Distributing prescribed medications

Abstract

A physical distribution system for distributing prescribed medications ordered by physicians from a storeroom via a pharmacy to patients in a hospital department in a secure and reliable manner. The physical distribution system comprises a container with compartments, and dispensers. Each of the compartments is associated with an electronic lock associated with an opening code uniquely associated with a physician, a patient and prescription data. Each of the plurality of dispensers is associated with a unique patient related code. Each electronic lock is arranged to enable entering the prescribed medications into the associated compartment upon identification of the associate opening code. Each electronic lock is arranged to enable disposing prescribed medications from compartments into the dispenser upon identification of a patient related code on the dispenser corresponding to patient data in the opening code. The prescribed medications are associated with their prescription data.

1 . A physical distribution system for distributing prescribed medications, ordered by physicians, from a storeroom via a pharmacy to patients in a hospital department in a secure and reliable manner, the physical distribution system comprising:
 at least one container comprising a plurality compartments; and   a plurality of dispensers,   wherein each of the plurality of compartments is operatively associated with an electronic lock associated with an opening code uniquely associated with a physician, a patient and prescription data,   wherein each of the plurality of dispensers is associated with a unique patient related code,   wherein each electronic lock is arranged to enable entering the prescribed medications into the associated compartment upon identification of the associated opening code,   wherein each electronic lock is arranged to enable disposing prescribed medications from at least one compartment into at least one dispenser upon identification of a patient related code on the dispenser corresponding to patient data in the opening code, and   wherein the prescribed medications are associated with their prescription data.   
     
     
         2 . The physical distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the opening code and the patient related code both comprise barcodes, wherein the electronic lock comprises a barcode reader, and wherein information related to the prescribed medications is associated with the barcodes. 
     
     
         3 . The physical distribution system of  claim 2 , wherein the information comprises at least one of: patient data, physician data, names of medications, a prescribed dose, and application times. 
     
     
         4 . The physical distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein each compartment comprises:
 an opening;   a handle for opening the compartment;   a description of the content of the compartment; and   an indicator of the state of compartment.   
     
     
         5 . The physical distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein each dispenser comprises:
 a plurality of receptacles; and   a rotatable cover divided into several sectors corresponding to the receptacles beneath them, wherein one sector is open,   
       wherein prescribed medications are dispensed from the appropriate compartments in container into the corresponding receptacle in the dispenser upon identification of a patient related code on the dispenser corresponding to patient data in the opening code. 
     
     
         6 . The physical distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein each dispenser comprises:
 a handle with a code trigger; and   a code reader for identifying a unique patient related code; and   a power and data connector,   wherein code reader is arranged to read patient data, and   wherein code trigger is arranged to enable affirmation of the patient code.   
     
     
         7 . The physical distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of: the dispenser; and the container, is programmable to open at predefined times according to a prescription inputted in a mode that is at least one of: electronic, and manual. 
     
     
         8 . The physical distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of: the dispenser; and the container, comprises an indication of at least one of: patient data; medication data; prescription data, in relation to the content of the at least one of: the dispenser; and the container. 
     
     
         9 . A method of distributing prescribed medications ordered by physicians from a storeroom via a pharmacy to patients in a hospital department in a secure and reliable manner, the method comprising:
 taking the prescribed medications from the storeroom;   identifying the prescribed medications;   storing the prescribed medications in at least one compartment;   dispensing the prescribed medications into at least one dispenser; and   supplying medications to the patients at prescribed times;   wherein the identifying the prescribed medications is carried out according to an opening code associated with the prescribed medications,   wherein the dispensing the prescribed medications is carried out according to patient related code associated with the at least one dispenser, and   wherein the opening code and the patient related code are according to patients related prescription from the physicians.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising receiving prescriptions and associating prescriptions with opening codes and patient related codes. 
     
     
         11 . A distribution system for distributing prescribed medications, comprising:
 a container with a plurality compartments, each compartment operatively associated with an electronic lock openable upon receipt of an opening code uniquely associated with a physician, a patient and prescription data, each electronic lock configured to receive prescribed medication into the associated compartment upon identification of the associated opening code; and   a plurality of dispensers, each dispenser associated with a unique patient related code,   wherein each electronic lock permits dispensing of a prescribed medication from the associated compartment into at least one dispenser upon identification of a patient related code on the dispenser corresponding to patient data in the opening code, and   wherein the prescribed medications are associated with their prescription data.