초록 ▼

A system for dispensing medications in a health care institution includes a computer system connected to control a plurality of remote medication dispensers. Pharmacy terminals are provided for entering medication orders and software in the computer system controls the dispensers to dispense medicat

A system for dispensing medications in a health care institution includes a computer system connected to control a plurality of remote medication dispensers. Pharmacy terminals are provided for entering medication orders and software in the computer system controls the dispensers to dispense medications according to the orders specified. The system includes support for dispensing medications from floor stocks. In either case, medications are administered in accordance with instructions from the computer system generated in accordance with said orders. The system further includes software for identifying medication duplications and potentially dangerous drug interactions based on orders entered into the system at the pharmacy. Inventory control and restocking features are also provided.

대표청구항 ▼

A system for the delivery of medications under the control of a pharmacy to patients in the wards of a health care institution comprising: a computer system; one or more pharmacy terminals operatively connected to said computer system; one or more dispensing stations located in the wards of said hea

A system for the delivery of medications under the control of a pharmacy to patients in the wards of a health care institution comprising: a computer system; one or more pharmacy terminals operatively connected to said computer system; one or more dispensing stations located in the wards of said health care institution, each of said stations including, (a) a station terminal operatively connected to said computer system; (b) a station printer operatively connected to said computer system; and (c) a dispensing cabinet for holding a plurality of unit dose medication packages, said dispensing cabinet electrically controllable by said computer system to dispense one or more of said packages at a time; said computer system including means for maintianing, (a) medication order data entered by said pharmacy, said order data indicating medication orders for patients admitted to said health care institution, said orders including the administration schedule for the medication and the identity of the dispensing station from which medications are to be obtained for said patients; (b) station drug data of each of said dispensing stations, said station drug data indicating the medication stored at said station and if the medication stored at said station is stored in said dispensing cabinet the location of said medications in said cabinet and the quantity of said medication currently at said dispensing station; software means operable in said computer system for: (a) automatically reading said patient order data on a periodic basis and determining for each dispensing station the medication that is scheduled to be administered during an upcoming medication round to patients serviced by each said dispensing station and for generating a medication requirement report for each said determination, said report being printed at each said dispensing station on said station printer whereby it is made available to medication administration personnel; and (b) responding to a medication dispensing request entered at the terminal of a said dispensing station, said request for the medication ordered for a specified patient, and reading said patient order data to determine the medication scheduled to be administered to said specified patient in the upcoming medication round and: (1) if medication scheduled to be administered in the upcoming medication round is held in the dispensing cabinet at said dispensing station at which said request is entered causing said dispensing cabinet to dispense the scheduled medication in unit dose package or packages whereby the dispensed medication may be taken by the person making the dispensing request and administered to said specified patient; and (2) if medication scheduled to be administered in the upcoming medication round is not held in the dispensing cabinet notifying the person making the request to obtain the medication from the medications stored outside the dispensing cabinet whereby the medication may be taken by the person making the request and administered to said patient.