Patient-specific bin assignment systems, methods, and devices
First Claim
1. A system for assigning a patient-specific bin to a patient, the system comprising:
- a plurality of dispensing devices for medical supplies, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of dispensing devices includes one or more patient-specific bins allocated for assignment to a patient and includes one or more dispensing mechanisms that are secured within the device and configured to dispense items from the one or more patient-specific bins; and
a central server computer system, communicatively coupled to each of the plurality of dispensing devices, and configured to;
receive an identification of a location to be occupied by the patient;
identify a dispensing device of the plurality of dispensing devices based at least in part on an association between the location and the identified dispensing device;
assign the dispensing device as an active device to provide use of the dispensing device for the patient, wherein the assignment of the dispensing device as active enables a set of functions that are allowed for the dispensing device;
receive information from the dispensing device identifying one or more patient-specific bins within the dispensing device that are assigned to other patients;
determine one or more patient-specific bins within the dispensing device are available for assignment to the patient based on the information received from the dispensing device;
assign to the patient a selected first one of the patient-specific bins available for assignment;
configure the controls of the dispensing mechanism to dispense items from the first one of the patient-specific bins to a group of authorized user;
assign the dispensing device as an interim device to provide continued use of the dispensing device during a transfer of the patient, wherein the assignment of the dispensing device as interim limits the functions that are allowed for the dispensing device; and
based on the assignment of the dispensing device as an interim device, reconfigure the controls of the dispensing mechanism to restrict access to the items of the first one of the patient-specific bins to a subset of the group of authorized users.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, methods, and devices are described related to the assignment and management of patient-specific bins. A dispensing device at a healthcare facility includes a number of bins for storage of medical supplies, with some of the bins designated as patient-specific bins allocated to be assigned to patients for storage of their medications or certain other supplies. A central server computer system, in communication with a computer of the dispensing device, may monitor and assign current and future patient-specific use of the bins for the dispensing device. The assignment and management of patient-specific bins may be performed by devices distributed through the system.
88 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system for assigning a patient-specific bin to a patient, the system comprising:
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a plurality of dispensing devices for medical supplies, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of dispensing devices includes one or more patient-specific bins allocated for assignment to a patient and includes one or more dispensing mechanisms that are secured within the device and configured to dispense items from the one or more patient-specific bins; and a central server computer system, communicatively coupled to each of the plurality of dispensing devices, and configured to; receive an identification of a location to be occupied by the patient; identify a dispensing device of the plurality of dispensing devices based at least in part on an association between the location and the identified dispensing device; assign the dispensing device as an active device to provide use of the dispensing device for the patient, wherein the assignment of the dispensing device as active enables a set of functions that are allowed for the dispensing device; receive information from the dispensing device identifying one or more patient-specific bins within the dispensing device that are assigned to other patients; determine one or more patient-specific bins within the dispensing device are available for assignment to the patient based on the information received from the dispensing device; assign to the patient a selected first one of the patient-specific bins available for assignment; configure the controls of the dispensing mechanism to dispense items from the first one of the patient-specific bins to a group of authorized user; assign the dispensing device as an interim device to provide continued use of the dispensing device during a transfer of the patient, wherein the assignment of the dispensing device as interim limits the functions that are allowed for the dispensing device; and based on the assignment of the dispensing device as an interim device, reconfigure the controls of the dispensing mechanism to restrict access to the items of the first one of the patient-specific bins to a subset of the group of authorized users. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of assigning a patient-specific bin to a patient, the method comprising:
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receiving an identification of a room to be occupied by the patient; identifying a dispensing device among a plurality of dispensing devices based at least in part on an association between the room and the identified dispensing device, wherein the dispensing device includes one or more dispensing mechanisms that are secured within the device and configured to dispense items from bins within the device; designating the dispensing device as an active device, wherein the designation of the dispensing device as active enables a set of functions that are allowed for the dispensing device; receiving information from the dispensing device identifying one or more patient-specific bins within the dispensing device that are assigned to other patients; determining one or more patient-specific bins within the dispensing device are available for assignment to the patient based on the information received from the dispensing device; assigning a selected first one of the identified patient-specific bins to the patient; configuring the controls of the dispensing mechanism to dispense items from the selected first one of the identified patient-specific bins to a group of authorized user; adjusting a designation of the dispensing device from active to interim to provide continued use of the dispensing device for the patient during a transfer of the patient to another room, wherein the designation of the dispensing device as interim limits the functions that are allowed for the dispensing device; and based on the designation of the dispensing device as interim, reconfiguring the controls of the dispensing mechanism to restrict access to the dispensed items of the selected first one of the identified patient-specific bins to a subset of the group of authorized users. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A device for assigning a patient-specific bin to a patient, the device comprising:
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a receiving unit configured to receive an identification of a room to be occupied by the patient and to receive information from a dispensing device identifying a patient-specific bin within the dispensing device that is currently assigned to another patient; a processing unit, communicatively coupled with the receiving unit, and configured to; identify the dispensing device based at least in part on an association between the room and the identified dispensing device, the dispensing device including one or more dispensing mechanisms secured within the dispensing device and configured to dispense items from one or more bins of the dispensing device; designate the dispensing device as an active device, wherein the designation of the dispensing device as active enables a set of functions that are allowed for the dispensing device; automatically identify one or more patient-specific bins that are available for assignment to the patient from a plurality of bins within the identified device; assign a selected one of the identified patient-specific bins to the patient; configure the controls of the dispensing mechanism to dispense items from the selected one of the identified patient-specific bins to a group of authorized user; designate the dispensing device as an interim device based at least in part on a transfer of the patient, wherein the designation of the dispensing device as interim limits the functions that are allowed for the dispensing device; and based on the designation of the dispensing device as interim, reconfigure the controls of the dispensing mechanism to restrict access to the items of the selected one of the identified patient-specific bins to a subset of the group of authorized users; and a transmitting unit, communicatively coupled with the receiving unit, and configured to transmit the assignment and designation to the dispensing device.
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Specification