Pharmaceutical waste identification system

• US 8,706,574 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2008
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Waste Management National Services, Inc. (Waste Management Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WM Healthcare Solutions, Inc. (Waste Management Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smith, Charlotte A., McCauley, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilligan, Luke
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAPILLO, KRISTINE K
• Application Number:
  US12/051,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20080162191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,225 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/40 relating to drugs, e.g. their side effects or intended usage
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A pharmaceutical waste identification system presents pharmaceutical waste information and, in response to a client entering a pharmaceutical name, the system provides a pharmaceutical waste disposal recommendation. This recommendation can include a labeling recommendation for a container for the pharmaceutical, a disposal recommendation for an empty container previously containing the pharmaceutical, and a disposal recommendation for the pharmaceutical.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by a processor, cause the processor to generate disposal recommendations for pharmaceuticals, the instructions configured to:

gather pharmaceutical waste information associated with a pharmaceutical from a plurality of sources;

provide a user interface that presents information associated with the pharmaceutical waste information to a client;

develop pharmaceutical waste and waste stream management recommendations in direct response to in-patient pharmaceutical inventory information entered by the client; and

provide the client with identified pharmaceutical waste and waste stream management recommendations, wherein the client enters a pharmaceutical name and is provided with a pharmaceutical waste disposal recommendation, the instructions being embodied on a computer readable medium.

2. The application of claim 1, wherein the in-patient inventory information includes a product code and a product name.

3. The application of claim 2, wherein the product code includes a National Drug Code (NDC) code.

4. The application of claim 1, wherein the in-patient inventory information is provided in an electronic spreadsheet format.

5. The application of claim 4, wherein the identified waste and waste stream management recommendations are appended to the in-patient inventory information.

11. The application of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises:

an input field configured to receive a pharmaceutical identifier corresponding to a pharmaceutical;

a recommendation field configured to display hazardous waste information associated with the pharmaceutical; and

an explanation field configured to display explanatory texts associated with the pharmaceutical and recommended treatment for a finished dosage form of the pharmaceutical.

6. A method of providing disposal recommendations for pharmaceuticals, the method comprising:

receiving in-patient pharmaceutical inventory information entered by a client including a product code and a product name on a processing unit;

identifying pharmaceutical waste and waste stream management recommendations based on the received in-patient pharmaceutical inventory information; and

providing the identified pharmaceutical waste and waste stream management recommendations to the client, wherein the client enters a pharmaceutical name and is provided with a pharmaceutical waste disposal recommendation.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the product code includes a National Drug Code (NDC) code.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the in-patient inventory information is provided in an electronic spreadsheet format.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the identified waste and waste stream management recommendations are appended to the in-patient inventory information.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the providing of disposal recommendations is wholly computer enabled without the assistance of a human analyst.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the providing of the identified pharmaceutical waste and waste stream management recommendations to the client is performed via a user interface comprising:

an input field configured to receive a pharmaceutical identifier corresponding to a pharmaceutical;

a recommendation field configured to display hazardous waste information associated with the pharmaceutical; and

an explanation field configured to display explanatory texts associated with the pharmaceutical and recommended treatment for a finished dosage form of the pharmaceutical.