Drug administration kit

Abstract

A novel drug dispensing and tracking system is provided. In one aspect, the system is provided as a kit comprising a plurality of coded containers and a correspondingly coded medication administration record sheet. The invention also includes a method of dispensing medications.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a system for monitoring drug delivery in hospitals and other medical facilities. More particularly, it relates to a kit to be used by a pharmacist and nurse to reduce errors in the drug delivery process. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] In a hospital or other institutional setting, a nurse is frequently required to keep track of medications for different patients and to make sure that every patient gets the correct medication at the correct time of day. It is known however, that errors in drug administration do occur. Such errors pose a threat to the patient and may interfere with their treatment and recovery. In the worst cases, administration of an incorrect drug to patient can have serious health effects and is some times even fatal. [0003] There are many steps in the drug delivery process where an error can occur. Normally, the attending physician prescribes a drug or several drugs for a patient. The prescription is in...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is a drug delivery system that allows for easy tracking of medication administration to patients. This system is particularly useful for multi-dose systems that contain multiple medications. The system includes pill containers coded for specific days or times and a medication administration record sheet also coded for the same information. The pill containers may be in the form of a cup, envelope, or receptacle in a plastic pill case or blister pack. The sealing backsheet of the blister pack may also be color coded for different times of day. This color coding is also applied to the medication record sheet. Overall, this system simplifies the process of administering medications to patients and reduces the time and environmental impacts of unit dose systems."

Problems solved by technology

It is known however, that errors in drug administration do occur.

Such errors pose a threat to the patient and may interfere with their treatment and recovery.

In the worst cases, administration of an incorrect drug to patient can have serious health effects and is some times even fatal.

There are many steps in the drug delivery process where an error can occur.

Errors can occur at any stage of the drug delivery procedure.

For example, some errors result from an erroneous prescription by the physician.

Other errors occur during the delivery chain when either the pharmacist provides the wrong drug or the nurse administers medication to the wrong patient or at the wrong time.

There are problems associated with this excessive packaging including environmental pollution and operational inefficiency for nursing staff since much time is spent popping pills out of each and every blister pack.

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