Managing re-use of returned medications

Abstract

Methods for managing a return of a prepared medication are provided. In one aspect, a method includes receiving an identification of at least one returned medication delivered to a first location, and receiving an order for another medication. The method also includes determining whether the at least one returned medication is usable for completing the order of the other medication, and when the determination indicates that the at least one returned medication is usable for completing the order of the other medication, providing a notification indicating that the at least one returned medication is usable for completing the order of the other medication. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 one or more active identification devices configured to transmit information when within a proximity of a reader device without a further scanning action taken by a participant;   one or more processors; and   a machine-readable memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause a first computing device to perform operations comprising:
 identifying a first medication at a first location within a healthcare facility to be returned to a second location within the healthcare facility; 
 providing, to a remote computing device separate from the system, instructions to retrieve the first medication from the first location; 
 receiving a first indication that the first medication is available for re-use before it is returned to the second location, the first indication including information automatically obtained wirelessly from an active identification device affixed to a container of the first medication by the reader device when the active identification device was within the proximity of the reader device; 
 receiving an order for a second medication; 
 determining whether the first medication is usable for completing the order of the second medication prior to a delivery time associated with the second medication; 
 providing, when the first medication is determined to be usable, for display at a display device, a first notification indicating that the first medication is usable for completing the order. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 determining an expiration time of the first medication, and a delivery location of the second medication, wherein the operations determine whether the first medication is us usable for completing the order of the second medication prior to the delivery time based on the expiration time of the first medication and the delivery location of the second medication.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 determining that the first medication is usable for completing the order of the second medication prior to the delivery time associated with the second medication;   receiving a second indication that the first medication was received at the second location; and   providing, responsive to receiving the second indication, for display at the display device, a second notification indicating that the first medication was received at the second location.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the instructions are provided after determining that the first medication is usable. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first medication or the second medication is designated for use by an infusion device. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the remote computing device is a mobile device associated with delivery personal. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 determining that the first medication cannot be used for completing the order of the second medication prior to the delivery time associated with the second medication; and   providing, for display at the display device, a second notification indicating to proceed with completing the order of the second medication.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving delivery progress information for a respective medication based on a scanning of a respective active identification device affixed to a container of the respective medication at one or more locations within the healthcare facility;   receiving, from a second computing device, a request from a care provider for location information associated with the respective medication; and   providing, to a second computing device, the location information including a last-known location of the respective medication.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the second computing device is a mobile device assigned to the care provider or a automated dispensing machine. 
     
     
         10 . A method, comprising:
 identifying a first medication at a first location within a healthcare facility to be returned to a second location within the healthcare facility;   providing, to a remote computing device, instructions to retrieve the first medication from the first location;   receiving a first indication that the first medication is available for re-use before it is returned to the second location, the first indication including information automatically obtained wirelessly from an active identification device affixed to a container of the first medication by a reader device when the active identification device was within a proximity of the reader device;   receiving an order for a second medication;   determining whether the first medication is usable for completing the order of the second medication prior to a delivery time associated with the second medication;   providing, when the first medication is determined to be usable, for display at a display device, a first notification indicating that the first medication is usable for completing the order.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 determining an expiration time of the first medication, and a delivery location of the second medication, wherein determining whether the first medication is usable for completing the order of the second medication prior to the delivery time is based on the expiration time of the first medication and the delivery location of the second medication.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 determining that the first medication is usable for completing the order of the second medication prior to the delivery time associated with the second medication;   receiving a second indication that the first medication was received at the second location; and   providing, responsive to receiving the second indication, for display at the display device, a second notification indicating that the first medication was received at the second location.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first medication or the second medication is designated for use by an infusion device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the remote computing device is a mobile device associated with delivery personal. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 determining that the first medication cannot be used for completing the order of the second medication prior to the delivery time associated with the second medication; and   providing, for display at the display device, a second notification indicating to proceed with completing the order of the second medication.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 receiving delivery progress information for a respective medication based on a scanning of a respective active identification device affixed to a container of the respective medication at one or more locations within the healthcare facility;   receiving, from a second computing device, a request from a care provider for location information associated with the respective medication, the second computing device comprising a mobile device assigned to the care provider or a automated dispensing machine; and   providing, to a second computing device, the location information including a last-known location of the respective medication.   
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory machine readable memory device storing instructions thereon that, when executed, cause a first computing device to perform operations comprising:
 identifying a first medication at a first location within a healthcare facility to be returned to a second location within the healthcare facility;   providing, to a remote computing device separate from the first computing device, instructions to retrieve the first medication from the first location;   receiving, after providing the instructions, a first indication that the first medication is available for re-use before it is returned to the second location, the first indication including information automatically obtained wirelessly from an active identification device affixed to a container of the first medication by a reader device when the active identification device was within a proximity of the reader device;   receiving an order for a second medication;   determining whether the first medication is usable for completing the order of the second medication prior to a delivery time associated with the second medication;   providing, when the first medication is determined to be usable, for display at a display device, a first notification indicating that the first medication is usable for completing the order.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory machine readable memory device of  claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 determining that the first medication is usable for completing the order of the second medication prior to the delivery time associated with the second medication;   receiving a second indication that the first medication was received at the second location; and   providing, responsive to receiving the second indication, for display at the display device, a second notification indicating that the first medication was received at the second location.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory machine readable memory device of  claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 determining that the first medication cannot be used for completing the order of the second medication prior to the delivery time associated with the second medication; and   providing, for display at the display device, a second notification indicating to proceed with completing the order of the second medication.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory machine readable memory device of  claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving delivery progress information for a respective medication based on a scanning of a respective active identification device affixed to a container of the respective medication at one or more locations within the healthcare facility;   receiving, from a second computing device, a request from a care provider for location information associated with the respective medication, the second computing device comprising a mobile device assigned to the care provider or a automated dispensing machine; and   providing, to a second computing device, the location information including a last-known location of the respective medication.