more images captured by the image capture device of the sterile compounding process performed by the non-pharmacist person at the workstation to a remote pharmacist for review, wherein said transmitting the one or more images comprises storing the images on a website;

receiving an indication of the remote pharmacist'"'"'s verification of the correct performance of the sterile compounding process by the non-pharmacist person; and

providing, in response to the indication of the remote pharmacist'"'"'s verification, an indication at the institutional pharmacy that the remote pharmacist has verified the sterile compounding process performed by the non-pharmacist person.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more captured images include one or more images of a plurality of material components for performing the pharmacy work and one or more measures for the material components.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more captured images include one or more still images or one or more video clips.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting the one or more images comprises transmitting the one or more images via a real-time collaboration tool.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the pharmacist accessing the still images from the website.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving an indication comprises:

storing the indication of the pharmacist'"'"'s verification of the correct performance of the sterile compounding process on the website; and

the non-pharmacist accessing the indication of the pharmacist'"'"'s verification on the website.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting one or more documents related to the performed pharmacy work to the remote pharmacist.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the pharmacy work is performed pursuant to a medication order;

and wherein each of the one or more images comprises an indication of the medication order.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing, via one or more computers at the institutional pharmacy:

receiving an indication of the remote pharmacist'"'"'s authorization for the sterile compounded medications; and

providing an indication at the institutional pharmacy site that the remote pharmacist has authorized the sterile compounded medications.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising placing the sterile compounded medications into regular pharmacy stock at the institutional pharmacy after receiving authorization from the remote pharmacist.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote pharmacist remotely verifies, via a computer, pharmacy functions performed at the institutional pharmacy and at one or more additional institutional pharmacies.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote pharmacist remotely verifies, via a computer, pharmacy functions performed at the institutional pharmacy and at one or more additional institutional pharmacies, wherein the remote pharmacist accesses the orders through at least one pharmacy order entry system for at least one of the institutional pharmacies, wherein the pharmacist remotely verifies pharmacy functions at the institutional pharmacy and at one or more additional institutional pharmacies on a first-come, first-served basis in which the institutional pharmacies are serviced in the order they notified the remote pharmacist that images were available for verification.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein capturing the one or more images comprises capturing two or more images of the sterile compounding process of the sterile compounded medications as the sterile compounded medications are prepared, wherein at least one of the two or more images is captured at a different stage of the compounding of the sterile compounded medications than at least one other of the two or more images.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein at least two of the two more images captured by the image capture device at the workstation are uploaded as a single post for a remote pharmacist for review.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein, for each of at least two steps in the sterile compounding process of the sterile compounded medications, the remote pharmacist provides to the institutional pharmacy, on a step-by-step basis, a verification of the step using at least one captured image for the step.

16. A method for remote supervision and verification of pharmacy functions that are performed by a non-pharmacist person, comprising:

in response to performance, by a non-pharmacist person, of pharmacy work to prepare a medication at an institutional pharmacy, wherein the pharmacy work requires pharmacist verification of the pharmacy work, wherein performing the pharmacy work comprises the non-pharmacist person performing, at a workstation in the institutional pharmacy, a sterile compounding process to prepare the medication, wherein the medication is compounded from a plurality of material components at the workstation within the institutional pharmacy;

capturing, via an image capture device at the workstation in the institutional pharmacy, one or more images of the pharmacy work performed by the non-pharmacist person as the work is performed by the non-pharmacist person at the institutional pharmacy, wherein at least one of the images is an image of the sterile compounding process performed by the non-pharmacist person that requires verification by a pharmacist for medications to be placed into pharmacy stock;

wherein capturing the one or more images comprises capturing two or more images of the sterile compounding process of the sterile compounded medications as the sterile compounded medications are prepared, wherein at least one of the two or more images is captured at a different stage of the compounding of the sterile compounded medications than at least one other of the two or more images;

implementing verification software, via one or more computers at the institutional pharmacy, to remotely verify the work performed by the non-pharmacist person, wherein remote verification of the work performed by the non-pharmacist person comprises;

transmitting the one or more images captured by the image capture device of the sterile compounding process performed by the non-pharmacist person at the workstation to a remote pharmacist for review;

receiving an indication of the remote pharmacist'"'"'s verification of the correct performance of the sterile compounding process by the non-pharmacist person; and

providing, in response to the indication of the remote pharmacist'"'"'s verification, an indication at the institutional pharmacy that the remote pharmacist has verified the sterile compounding process performed by the non-pharmacist person.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more captured images include one or more images of a plurality of material components for performing the pharmacy work and one or more measures for the material components.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more captured images include one or more still images or one or more video clips.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said transmitting the one or more images comprises transmitting the one or more images via email or via a real-time collaboration tool.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising transmitting one or more documents related to the performed pharmacy work to the remote pharmacist.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the pharmacy work is performed pursuant to a medication order;

and wherein each of the one or more images comprises an indication of the medication order.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising performing, via one or more computers at the institutional pharmacy:

receiving an indication of the remote pharmacist'"'"'s authorization for the sterile compounded medications; and

providing an indication at the institutional pharmacy site that the remote pharmacist has authorized the sterile compounded medications.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising placing the sterile compounded medications into regular pharmacy stock at the institutional pharmacy after receiving authorization from the remote pharmacist.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein the remote pharmacist remotely verifies, via a computer, pharmacy functions performed at the institutional pharmacy and at one or more additional institutional pharmacies.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein the remote pharmacist remotely verifies, via a computer, pharmacy functions performed at the institutional pharmacy and at one or more additional institutional pharmacies, wherein the remote pharmacist accesses the orders through at least one pharmacy order entry system for at least one of the institutional pharmacies, wherein the pharmacist remotely verifies pharmacy functions at the institutional pharmacy and at one or more additional institutional pharmacies on a first-come, first-served basis in which the institutional pharmacies are serviced in the order they notified the remote pharmacist that images were available for verification.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein at least two of the two more images captured by the image capture device at the workstation are uploaded as a single post for a remote pharmacist for review.

27. The method of claim 16, wherein, for each of at least two steps in the sterile compounding process of the sterile compounded medications, the remote pharmacist provides to the institutional pharmacy, on a step-by-step basis, a verification of the step using at least one captured image for the step.