Anesthesia cart

Abstract

A computerized medication dispensing station that addresses anesthesia medication management and tracking problems is disclosed. Medications, including narcotic and non-narcotic, and supplies for use in anesthesia, are stored in secured, semi-secured, and unsecured containers of a mobile station. A computer housed in the station is used to track the anesthesiology items that have been removed from the station. For each item removed, the time of removal, who removed it, and to whom it was administered is tracked. Items that are not administered to a patient are returned to the pharmacy or wasted (i.e., disposed in accordance with regulations). Each type of event (administration to a patient, return, or waste) is documented so that a health care institution can track usage of items, including narcotic medications, for use in anesthesia.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001] 1. Field of the Invention[0002] The present invention relates generally to computerized medication management and dispensing stations. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system, method, and apparatus for controlling the dispensing and inventory of anesthesiology items in a health care institution.[0003] 2. Description of Related Art[0004] Medication management in anesthesia presents a challenge for both the pharmacy and the anesthesia departments in health care institutions. Anesthesia requires open, unrestricted access to many medications, including narcotics as well as supplies. Pharmacies, on the other hand, must control access to medications and impose security measures. Organizations such as the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), the Drug Enforcement Agency, and the State Boards of Pharmacy require strict documentation and record keeping of narcotic usage. The JCAHO provides accreditation t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018] To use the present invention, an anesthesiologist logs into the station's computer, removes one or more anesthesiology items, and after administration of the anesthesiology items, documents item usage. Documenting item usage includes assigning items to a case, returning items, wasting items, and transferring items. Alternatively, the anesthesiologist may log into the stations' computer and select a case so that anesthesiology items are assigned to the selected case as they are removed. The control unit of the station is adapted to capture case information as well as information regarding the anesthesiologist(s) associated with the case. Case information includes information about the anesthesiology items used for a specific procedure associated with a patient including the medications that will be or have been administered to the patient. Case information may be entered either before or after removal of items from the cart. It is important to note, therefore, that the anesthesiologist is not required to select a case prior to removing anesthesiology items from the cart. This flexibility in determining when anesthesiology items may be documented (i.e., after items have been removed or as items are being removed) is unique to the present invention.

[0020] The present invention provides significant advantages over the prior art. First, the station is mobile and may hold all medications required for a procedure in the room. An anesthesiologist may locate medications and supplies quickly and easily as they are needed. Using the present invention, the anesthesiologist no longer needs to stand in line at a satellite pharmacy or carry around keys to a narcotic room or use simultaneous processes to obtain needed supplies. Second, the documentation process is facilitated with the real-time, interactive system of the station. The necessary information is collected and processed as anesthesiologists assign items to cases. Third, the reporting capabilities provide the pharmacy and administration with accurate drug practice information. Health care institutions that use the present invention feel secure that required items will be immediately available and that medication and supply usage documentation will be completed properly. The present invention saves hours of unproductive legwork and manual documentation that are required by prior art systems.

Problems solved by technology

Medication management in anesthesia presents a challenge for both the pharmacy and the anesthesia departments in health care institutions.

As a consequence, a serious responsibility gap exists in medication control from the time the medications are issued to anesthesiologists until the end of the day when remaining medications are returned.

Complying with federal regulations is often a tedious task.

Anesthesia records are often incomplete with respect to accurate medication usage documentation during and after a procedure.

Current methods of anesthesia narcotic medication management are labor intensive for pharmacists and anesthesiologists, often leading to costly errors.

This process is time-consuming and cumbersome to both the pharmacy and the anesthesiologist.

To mitigate these constraints, anesthesia and nursing staff have unsupervised access to the satellite pharmacy during off hours.

The burden of narcotic tracking, however, still falls on the pharmacy during these off hour periods and the healthcare facility is exposed to potentially severe regulatory agency repercussions.

Satellite pharmacies are becoming rare due to the expense and overhead of running a specialized pharmacy.

However, the inconsistencies may not be addressed for several days at which point the anesthesiologist may not remember the exact circumstances surrounding the medication discrepancy.

Although the system provides some electronic information capture, there is still much legwork to be done.

This product still requires a great deal of manual labor to complete the tracking process.

Even in a perfect environment, mistakes are made, medications are not documented, documentation is not accurate, or items are diverted without a record.

Often, the mistakes are due to uncontrollable events that occur during a procedure.

This requirement adds unnecessary and costly delays to the procedure.

Whatever the case, the result is inaccurate medication usage documentation.

In addition to control of narcotic medications, management of non-narcotic medications and supplies is often inefficient and leads to costly errors.

This non-automated, non-secured practice often results in errors in patient billing and stock-outs (i.e., depletion of the entire inventory of a particular item).

Stock-out risks cause anesthesiologists to overstock all medications and supplies in the carts, thus incurring a much greater storage cost than necessary.

However, due to cost cutting measures, few facilities have the luxury of anesthesia technicians.

Another factor that makes tracking difficult is the manner in which an anesthesiologist works.

In either case, the anesthesiologist must take a significant amount of time to prepare for a case.

This time-consuming process delays the procedure.

Another factor that makes the tracking problem complex is that some medications may not be used during a procedure.

Another complicating factor in the tracking process is that the practice of anesthesia uses a small number of medications.

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