System and method for remotely supervising and verifying pharmacy functions

• US 10,417,758 B1
• Filed: 01/22/2013
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Alexander, Emily H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Long, Fonya M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rapillo, Kristine K
• Application Number:
  US13/747,231
• Time in Patent Office: 2,429 Days
• 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 system for remotely verifying the correct preparation of a sterile compounded medication in a sterile pharmacy work area at an institutional pharmacy, comprising:

(a) an image capture device arranged to capture a plurality of images of at least one portion of the sterile pharmacy work area during sterile compounding of a medication performed by a non-pharmacist person, including one or more material components and labels provided thereon;

(b) a first computer in communication with a pharmacy order entry system, a server, the image capture device, and an input device, the first computer comprising at least one processor and a display device, the first computer programmed or configured to;

i. display at least one medication order received from the pharmacy order entry system on said display device;

ii. capture a first image with the image capture device during a first step of preparation of the sterile compounded medication;

iii. associate the first image with information relating to the at least one medication order;

iv. transmit the first image to the server;

v. receive a verification from the server that the first step was performed correctly;

vi. after receiving the verification from the server, capture a second image with the image capture device during a second stage of preparation of the sterile compounded medication;

vi. associate the second image with information relating to the at least one medication order;

vii. transmit the at least one image and information relating to the at least one medication order to the server;

viii. receive a verification from the server that the second step was performed correctly; and

ix. receive authorization to place the sterile compounded medication into pharmacy stock; and

(c) verification software executable on the server programmed or configured to (i) transmit to a remote pharmacist computer a notification that the first image is ready for review, (ii) generate a user interface on the remote pharmacist computer configured to display the first image for review and receive a first indication that preparation of the first stage of preparation of the sterile compounded medication was performed correctly or incorrectly, (iii) receive and record the indication, (iv) transmit the first indication to at least one of the first computer and a second computer, (v) transmit to the remote pharmacist computer a notification that the second image is ready for review, (vi) generate a user interface on the remote pharmacist computer configured to display the second image for review and receive a second indication that preparation of the second stage of preparation of the sterile compounded medication was performed correctly or incorrectly, (vii) transmit the second indication to at least one of the first computer and a second computer, (viii) receive authorization to place the sterile compounded medication into pharmacy stock, and (ix) transmit the authorization to the first computer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first computer transmits the at least one image of the preparation of the sterile compounded medication to the server as a single batch after the sterile compounded medication has been prepared.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the institutional pharmacy is a hospital pharmacy.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the verification software is programmed or configured to send a notification to the remote pharmacist computer that the at least one image of preparation of the sterile compounded medication is ready for review, and the remote pharmacist computer displays the notification.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one image is stored on the server.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein, when the indication comprises an indication that preparation of the sterile compounded medication has been performed incorrectly, the indication further comprises details as to one or more errors with the preparation.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the verification software on the server is programmed or configured to send a notification to the first computer or the second computer that the indication has been received from the remote pharmacist computer, and wherein the first computer or the second computer displays the notification.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one image comprises at least one image of a vial of reconstituting media and a syringe containing a specific volume of the reconstituting media and wherein the at least one image comprises a second image comprising a second syringe containing a specific volume of the reconstituting media.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one image comprises a vial of prepackaged stock medication.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first computer comprises a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

encrypt the at least one image of preparation of the sterile compounded medication and information associated with the at least one medication order to produce encrypted data; and

transmit the encrypted data from the first computer to the server for storage thereon.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one medication order is a patient-specific medication order.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one medication order is not related to a specific order.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one medication order is for a batch preparation.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one image comprises one or more of:

medication labels, solution labels, final product labels, supplies used in compounding the sterile medication, equipment indicating volumes used in compounding the sterile medication, indications of the order in which medications or solutions were added during compounding of the sterile medication, and prescription information.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the first computer is programmed or configured to modify the first image by overlaying an identifier relating to the at least one medication order.

15. A computer-implemented method for remotely verifying the correct preparation of a sterile compounded medication in a sterile pharmacy work area at an institutional pharmacy, comprising:

receiving at least one medication order from a pharmacy order entry system;

generating at least one graphical user interface comprising the at least one medication order;

capturing, with at least one image capture device during a first stage of preparation of a sterile compounded medication, a first image of at least one portion of the sterile pharmacy work area, wherein the first image comprises;

a syringe having a withdrawn plunger indicating a particular volume of a material component of the sterile compounded medication,

a label of the material component;

capturing, with the at least one image capture device during a second stage of preparation of the sterile compounded medication, a second image of at least one portion of the sterile pharmacy work area, wherein the second image comprises;

a container comprising the sterile compounded medication; and

a label of the sterile compounded medication;

associating information relating to the at least one medication order with the first image and the second image;

transmitting, from the first computer at the institutional pharmacy to the server, the second image and the information relating to the at least one medication order;

generating a notification to the remote pharmacist computer that the first image, second image, and associated information have been transmitted to the server and are ready for review;

receiving an indication, at the server and from the remote pharmacist computer, that the preparation of the sterile compounded medication was performed correctly;

generating a notification to the first computer or a second computer at the institutional pharmacy that the preparation of the sterile compounded medication was performed correctly; and

displaying, on the first computer or a second computer, the notification that the preparation of the sterile compounded medication was performed correctly.

16. A computer-implemented method for remotely verifying the correct preparation of a sterile compounded medication in a sterile pharmacy work area at an institutional pharmacy, comprising:

receiving, with a first computer at the sterile pharmacy work area, at least one medication order from a pharmacy order entry system;

generating, on a display of the first computer, at least one graphical user interface comprising the at least one medication order;

capturing, with at least one image capture device during a first stage of preparation of a sterile compounded medication, a first image, wherein the image comprises;

a container comprising a material component of the sterile compounded medication;

a label of the material component, including an expiration date for the material component;

a syringe having a withdrawn plunger indicating a particular volume of the material component of the sterile compounded medication; and

a label comprising prescription information;

encrypting and transmitting the first image from the first computer at the sterile pharmacy work area to a server;

generating, in response to entry of a username and password on a remote pharmacist computer, a user interface on a display of the remote pharmacist computer to display the first image;

notifying the remote pharmacist computer that the first image is ready for review;

receiving an indication, at the server and from the remote pharmacist computer, that the material component and the particular volume of the material component are correct;

notifying the first computer that the particular volume of the material component is correct;

displaying, on the first computer, an indication that the particular volume of the material component is correct;

capturing, with the at least one image capture device during a second stage of preparation of the sterile compounded medication, a second image of at least one portion of the sterile pharmacy work area, wherein the second image comprises;

a container comprising the sterile compounded medication; and

a label comprising prescription information;

encrypting and transmitting, from the first computer at the institutional pharmacy to the server, the second image and the information relating to the at least one medication order;

notifying the remote pharmacist computer that the second image is ready for review;

receiving an indication, at the server and from the remote pharmacist computer, that the second stage of preparation of the sterile compounded medication was performed correctly;

notifying the first computer or a second computer at the institutional pharmacy that the second stage of preparation of the sterile compounded medication was performed correctly; and

displaying, on the first computer or a second computer, a notification that the second stage of preparation of the sterile compounded medication was performed correctly.