Dispensing system

Abstract

To provide a dispensing system capable of reducing unnecessary operations when a drug is lacking.SOLUTION: A control unit 291 acquires prescription data and creates dispensing data on the basis of the prescription data. A dispensing device 200 performs dispensing on the basis of the dispensing data. A display unit 293 displays information in accordance with commands from the control unit 291. The control unit 291 determines whether there is a possibility of a shortage of a drug included in the prescription data. If it is determined that there is the possibility of a shortage of a drug, the control unit 291 causes the display unit 293 to display a notification prompting a stock check of the drug. If it is determined that there is no possibility of a shortage of a drug, the control unit 291 transmits the dispensing data to the dispensing device 200.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a dispensing system.

Background Art

[0002] Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-141301 (Patent Document 1) discloses a tablet packaging machine that compares the number of tablets required for a prescription with the remaining number of tablets stored in a tablet feeder when the prescription is received.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the technology described in the above document, a tablet counting device is provided for each tablet feeder in the tablet packaging machine. After the tablet packaging machine receives a prescription, the number of tablets required for the prescription is compared with the remaining number of tablets in the tablet feeder. If the remaining number is less than the number of tablets required for the prescription, the tablet discharge operation of the tablet feeder must be waited for until the tablet feeder is replenished with tablets, resulting in a delay in the packaging operation. If the drug to be replenished in the tablet feeder is out of stock, the prescription will be canceled and redone during the packaging operation, resulting in wasted operation.

[0005] The present disclosure proposes a dispensing system that can reduce wasteful operations when drugs are insufficient.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The dispensing system according to the present disclosure includes a controller that acquires prescription data and creates dispensing data based on the prescription data, a dispensing device that dispenses based on the dispensing data, and a display unit that displays information according to a command of the controller. The controller determines the possibility that the drugs included in the prescription data are insufficient. As a result of the determination, when there is a possibility that the drugs are insufficient, the controller causes the display unit to display a notification prompting an inventory check of the drugs. As a result of the determination, if there is no possibility that the drugs are insufficient, the controller transmits the dispensing data to the dispensing device.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] The dispensing system of the present disclosure can reduce wasteful operations when drugs are insufficient.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

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Figure 7

Figure 8

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Figure 10

Figure 11

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts and components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed descriptions thereof will not be repeated. In the drawings, for convenience of explanation, the configuration may be omitted or simplified in some cases. It is also initially planned that any configurations are extracted from the embodiments and combined arbitrarily.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the electrical connection system of the dispensing system. As shown in FIG. 1, the dispensing system includes a control device 290 and a dispensing device 200. The dispensing device 200 is electrically connected to the control device 290 via a network.

[0011] A plurality of dispensing devices 200 are connected to the control device 290. The dispensing system includes a first dispensing device 201, a second dispensing device 202, and a third dispensing device 203. The plurality of dispensing devices 200 may be devices that can dispense drugs with different dosage forms. For example, the dispensing device 201 may be a tablet packaging machine, the dispensing device 202 may be a powder packaging machine, and the dispensing device 203 may be a liquid medicine supply device.

[0012] The control device 290 includes a control unit 291, an operation unit 292, a display unit 293, and a storage unit 294.

[0013] The operation unit 292 is operated by a user who uses the dispensing system. The operation unit 292 is composed of input devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel. By operating the operation unit 292 by the user, the information necessary for dispensing using the dispensing device 200 is input to the control device 290.

[0014] As information necessary for dispensing using the dispensing device 200, prescription data based on a prescription and various setting information can be mentioned. These pieces of information may be input from the prescription input device 1, which is an external computer, to the control device 290. The external computer may be a higher-level system such as a receipt computer or an electronic medical record.

[0015] The display unit 293 is constituted by a display device such as a liquid crystal monitor. The display unit 293 displays various pieces of information according to a command from the control unit 291. The information displayed on the display unit 293 is, for example, information regarding a patient, information regarding a drug prescribed to the patient, and the like.

[0016] The storage unit 294 stores a program for executing various operations of the dispensing device 200 and stores information necessary for dispensing using the dispensing device 200. The storage unit 294 is a hard disk device or an SSD (Solid State Drive) that stores various data.

[0017] The control unit 291 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random access memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), and the like. The control unit 291 may be an integrated circuit such as an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) or a DSP (digital signal processor). The control unit 291 controls the operation of the dispensing device 200 based on the program stored in the storage unit 294. The control unit 291 also outputs a command to the display unit 293 as to which information should be displayed. The control unit 291 corresponds to an example of a controller.

[0018] Figure 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of the dispensing operation. With appropriate reference to Figure 2 and subsequent figures, the operation of a part of the dispensing operation until the dispensing data is transmitted to the dispensing device 200 will be described. As shown in Figure 2, first, in step S1, the control unit 291 acquires prescription data. The control unit 291 causes the display unit 293 to display the prescription input screen 300.

[0019] Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of the prescription input screen 300. The prescription input screen 300 is displayed on the display unit 293. The display unit 293 displays the prescription input screen 300 according to the command of the control unit 291. The user using the dispensing system operates the operation unit 292 while looking at the prescription input screen 300 displayed on the display unit 293, and thus prescription data is input. The input prescription data is stored in the storage unit 294 and is also used for processing by the control unit 291.

[0020] The prescription data includes at least the patient's information and the information of the drug to be administered to the patient according to the prescription. The information of the drug includes at least the prescription information indicating the type of the drug and the quantity of the drug. As shown in Figure 3, the prescription input screen 300 includes a patient information input unit 310, a drug information input unit 320, and an operation bar 390.

[0021] The patient's information is input into the patient information input unit 310. The patient's information includes at least the patient's name. The patient's information may include a patient code, the patient's date of birth, the patient's age, the patient's gender, etc. Simultaneously when the prescription input screen 300 is displayed on the display unit 293, part or all of the patient's information that has already been stored in the storage unit 294 at that time may be displayed on the patient information input unit 310.

[0022] The drug information input unit 320 includes a drug name input unit 321, a single-dose input unit 322, a daily administration frequency input unit 323, a administration days input unit 324, and a dispensing quantity display unit 325.

[0023] In the drug name input section 321, the name of the drug is input. In the single-dose input section 322, the single dose, which is the quantity of the drug to be taken in one administration, is input. In the daily intake frequency input section 323, the daily intake frequency, which is the number of times the drug is taken per day, is input. In the number of days of administration input section 324, the number of days of administration, which is the number of days the patient takes the drug, is input.

[0024] The control unit 291 calculates the dispensing amount using the input result in the single-dose input section 322, the input result in the daily intake frequency input section 323, and the input result in the number of days of administration input section 324. The calculation result of the dispensing amount is displayed on the dispensing amount display section 325. The dispensing amount refers to the total quantity of the drug to be dispensed by the dispensing device 200, which corresponds to the total amount of the drug contained in the prescription data for all administrations. The control unit 291 calculates the dispensing amount as the product of the above single dose, daily intake frequency, and number of days of administration.

[0025] The information of the drug input to the drug information input section 320 may include the reception number, medical institution, department, doctor, dispensing date, administration category, usage method, packaging conditions, etc.

[0026] The operation bar 390 is displayed at the bottom of the prescription input screen 300. The operation bar 390 can be operated by clicking the mouse or tapping the screen with the mouse pointer aligned inside a plurality of rectangular frames included in the operation bar 390. The operation bar 390 includes a close operation section 392 and a confirmation operation section 394. By operating the close operation section 392, the prescription input screen 300 is closed, and the screen displayed on the display unit 293 is changed to another screen. By operating the confirmation operation section 394, the content of the prescription data is confirmed.

[0027] As described with reference to FIG. 1, the prescription data may be input from the external prescription input device 1 to the control device 290. In this case, the control unit 291 may display a prescription display screen for displaying the content of the input prescription data on the display unit 293. An operation bar similar to FIG. 3 is displayed at the bottom of this prescription display screen, and the prescription data may be confirmed by the user operating the confirmation operation section included in the operation bar.

[0028] Returning to FIG. 2, in step S2, the control unit 291 determines whether a confirmation operation has been performed. The confirmation operation means that, on the prescription input screen 300, after the input of the patient information and all the drug information described in the prescription has been completed, the confirmation operation unit 394 is operated to confirm the content of the prescription data. If it is determined that the confirmation operation has not been performed yet (NO in step S2), the determination in step S2 is repeated. The process waits until the confirmation operation is performed.

[0029] If it is determined that the confirmation operation has been performed and the prescription data has been confirmed (YES in step S2), in step S3, the control unit 291 creates dispensing data. The dispensing data is data that is created based on the prescription data and is transmitted to each dispensing device 200. The control unit 291 analyzes the prescription data to determine which drug among the drugs included in the prescription data each of the plurality of dispensing devices 200 will dispense. The control unit 291 transmits the dispensing data to each dispensing device 200. The dispensing device 200 dispenses according to the dispensing data received from the control unit 291.

[0030] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the process of creating dispensing data 411 to 413. The prescription data 400 input and confirmed using the prescription input screen 300 shown in FIG. 3 is stored in the storage unit 294. The control unit 291 reads the prescription data 400 from the storage unit 294. An example of the prescription data 400 shown in FIG. 4 includes a plurality of drugs. An example of the prescription data 400 includes tablets T1, T2, powders P1, P2, and liquids L1, L2, as also shown in FIG. 3. For each of the plurality of drugs, the dispensing amount has been calculated.

[0031] The control unit 291 extracts tablets T1, T2 from the drugs included in the prescription data 400 and creates dispensing data 411. The control unit 291 extracts powders P1, P2 from the drugs included in the prescription data 400 and creates dispensing data 412. The control unit 291 extracts liquids L1, L2 from the drugs included in the prescription data 400 and creates dispensing data 413.

[0032] Dispensing data 411 is transmitted from the control unit 291 to the dispensing device 201. The dispensing device 201 dispenses based on the dispensing data 411. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the dispensing device 201 will perform an operation of dispensing 21 tablets of tablet T1 and 21 tablets of tablet T2 as specified by the dispensing data 411.

[0033] Dispensing data 412 is transmitted from the control unit 291 to the dispensing device 202. The dispensing device 202 dispenses based on the dispensing data 412. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the dispensing device 202 will perform an operation of dispensing 63 g of powder P1 and 42 g of powder P2 as specified by the dispensing data 412.

[0034] Dispensing data 413 is transmitted from the control unit 291 to the dispensing device 203. The dispensing device 203 dispenses based on the dispensing data 413. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the dispensing device 203 will perform an operation of dispensing 42 ml of liquid medicine L1 and 28 ml of liquid medicine L2 as specified by the dispensing data 413.

[0035] Returning to FIG. 2, in step S4, the control unit 291 determines the possibility that the medicine contained in the prescription data 400 is insufficient. The control unit 291 can determine the possibility that the medicine is insufficient based on the remaining amount of the medicine in the dispensing device 200.

[0036] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the information stored in the storage unit 294. As shown in FIG. 5, the storage unit 294 stores the medicine remaining amount 510. The medicine remaining amount 510 includes the remaining amount of the medicine in the dispensing device 200 at the current time for each medicine. When the remaining amount of the medicine in the dispensing device 200 can be managed, the medicine remaining amount 510 can be used as a threshold for determining whether the medicine is insufficient. For example, in the case of tablets, the number of tablets stored when the tablets are accommodated in the cassette is stored, and the remaining amount can be managed by reducing the number of tablets each time the tablets are dispensed from the tablet packaging machine.

[0037] The storage unit 294 also stores the drug acquisition status 520. When a situation where it is difficult to replenish the dispensing device 200 occurs for a specific drug, the drug acquisition status 520 comes to include information on the drug and the situation. In the example shown in FIG. 5, since the production of tablet Tx at the pharmaceutical company has been discontinued, there is no stock left, and it is necessary to switch to another drug as soon as the stock runs out, which is a situation where it is difficult to replenish the dispensing device 200. The drug acquisition status 520 includes information that the production of tablet Tx has been discontinued. Also, since powder Px is currently under shipment adjustment, it is difficult to obtain, which is a situation where it is difficult to replenish the dispensing device 200. The drug acquisition status 520 includes information that powder Px is under shipment adjustment.

[0038] The drug remaining quantity 510 and the drug acquisition status 520 shown in FIG. 5 do not necessarily have to be stored in the storage unit 294 in the control device 290. For example, the drug remaining quantity 510 and the drug acquisition status 520 may be stored in an inventory management system that manages the inventory of drugs in a pharmacy. The control unit 291 may read the drug remaining quantity 510 from the inventory management system to obtain the remaining quantity of drugs in the dispensing device 200. The control unit 291 may also obtain the remaining quantity of drugs in the pharmacy as the drug remaining quantity 510 from the inventory management system.

[0039] The control unit 291 compares the drug remaining quantity 510 with the dispensing quantity of the drug included in the prescription data 400. In the examples shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, for tablet T2, the dispensing quantity is 21 tablets and the remaining quantity is 100 tablets, and the remaining quantity is equal to or greater than the dispensing quantity. For tablet T2, since the number of tablets corresponding to the dispensing quantity can be dispensed from the dispensing device 200, it is determined that there is no possibility of drug shortage. On the other hand, for tablet T1, the dispensing quantity is 21 tablets and the remaining quantity is 15 tablets, and the remaining quantity is smaller than the dispensing quantity. For tablet T1, since it is currently not possible to dispense the number of tablets corresponding to the dispensing quantity from the dispensing device 200, it is determined that there may be a drug shortage.

[0040] Returning to FIG. 2, when it is determined in step S4 that there may be a shortage of drugs (YES in step S4), in step S5, the control unit 291 causes the display unit 293 to display a notification prompting the confirmation of the drug inventory.

[0041] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the display when there may be a shortage of drugs in the first example. As a notification prompting the confirmation of the drug inventory, as shown in FIG. 6, a message window 360 can be pop-up displayed on the prescription input screen 300. The display unit 293 displays the message window 360 according to the command of the control unit 291.

[0042] The message window 360 contains information on which drug may be in short supply. The message window 360 displays the name of the drug that may be in short supply, specifically, tablet T1. The name of the drug corresponds to an example of the identification information of the drug. If the name of the drug is displayed on the display unit 293 as the identification information of the drug, the user using the dispensing system can easily grasp which drug may be in short supply by looking at the display unit 293. As the identification information of the drug, in addition to or instead of the name of the drug, coded information such as a barcode or a matrix-type two-dimensional code may be displayed on the display unit 293. By reading the coded information with a code reader, it is possible to grasp which drug may be in short supply.

[0043] The message window 360 contains character information prompting the confirmation of the drug inventory, such as "Please check the inventory." The user using the dispensing system is motivated to check the inventory of the drug (tablet T1) that may be in short supply by looking at the character information. When the remaining amount of the drug is smaller than the dispensing amount, the inventory of the drug can be checked, and if there is inventory, the drug can be replenished to the dispensing device to increase the remaining amount of the drug so that the remaining amount is not less than the dispensing amount.

[0044] Instead of the pop-up display of the message window 360, a notice prompting the confirmation of the drug inventory may be displayed on the prescription input screen 300 as a balloon from the name of the drug that may be in short supply on the display unit 293. On the prescription input screen 300, the character color of the drug that may be in short supply may be changed so that it can be recognized that the drug may be in short supply.

[0045] Returning to FIG. 2, after the notice prompting the confirmation of the drug inventory is displayed on the display unit 293, in step S6, the control unit 291 determines whether to continue dispensing. For example, the control unit 291 may display a display for allowing the user to select whether to continue dispensing on the display unit 293. The user may operate the operation unit 292 to input a selection result of whether to continue dispensing. Based on this input result, the control unit 291 may determine whether to continue dispensing.

[0046] Even if it is determined that the remaining amount of the drug is less than the dispensing amount, if there is an inventory of the drug in the pharmacy, the inventory can be replenished to the dispensing device 200 so that the remaining amount is equal to or greater than the dispensing amount, and the dispensing device 200 can dispense based on the dispensing data. If the user using the dispensing system recognizes that there is an inventory of the drug in the pharmacy, the user can select to continue dispensing. On the other hand, if there is no inventory of the drug in the pharmacy and the drug cannot be replenished, the user can select not to continue dispensing.

[0047] If it is determined in the determination of step S6 to continue dispensing (YES in step S6), and if it is determined in the determination of step S4 that there is no possibility of drug shortage (NO in step S4), the process proceeds to step S7. The control unit 291 transmits the dispensing data to the dispensing device 200. The control unit 291 transmits the dispensing data to the dispensing device 200 after determining the possibility of drug shortage.

[0048] The transmission of this dispensing data to the dispensing device 200 may be performed after a lapse of time after the process proceeds to step S7. The transmission of the dispensing data to the dispensing device 200 does not have to be performed immediately when the process proceeds to step S7. For example, it may be determined whether the dispensing device 200 is in a state where it can acquire the dispensing data. If the dispensing device 200 is in a state where it cannot acquire the dispensing data, such as when it is in the middle of dispensing, the dispensing data may be temporarily stored in the storage unit 294. After the dispensing is completed and the dispensing device 200 becomes in a state where it can acquire the dispensing data, the control unit 291 may transmit the dispensing data to the dispensing device 200. The dispensing device 200 that has become in a state where it can acquire the dispensing data may go to the storage unit 294 to acquire the dispensing data stored therein.

[0049] If it is determined not to continue dispensing in the determination of step S6 (NO in step S6), the process returns to the process of acquiring the prescription data in step S1. The control unit 291 deletes the dispensing data created in step S3. The control unit 291 causes the display unit 293 to display the prescription input screen 300 and starts over the acquisition of the prescription data. For example, instead of the prescribed drug that is determined to be possibly insufficient, a drug containing the same active ingredient in the same amount as that drug can be input to the drug information input unit 320 (FIG. 3). If the prescribed drug is a follow-on drug, it is possible to input the corresponding pioneer drug.

[0050] In this way, the series of operations until the dispensing data is transmitted to the dispensing device 200 shown in FIG. 2 is completed ("End" in FIG. 2).

[0051] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the dispensing operation of the second example. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 291 determines the possibility of drug shortage after the confirmation operation is performed and the prescription data is confirmed, but the present invention is not limited to this example. The control unit 291 may determine the possibility of drug shortage while inputting drug information on the prescription input screen 300. The control unit 291 may determine the possibility of drug shortage before the prescription data is confirmed.

[0052] In step S11 shown in FIG. 7, similar to step S1 in FIG. 2, a process of acquiring prescription data is performed. In step S12, the control unit 291 determines the possibility that the drugs included in the prescription data 400 are insufficient.

[0053] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the prescription input screen 300 during prescription input. FIG. 8 shows the prescription input screen 300 in a state where the single dose, the number of times of taking per day, and the number of days of taking of the tablet T1 are input to the drug information input unit 320 and the dispensing amount is calculated. When the dispensing amount of the tablet T1 is calculated, the control unit 291 determines the possibility that the tablet T1 is insufficient based on the remaining amount of the tablet T1 in the dispensing device 200. The control unit 291 compares the remaining amount of the tablet T1 with the dispensing amount and determines the possibility that the tablet T1 is insufficient. If, as shown in FIG. 5, the remaining amount of the tablet T1 is stored as 15 tablets in the storage unit 294, the control unit 291 determines that there is a possibility that the tablet T1 is insufficient because the remaining amount of the tablet T1 is smaller than the dispensing amount.

[0054] If it is determined in the determination of step S12 that there is a possibility that the drug is insufficient (YES in step S12), in step S13, the control unit 291 causes the display unit 293 to display a notification prompting the confirmation of the drug inventory.

[0055] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the display when there is a possibility that the drug is insufficient in the second example. As a notification prompting the confirmation of the drug inventory, as shown in FIG. 9, a message window 360 similar to FIG. 6 can be pop-up displayed on the prescription input screen 300. The message window 360 displays the name of the drug that may be insufficient, specifically, the tablet T1. The message window 360 includes character information prompting the confirmation of the drug inventory, "Please check the inventory."

[0056] After causing the display unit 293 to display a notice prompting the confirmation of the drug inventory, in step S14, the control unit 291 determines whether to continue dispensing. The determination in step S14 is made in the same manner as step S6 in FIG. 2. If it is determined not to continue dispensing in the determination of step S14 (NO in step S14), the process returns to the process of acquiring the prescription data in step S11.

[0057] If it is determined to continue dispensing in the determination of step S14 (YES in step S14), in step S15, the control unit 291 determines whether a confirmation operation has been performed. The determination in step S15 is made in the same manner as step S2 in FIG. 2. If it is determined that the confirmation operation has been performed (YES in step S15), in step S16, the control unit 291 creates dispensing data. In step S17, the control unit 291 transmits the dispensing data to the dispensing device 200. The processes in steps S16 and S17 are each performed in the same manner as steps S3 and S7 in FIG. 2.

[0058] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of the prescription input screen during prescription input. In the examples shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, while the control unit 291 is inputting drug information into the prescription input screen 300, based on the types of drugs included in the prescription data, it determines the possibility of drug shortage. When determining the possibility of drug shortage based on the type of drug, it is possible to make the determination at the time when the name of the drug is input. It is possible to determine the possibility of drug shortage when the quantity of the drug to be dispensed has not been input. It is possible to determine the possibility of drug shortage before the prescription data is confirmed.

[0059] FIG. 10 shows the prescription input screen 300 in a state where information on tablet T1 is input to the drug information input unit 320 and information on tablet T2 is input, and then tablet Tx is input to the drug name input unit 321. If it is stored in the storage unit 294 as shown in FIG. 5 that the production of tablet Tx has been discontinued, the control unit 291 determines that there may be a shortage of tablet Tx and causes the display unit 293 to display a notice prompting the confirmation of the drug inventory.

[0060] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display when there may be a shortage of drugs in the third example. As a notice prompting the confirmation of drug inventory, as shown in FIG. 11, a message window 361 can be pop-up displayed on the prescription input screen 300. The display unit 293 displays the message window 361 according to a command from the control unit 291.

[0061] The message window 361 contains information on which drug may be in short supply. The message window 361 displays the name of the drug that may be in short supply, specifically, tablet Tx. The message window 360 contains character information prompting the confirmation of drug inventory, such as "Please check the inventory." By seeing the character information, the user using the dispensing system is motivated to check the inventory of the drug (tablet Tx) that may be in short supply.

[0062] If the user using the dispensing system has the inventory of tablet Tx in the pharmacy, in the selection of whether to continue dispensing, the user can select to continue dispensing. If the inventory of tablet Tx is not in the pharmacy and the replenishment of tablet Tx cannot be done, the user using the dispensing system can select not to continue dispensing in the selection of whether to continue dispensing.

[0063] The screen on which the message windows 360 and 361 shown in FIGS. 6, 9, and 11 are displayed is not limited to the display unit 293 of the control device 290. The display of an external device configured to be communicable with the control unit 291 may display a notice prompting the confirmation of drug inventory according to a command from the control unit 291. The external device may be a portable device. The external device may be a portable device such as a tablet computer or a smartphone that can be carried and used by the user using the dispensing system. The control unit 291 may send a command to display the notice to a plurality of devices at once.

[0064] The notification prompting the confirmation of the drug inventory may, in addition to the display on the display unit 293, be accompanied by an auditory notification such as a buzzer, or may be accompanied by a tactile notification such as vibration. Thereby, it is possible to more surely call the attention of the user using the dispensing system.

[0065] Although there are also parts overlapping with the above description, the characteristic configurations of this embodiment, as well as their operations and effects, are listed as follows.

[0066] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, the control unit 291 determines the possibility that the drugs included in the prescription data are insufficient. As a result of the determination, when there is a possibility that the drugs are insufficient, the control unit 291 causes the display unit 293 to display a notification prompting the confirmation of the drug inventory, as shown in FIGS. 6, 9, and 11. As a result of the determination, if there is no possibility that the drugs are insufficient, the control unit 291 transmits the dispensing data to the dispensing device 200.

[0067] Before transmitting the dispensing data to the dispensing device 200, it is determined whether there is a possibility that the drugs included in the prescription data are insufficient. As a result of the determination, when there is a possibility that the drugs are insufficient, the control unit 291 prompts the user using the dispensing system to confirm the inventory of the drugs before transmitting the dispensing data to the dispensing device 200. In a situation where the drugs are insufficient and there is no inventory of the drugs, it is possible to avoid the dispensing data being transmitted to the dispensing device 200. In a situation where the drugs are insufficient and the dispensing by the dispensing device 200 is started, it is possible to avoid the dispensing being interrupted due to the drug shortage. The operation of canceling the dispensing data transmitted to the dispensing device 200 becomes unnecessary. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the wasted operations when the drugs are insufficient.

[0068] As shown in FIGS. 6, 9, and 11, the notification prompting the confirmation of the drug inventory may include the names of the drugs that may be insufficient. The user using the dispensing system can easily recognize which drugs may be insufficient by looking at the notification displayed on the display unit 293.

[0069] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, 7, and 8, the control unit 291 may determine the possibility that the drug is insufficient based on the remaining amount of the drug in the dispensing device 200. The control unit 291 compares the dispensing amount of the drug included in the prescription data with the remaining amount in the dispensing device 200 of the drug, and can determine that there is a possibility that the drug is insufficient when the remaining amount is smaller than the dispensing amount.

[0070] As shown in FIGS. 5, 7, and 10, the control unit 291 may determine the possibility that the drug is insufficient based on the type of the drug included in the prescription data. When the drug included in the prescription data is a type of drug that is difficult to replenish to the dispensing device 200, the control unit 291 can determine that there is a possibility that the drug is insufficient.

[0071] As shown in FIGS. 5, 7, and 10, the control unit 291 may determine the possibility that the drug is insufficient based on the availability of the drug included in the prescription data. When the drug included in the prescription data is a type of drug that has already been discontinued from production or is currently under shipment adjustment and is difficult to obtain in the market, the control unit 291 can determine that it is difficult to replenish the drug to the dispensing device 200, so there is a possibility that the drug is insufficient.

[0072] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, after the control unit 291 causes the display unit 293 to display a notification prompting an inventory check of the drug, the control unit 291 may determine whether to continue dispensing. For the drug determined to have a possibility of being insufficient, if it is determined that the dispensing device 200 can dispense the drug as a result of the inventory check, the dispensing based on the dispensing data including the drug can be continued. On the other hand, for the drug determined to have a possibility of being insufficient, if it is determined that the dispensing device 200 cannot dispense the drug as a result of the inventory check, the dispensing based on the dispensing data including the drug can be aborted. Since it is possible to avoid the interruption of dispensing due to drug shortage, unnecessary operations can be reduced.

[0073] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, when the control unit 291 determines to continue the dispensing, it may transmit the dispensing data to the dispensing device 200. For the drug that is determined to be possibly insufficient, if it is determined that the dispensing device 200 can perform the dispensing as a result of the inventory check, the dispensing data including the drug is transmitted to the dispensing device 200, and the dispensing based on the dispensing data can be continued.

[0074] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, when the control unit 291 determines not to continue the dispensing, it may re-acquire the prescription data. When the dispensing device 200 cannot perform the dispensing due to insufficient drugs, the prescription data including another drug that can replace the drug is acquired, and the dispensing data is created based on the prescription data, so that the dispensing device 200 can perform the dispensing based on the dispensing data.

[0075] <Supplementary Note> The above description includes the features described in the supplementary notes below.

[0076] (Supplementary Note 1) A controller that acquires prescription data and creates dispensing data based on the prescription data, A dispensing device that dispenses based on the dispensing data, A display unit that displays information according to the command of the controller, and The controller Determines the possibility that the drugs included in the prescription data are insufficient, As a result of the determination, when there is a possibility that the drugs are insufficient, a notification prompting the inventory check of the drugs is displayed on the display unit, A dispensing system that transmits the dispensing data to the dispensing device if there is no possibility that the drugs are insufficient as a result of the determination.

[0077] (Supplementary Note 2) The dispensing system according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein the notification includes the identification information of the drugs that may be insufficient.

[0078] (Supplementary Note 3) The dispensing system according to Appendix 1 or Appendix 2, wherein the controller determines the possibility of drug shortage based on the remaining amount of the drug in the dispensing device.

[0079] (Appendix 4) The dispensing system according to any one of Appendices 1 to 3, wherein the controller determines the possibility of drug shortage based on the type of drug included in the prescription data.

[0080] (Appendix 5) The dispensing system according to Appendix 4, wherein the controller determines the possibility of drug shortage based on the availability of the drug included in the prescription data.

[0081] (Appendix 6) The dispensing system according to any one of Appendices 1 to 5, wherein the controller determines whether to continue dispensing after displaying the notification on the display unit.

[0082] (Appendix 7) The dispensing system according to Appendix 6, wherein when the controller determines to continue dispensing, the controller transmits the dispensing data to the dispensing device.

[0083] (Appendix 8) The dispensing system according to Appendix 6 or Appendix 7, wherein when the controller determines not to continue dispensing, the controller re-acquires the prescription data.

[0084] All the embodiments disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description but by the claims, and it is intended that all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are included.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0085] 1 Prescription input device, 200, 201, 202, 203 Dispensing device, 290 Control device, 291 Control unit, 292 Operation unit, 293 Display unit, 294 Memory unit, 300 Prescription input screen, 310 Patient information input section, 320 Drug information input section, 321 Drug name input section, 322 Single dose input section, 323 Number of daily doses input section, 324 Number of dosing days input section, 325 Dispensing quantity display section, 360, 361 Message window, 390 Operation bar, 392 Close operation section, 394 Confirmation operation section, 400 Prescription data, 411, 412, 413 Dispensing data, 510 Drug remaining quantity, 520 Drug availability status.

Claims

1. A controller that acquires prescription data and creates dispensing data based on the prescription data, A dispensing device that dispenses based on the dispensing data, A display unit that displays information according to a command from the controller, and The controller Determines the possibility that the drugs included in the prescription data are insufficient, As a result of the determination, when there is a possibility that the drugs are insufficient, causes the display unit to display a notification prompting an inventory check of the drugs, A dispensing system that, as a result of the determination, if there is no possibility that the drugs are insufficient, transmits the dispensing data to the dispensing device.

2. The dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein the notification includes identification information of the drugs that may be insufficient.

3. The dispensing system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the controller determines the possibility that the drugs are insufficient based on the remaining amount of the drugs in the dispensing device.

4. The dispensing system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the controller determines the possibility that the drugs are insufficient based on the types of drugs included in the prescription data.

5. The dispensing system according to claim 4, wherein the controller determines the possibility that the drugs are insufficient based on the availability of the drugs included in the prescription data.

6. The dispensing system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the controller determines whether to continue dispensing after causing the display unit to display the notification.

7. The dispensing system according to claim 6, wherein when the controller determines to continue dispensing, it transmits the dispensing data to the dispensing device.

8. The dispensing system according to claim 6, wherein when the controller determines not to continue dispensing, it re-acquires the prescription data.

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