Management, reporting and benchmarking of medication preparation

Abstract

A system for preparing and managing patient-specific dose orders includes an order processing server configured to receive the patient-specific dose orders, define a queue of dose orders and distribute the dose orders to at least one dose preparation station. The dose preparation station is in bi-directional communication with the order processing server and has an interface for providing an operator with a protocol associated with each received drug order and specifying a set of steps to fill the drug order. Steps to fill the drug order are captured at the station and a display, positionable independent of the station outputs the dose order queue and metrics concerning activity at the dose preparation station. Systems for preparing patient-specific doses and a method for telepharmacy in which data captured while following the protocol are provided to a remote site for review and approval by a pharmacist.

1 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A method for managing dose orders, comprising:
 receiving a dose order;   providing a protocol corresponding with the dose order at a medication preparation station;   preparing a dose at the medication preparation station in accordance with the protocol, including following a recipe comprising at least one discrete drug preparation step;   capturing information at the medication preparation station that relates to following the recipe during the preparing of the dose, wherein the information is captured at, corresponds to, and confirms a performance of a discrete drug preparation step in which the dose is not completely prepared and ready for delivery to the patient, and wherein each discrete drug preparation step must be verified in accordance with the protocol as having been completed;   storing the captured information at a database;   accessing the captured information from a remote site using a portal in communication with the database;   inspecting the prepared dose through the portal;   reviewing the captured information in order to verify whether the dose has been prepared in accordance with the protocol; and   approving release of the dose if the reviewing step confirms that the dose has been prepared in accordance with the protocol.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the capturing information comprises the step of:
 confirming an identity of a drug product that is used to prepare the dose in accordance with the protocol.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the step of confirming the identity of the drug product comprises the steps of:
 acquiring drug product code information for the drug product by scanning a label on the drug product;   comparing the drug product code information to a database to identify the drug product; and   confirming the identity of the drug product in accordance with the protocol based on the comparing.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the drug product code information corresponds to a National Drug Code (NDC) number. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the acquiring further comprises:
 converting the NDC number from a ten digit format to an eleven digit format.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 entering at the medication preparation station a product lot number and a product expiration date corresponding to the drug product;   wherein the product lot number and product expiration date are used to confirm the identity of the drug product that is used to prepare the dose in accordance with the protocol.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the step of confirming the identity of the drug product further comprises the steps of:
 printing and applying a product label to the drug product.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one discrete drug preparation step includes at least one step that is an intermediate step involving a diluent that shows the dose prior to completing the dose preparation. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the capturing information comprises the step of:
 confirming an identity of the diluent that is combined with the drug product in a reconstitution process to form a completed drug product in accordance with the protocol   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the step of confirming the identity of the diluent comprises the steps of:
 acquiring diluent product code information for the diluent by scanning a label on the diluent that is to be combined with the drug product;   comparing the diluent product code information to a database to identify the diluent; and   confirming the identity of the diluent in accordance with the protocol based on the comparing.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the step of capturing information comprises the step of:
 capturing an image of the diluent.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the preparing comprises the step of:
 combining the diluent and the drug product in accordance with the protocol to generate the completed drug product in accordance with the protocol; and   
       wherein the capturing information comprises the step of:
 capturing an image of the completed drug product. 
 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the completed drug product comprises a drug vial. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 27 , further including the steps of:
 applying a label to a dose container that is prepared in accordance with the protocol in view of the dose order;   acquiring a dose volume from the drug product;   capturing an image of a product dose transfer in which a dose volume is transferred from the completed drug product to the dose container; and   capturing an image of the completed dose container.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the preparation step includes obtaining a completed dose that is in a state that is suitable for delivery to a patient 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , further including the step of:
 scanning a label on the completed dose container.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the step of capturing information includes the step of using a hands-free device to capture an image with a camera. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 displaying the protocol on an interactive screen that includes prompts that can be highlighted by an operator to receive additional information relative to one particular step and includes areas for entering the input.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein each discrete drug preparation step must be verified in accordance with the protocol as having been completed in an order comprising the recipe. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the capturing information comprises:
 verifying each drug preparation step as being properly completed in accordance with the recipe before the operator can continue with any subsequent drug preparation steps of the protocol.   
     
     
         45 . A system for preparing and managing dose orders that have been entered into a first system, comprising:
 an order processing server executing software on a processor thereof and connected by a network to the first system and configured to receive the dose orders from the first system, the order processing server including a database configured to store the dose orders and information that relates to the dose orders in a dose record, the order processing server being configured to generate a dose order queue listing all dose orders received by the order processing server;   a dose preparation station for preparing a plurality of doses based on received dose orders, the dose preparation station being in bi-directional communication with the order processing server and having an interface for providing an operator with a protocol associated with each received drug order and specifying a set of steps to fill the drug order,   the dose preparation station being configured to present the protocol and having one or more data input devices to capture dose preparation information that relates to at least one step of the protocol to fill the drug order in accordance with the protocol and communicate the dose preparation information to the order processing server for association with the dose record, wherein the dose preparation information includes confirmation data entered by the operator to confirm that at least one step of the protocol was successfully completed and further includes indicia associated with the dose that permits the contents of the dose to be confirmed; and   a portal that is accessible remotely from the dose preparation station and in communication with the database that is configured to access the dose preparation information from the dose record of the database for presentation of the dose preparation information on a display to a remote user for inspection of the prepared dose by review of the dose preparation information in order to verify whether the dose has been prepared in accordance with the protocol, wherein the portal is configured to receive an approval of the release of the dose if the remote user confirms that the dose has been prepared in accordance with the protocol.   
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 45 , further comprising a plurality of dose preparation stations. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the dose preparation station has a printer for printing dose labels of only those dose orders that are received from the order processing server. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the protocol is based at least in part on information obtained from a National Drug Code (NDC) associated with each drug that is used to fulfill the drug order. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the dose preparation station includes and interactive screen that includes prompts that can be highlighted by an operator to receive additional information relative to one particular step of the protocol and includes areas for entering an input. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the one or more data input devices comprises a camera to capture images of a plurality of a set of drug preparation steps that are part of the protocol and are followed to fill the drug order, wherein each image associate with the drug preparation steps of the protocol is stored together in a data record of the database. 
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 50 , wherein at least one captured image is captured at, corresponds to, and confirms a performance of one discrete drug preparation step in which the dose is not completely prepared and ready for delivery to a patient and the captured image displays a result of a discrete isolated event performed in accordance with one drug preparation step. 
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 51 , wherein each of the steps must be confirmed as completed before the operator can continue with the other steps of the protocol