Method and apparatus for inventory control in medical treatment areas
First Claim
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1. A system of controlling inventory in a medical facility, comprising:
- a medical treatment area within a medical facility having a network, the medical treatment area and network configured such that the network can determine that a wireless medical device is within the medical treatment area, the medical treatment area being assigned to a patient;
a plurality of wireless medical devices inventoried by the medical facility, each inventoried wireless medical device having a medical device record;
wherein the network is configured to automatically detect and identify a wireless medical device upon introduction of the wireless medical device into the medical treatment area, determine whether a medical device record exists for the newly detected wireless medical device, create a medical device record if the newly detected wireless medical device does not have a medical device record, and assign the newly detected wireless medical device to the patient to whom the medical treatment area is assigned.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for controlling inventory in a medical facility include providing a medical device into a medical treatment area within a wireless range of a medical facility network and automatically identifying the medical device upon introduction into the medical treatment area. Patient records are automatically updated to reflect that the medical device has been assigned to a patient.
44 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system of controlling inventory in a medical facility, comprising:
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a medical treatment area within a medical facility having a network, the medical treatment area and network configured such that the network can determine that a wireless medical device is within the medical treatment area, the medical treatment area being assigned to a patient; a plurality of wireless medical devices inventoried by the medical facility, each inventoried wireless medical device having a medical device record; wherein the network is configured to automatically detect and identify a wireless medical device upon introduction of the wireless medical device into the medical treatment area, determine whether a medical device record exists for the newly detected wireless medical device, create a medical device record if the newly detected wireless medical device does not have a medical device record, and assign the newly detected wireless medical device to the patient to whom the medical treatment area is assigned. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
wherein the Previously presented network is user accessible through the terminal.
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9. The system of claim 8, wherein the network is further configured to, upon assigning the wireless medical device to the patient, update a billing record Previously presented to reflect that the patient has used the wireless medical device.
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10. A method of controlling inventory in a medical facility, comprising the steps of:
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providing a wireless medical device into a medical treatment area within a wireless range of a network that is able to determine that the wireless medical device is within the medical treatment area, the medical treatment area being assigned to a patient; automatically detecting and identifying the medical device upon introduction into the medical treatment area; automatically determining whether a medical device record exists for the newly detected wireless medical device wherein a medical device record exists for every wireless medical device that is inventoried by the medical facility; automatically creating a medical device record if the newly detected wireless medical device does not have a medical device record; and automatically assigning the newly detected wireless medical device to the patient to whom the medical treatment area is assigned. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. An inventory control system comprising:
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a medical treatment area within a medical facility having a network, the medical treatment area and network configured such that the network can determine that a wireless medical device is within the medical treatment area, the medical treatment area being assigned to a patient; and a first wireless medical device that comprises at least one item of the set of medications, medical devices, and supplies, the first wireless medical device configured to provide a signal for each item dispensed from the first wireless medical device; wherein the network is configured to automatically detect and identify the first wireless medical device upon introduction of the first wireless medical device into the medical treatment area, assign the first wireless medical device to the patient to whom the medical treatment area is assigned, receive the signals from the first wireless medical device, and update a patient record to reflect each dispensed item. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. An inventory control system comprising:
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a medical treatment area within a medical facility having a network, the medical treatment area and network configured such that the network can determine that a wireless medical device is within the medical treatment area, the medical treatment area being assigned to a patient; and a wireless medical device that comprises at least one surgical instrument; wherein the network is configured to automatically detect and identify the second wireless medical device upon introduction of the wireless medical device into the medical treatment area, assign the wireless medical device to the patient to whom the medical treatment area is assigned, and update a patient record to reflect the use of the wireless medical device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification