Medicine distribution assistance system and medicine distribution assistance program

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a medicine distribution assistance system and a medicine distribution assistance program with which it is possible to minimize any mistakes in work for allocating medicine to be taken by a user according to dosing timing. [Solution] In a medicine distribution assistance system 10, a packaging processing unit 312 records, on the basis of information pertaining to medicines to be taken by a user and the dosing timings of the medicines, medicine information pertaining to a packaging-object medicine to be packaged by a packaging device 3 and medicine information pertaining to a non-packaging-object medicine for which the dosing timing is the same as the dosing timing of the packaging-object medicine and which is not to be packaged by the packaging device 3, the items of medicine information being recorded at a position corresponding to a packaging container in which the packaging-object medicine is packaged by the packaging device 3.

Description

Medication distribution support system and medication distribution support program

[0001] The present invention relates to a medication distribution support system and a medication distribution support program for supporting dispensing work, medication distribution work, and the like.

[0002] Hospital pharmacies, dispensing pharmacies, and the like sometimes use packaging devices that package medicines such as tablets or powders into packaging containers such as medicine packets according to the timing of administration (such as the date and time of administration included in the dosage instructions). The packaging containers may be sorted into storage sections (such as storage pockets) of a predetermined storage device (such as a medication calendar or tray) according to the timing of administration (such as morning, afternoon, or evening). For medicines packaged in press-through packages (PTPs) or heat-sealed packaging (medicines not intended for packaging), information about the medicine (such as the name of the medicine) may be printed on the empty packaging container (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

[0003] International Publication No. 2017 / 217366 JP 9-286418

[0004] In a configuration in which the names of drugs not to be packaged are printed on the packaging container, for example, when a drug is not packaged (contained) in the packaging container, it is difficult for the worker to determine whether the packaging container is correct in that a drug is not packaged (the packaging container is empty), or whether a drug that should be packaged in the packaging container was not packaged due to an error in the packaging operation of the packaging device. Thus, with conventional technology, there is a problem in that it is difficult to determine which drug should be taken at the appropriate time just by looking at the packaging container.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a medication distribution support system and a medication distribution support program that make it possible to easily grasp which medications should be taken at which times.

[0006] A medication dispensing support system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a recording processing unit that records, based on information about the medication to be taken by the user and the timing of taking the medication, medication information about the medication to be packaged by the packaging device and medication information about the medication that has the same timing of taking the medication as the medication to be packaged but is not to be packaged by the packaging device, at positions corresponding to the packaging container into which the medication to be packaged is packaged by the packaging device.

[0007] A medication dispensing support program according to another aspect of the present invention is a medication dispensing support program that causes one or more processors to execute the following, based on information about the medication to be taken by the user and the timing of taking the medication, recording, in positions corresponding to the packaging container into which the medication to be packaged is packaged by the packaging device, medication information about the medication to be packaged by the packaging device and medication information about the medication that has the same timing of taking the medication as the medication to be packaged but is not to be packaged by the packaging device.

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a medication distribution support system and a medication distribution support program that make it possible to easily grasp which medicines should be taken at which timing.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a medication distribution support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a result of a medicine packaging process executed by the medication distribution support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a medication calendar used by the medication distribution support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a medicine package created by the medication distribution support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a medicine package created by the medication distribution support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a medication calendar in which medicine packages are allocated according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of packaging data used by the medication distribution support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure of a medication distribution support process executed by the medication distribution support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure of a medication distribution support process executed by the medication distribution support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a medicine package created by the medication distribution support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a medicine package created by the medication distribution support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a medicine package created by the medication distribution support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of packaging data used by the medication distribution support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a medication calendar in which medication packets are allocated according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a medication packet created by a medication distribution support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a medicine packaging strip created by a medication distribution support system according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 17A is a diagram showing an example of a medicine not to be packaged (heat sealed) according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 17B is a diagram showing an example of a medicine not to be packaged (heat sealed) according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a medicine packaging strip created by a medication distribution support system according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a medicine packaging strip created by a medication distribution support system according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a prescription according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of a prescription according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings to help understand the present invention. Note that the following embodiments are examples that embody the present invention and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0011] [Medication Dispensing Support System 10] As shown in Figure 1, a medication dispensing support system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a medication dispensing support device 1, a dispensing machine 2, a packaging device 3, and a printer 4. The medication dispensing support device 1, the dispensing machine 2, the packaging device 3, and the printer 4 are connected to each other via a network N1, either wirelessly or via a wired connection, so as to be able to communicate with each other. The network N1 may be a LAN, a WAN, the Internet, an intranet, or the like. In the medication dispensing support system 10, the printer 4 is used to print prescriptions, medicine envelopes, labels, and the like, based on control instructions from the medication dispensing support device 1. For example, the printer 4 can print medicine package information (described below) on the label, and the label is affixed to a medicine package 7 (described below).

[0012] Furthermore, a host system 6 such as an electronic medical record system or a prescription input terminal that inputs prescription data to the medication distribution support device 1 is connected via the network N1 to the medication distribution support device 1. The medication distribution support device 1 may be configured to be able to actively acquire the prescription data from the host system 6.

[0013] The prescription data includes information such as the issue date, order number, prescription classification (new, changed, etc.), recipient ID, recipient name, recipient date of birth, drug information (drug code, drug name, dosage, etc.), dosage form information (oral, topical, etc.), initiation date of administration, administration period, dosage information (including administration time), medical treatment type (outpatient, inpatient, etc.), department, and attending physician. The initiation date of administration, administration period, and administration time ("after breakfast," "after lunch," "after dinner," "before bed," etc.) are examples of administration timing in the present invention. The administration timing in the present invention may be the administration time, or a combination of the administration time and administration date (year, month, and day).

[0014] The medication distribution support device 1, dispensing equipment 2, packaging device 3, and printer 4 are installed in a dispensing facility such as a pharmacy or hospital where medicines are dispensed based on the prescription data issued by the host system 6. The medication distribution support device 1 may be installed outside the dispensing facility as long as it can be connected to the network N1.

[0015] The medicine dispensed at the dispensing facility based on the prescription data is delivered to the facility where the patient who takes the medicine resides, such as a hospital or a nursing home. For example, the patient may be a patient receiving medical treatment at a hospital or a resident of a nursing home.

[0016] [Dispensing Device 2] The dispensing device 2 is used in the dispensing of medicines at the dispensing facility. For example, the dispensing device 2 may be a liquid medication dispenser, a PTP sheet dispenser, a co-injection device, a picking support device, or the like. For example, the liquid medication dispenser has multiple medicine bottles containing multiple types of liquid medications and automatically dispenses the required amount of liquid medication from the medicine bottles according to dispensing data input from the medication distribution support device 1. The PTP sheet dispenser has multiple sheet cassettes containing PTP sheets or heat seals pre-packaged with tablets and automatically dispenses the PTP sheets or heat seals from the sheet cassettes according to dispensing data input from the medication distribution support device 1. Note that the PTP sheet dispenser may also have multiple sheet cassettes containing PTP sheets or heat seals pre-packaged with tablets and automatically dispense the required PTP sheets or heat seals according to dispensing data input from the medication distribution support device 1. The co-infusion device automatically performs a co-infusion operation of injecting drugs such as anticancer drugs into infusions using a robot arm in accordance with dispensing data input from the medication distribution support device 1. The picking support device executes a display process of various information to support the pharmacist or technician in collecting drugs.

[0017] [Packaging Device 3] The packaging device 3 is a dispensing device that can package medicines to be taken by a patient into packaging containers such as the medicine packet 7 shown in Fig. 2 for each dosing period, based on packaging data D1 (described below) input from the medication dispensing support device 1. In the packaging device 3, a continuous, long medicine packet sheet loaded into the packaging device 3 is partially heated and melted to form multiple medicine packets 7, and perforations 70 are formed between each medicine packet 7 to facilitate separation.

[0018] Specifically, the packaging device 3 is a tablet packaging machine that packages tablets, a powder packaging machine that packages powdered medicine, or the like. The tablet packaging machine has a plurality of tablet cassettes containing a plurality of types of tablets, and performs a packaging operation of dispensing tablets from the tablet cassettes and packaging them in medicine packets 7 for each administration period according to packaging data D1. The powder packaging machine performs a packaging operation of packaging input powdered medicine in medicine packets 7 for each administration period according to packaging data D1. The powder packaging machine may also have a plurality of powder cassettes and perform a packaging operation of dispensing powdered medicine from the powder cassettes and packaging it in medicine packets 7 for each administration period according to packaging data D1. Furthermore, the tablet packaging machine or the powder packaging machine may be configured to be able to package tablets and powdered medicine together for each administration period.

[0019] The packaging device 3 includes a control unit 31 and a packaging printer 32. The control unit 31 includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like, and controls the operation of the packaging device 3 based on a control program stored in the ROM or a storage device (not shown). The control program includes a medication dispensing support program that causes the control unit 31 to execute a medication dispensing support process (see FIG. 9 ), which will be described later. For example, the control unit 31 uses the packaging printer 32 to print on the medicine package 7, as shown in FIG. 2, medication package information including at least recipient identification information, such as a recipient name or recipient ID, that can identify the recipient who will take the medicine contained in the medicine package 7; medication identification information, such as a drug name, that can identify the drug contained in the medicine package 7 (corresponding to the drug information of the present invention); and dosage time information that can identify the time when the drug contained in the medicine package 7 should be taken. Note that the medication package information may also include information on the date of administration (year, month, day, day of the week, etc.), as shown in FIG. 2.

[0020] The control unit 31 executes a packaging process to package medicines to be taken by the recipient into medicine packets 7 for each administration period based on the packaging data D1 input from the medication dispensing support device 1. The control unit 31 executes various processes in accordance with the medication dispensing support program, thereby functioning as various processing units such as an acquisition processing unit 311 and a packaging processing unit 312. Specifically, the control unit 31 executes various processes in accordance with the medication dispensing support program, thereby functioning as the various processing units. Furthermore, any one or more of the various processing units may be electronic circuits such as an ASIC or a DSP.

[0021] The acquisition processing unit 311 acquires packaging data D1 generated by the medication dispensing support device 1. For example, when a user selects prescription data to be dispensed, the medication dispensing support device 1 generates packaging data D1 based on the prescription data and outputs the generated packaging data D1 to the packaging device 3, which packages the medicine of the prescription data. In this way, the acquisition processing unit 311 acquires the packaging data D1.

[0022] The packaging processor 312 performs packaging processing based on the packaging data D1. Specifically, the packaging processor 312 packages the medicines to be taken by the recipient corresponding to the packaging data D1 into medicine packets 7 for each dosing period. The packaging processor 312 also prints the medicine packet information on the medicine packet 7 using the packaging printer 32 (see FIG. 2).

[0023] Here, the medicine packet 7 is formed by folding a long medicine packet sheet and gluing it at predetermined locations to form a bag-like shape, and each bag contains a single dose of medicine. As shown in Figure 2, the medicine packet 7 is discharged from the packaging device 3 as a long, continuous, strip-like medicine packaging strip. The packaging processing unit 312 prints the medicine packet information at a position on the medicine packet sheet corresponding to the medicine packet 7, places medicines in the bags formed at those positions, heat-welds (seals) them using a heat-sealing mechanism, and discharges the medicine packaging strip from the packaging device 3.

[0024] The packaging device 3 discharges a single medicine packaging strip containing multiple medicine packets 7 connected together according to the dosage period for one recipient, for example. FIG. 2 shows a medicine packaging strip corresponding to one recipient ("Taro Yuyama"), with 21 medicine packets 7 (enough for 21 doses) connected together. The medicine packaging strip may be created for each recipient, or may be created for multiple recipients at the same dosage period within a facility. That is, one medicine packaging strip may contain medicine packets 7 for each of multiple recipients.

[0025] The medicine packets 7 packaged by the packaging device 3 are stored in a corresponding predetermined calendar, tray, etc., before or after being transported to the accommodation facility, depending on the timing of dispensing the medicine to the patient, such as morning, afternoon, or evening.

[0026] 3 shows an example of a medication calendar 9. The medication calendar 9 includes a plurality of medicine storage sections 91 (storage pockets) arranged on a planar base. The medicine storage sections 91 are arranged in a matrix on a plane, and are each located at a specific position determined based on the medication period. Each medicine storage section 91 is formed in a pocket shape capable of holding a medicine packet 7 for the corresponding medication period.

[0027] 3, the medicine containers 91 are arranged in a matrix shape (row and column) consisting of a day-of-the-week axis (vertical axis) and a dosing time axis (horizontal axis). Specifically, the medicine containers 91 are arranged in a matrix shape with the seven days of the week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) on the vertical axis and the four dosing times (morning, afternoon, evening, and before bed) on the horizontal axis.

[0028] The medication calendar 9 shown in FIG. 3 is intended for use by a single recipient, and medications to be taken by one recipient per week are stored in a medication storage unit 91 for each day of the week and each medication period. When medications are packaged in a package (medicine packet 7), the medication packet 7 is stored in the medication storage unit 91. That is, the medication storage unit 91 is located at a specific position corresponding to a single recipient and a medication period, such as "Monday morning," "Monday afternoon," or "Monday night," and is also located at a specific position determined based on the recipient and the medication period. In another embodiment, the medication calendar 9 may be used in a facility. For example, the medication calendar 9 may be intended for multiple recipients, and medications to be taken by multiple recipients per day are stored in the medication storage unit 91 for each medication period. Furthermore, multiple medication calendars 9 may be created for each day or for each medication period.

[0029] The medicine storage section 91 is configured as a pocket-like bag with a small transparent sheet attached to a sheet-like base material. Specifically, the left and right edges and bottom edges of the transparent sheet are adhered to the base material, and the medicine storage section 91 has a structure in which items can be placed inside from the top edge. Because the medicine storage section 91 is a kind of pocket made of a transparent sheet, the interior can be seen through (see FIG. 3). In the example shown in FIG. 3, medicine packets 7 (see FIG. 2) for medicines to be taken "after breakfast," "after lunch," and "after dinner" are stored in the medicine storage section 91 for the corresponding dosing time. When the time for dosing arrives, the recipient receives the medicine packet 7 stored in the corresponding medicine storage section 91 on the medication calendar 9 and takes the medicine.

[0030] Incidentally, multiple medications to be taken at the same time may include both medications packaged in a medication packet 7 and medications not packaged in a medication packet 7. For example, medications to be taken by patient "Taro Yuyama" "after dinner" may include medications A and B packaged in medication packets 7 by the packaging device 3 and medication C that is not packaged in a medication packet 7 and is heat-sealed. For example, medications A and B are packaged in a single medication packet 7 by the same packaging device 3 and discharged, while medication C is dispensed from the dispensing device 2 (e.g., a PTP sheet dispensing device) in a heat-sealed package. In such a case, medications A and B (medicines to be packaged) are contained in medication packet 7, and since a worker can visually identify medications A and B in medication packet 7, it is conceivable that the names of medications A and B are not printed on medication packet 7. In contrast, since drug C (a drug not to be packaged) is not contained in the drug packet 7, it is conceivable to print the name of drug C on the drug packet 7 so that the worker can easily notice the presence of drug C.

[0031] In this way, if the conventional configuration in which only the names of drugs not to be packaged are printed on the medicine packet 7 is adopted, for example, when no drugs are packaged in the medicine packet 7, it is difficult for an operator (e.g., a pharmacist) to determine, just by looking at the empty medicine packet 7, whether it is correct that the medicine packet 7 is empty, or whether drugs that should have been packaged in the medicine packet 7 have not been packaged due to an error in the packaging operation in the packaging device 3. Thus, the conventional configuration poses the problem that it is difficult to determine which drugs should be taken at the appropriate time just by looking at the medicine packet 7.

[0032] Therefore, the packaging device 3 according to this embodiment is configured to print (record) the names of all drugs to be taken at the same time on the medicine packet 7. Specifically, based on packaging data D1 including information on the drugs to be taken by the recipient and the time of taking the drugs, the packaging processing unit 312 prints the names of drugs to be packaged by the packaging device 3 (drugs to be packaged) at positions corresponding to the medicine packets 7 into which the drugs to be packaged will be packaged by the packaging device 3. The packaging processing unit 312 also prints the names of the drugs to be packaged and the names of drugs that have the same dosing time as the drugs to be packaged but are not to be packaged by the packaging device 3 (drugs not to be packaged) at positions corresponding to the medicine packets 7 into which the drugs to be packaged will be packaged by the packaging device 3.

[0033] 4, for example, the packaging processing unit 312 prints the names of drugs A and B to be packaged by the packaging device 3 on a medicine package 7 that packages drugs A and B. When printing the medicine package information on a medicine package sheet before storing the drugs, the packaging processing unit 312 prints the names of drugs A and B at positions on the medicine package sheet corresponding to the medicine package 7, i.e., at positions where bags (medicine packages 7) that package drugs A and B will be formed.

[0034] 5 , the packaging processing unit 312 prints the names of drugs A and B to be packaged and the name of drug C not to be packaged on the medicine package 7 that packages drug A and drug B. In this way, although drug C is packaged in a different package (e.g., heat-sealed 8) from drug package 7, the name of drug C is printed on drug package 7.

[0035] Here, the packaging processor 312 may record, on the medicine package 7, whether the drug name is the name of a drug to be packaged or the name of a drug not to be packaged in a manner that allows identification. For example, the packaging processor 312 prints, on the medicine package 7, for each of drug A, drug B, and drug C, whether the drug name is the name of a drug to be packaged in the medicine package 7 or the name of a drug not to be packaged in the medicine package 7 (e.g., the drug with the heat seal 8). Specifically, the packaging processor 312 displays, on the medicine package 7, drug C not to be packaged in the medicine package 7 (drug C with the heat seal 8) in a manner that is different from drug A and drug B to be packaged in the medicine package 7. For example, as shown in FIG. 5 , the packaging processor 312 adds identifying information P1 such as "●" to the drug name of drug C on the medicine package 7. The specific information P1 is not limited to "●", and may be symbol information such as "!" or "★", text information such as "empty" or "outside", a rectangular frame surrounding the medicine name, the text color or font of the medicine name, or image information such as a pictogram. The specific information P1 may also be assigned to the names of the medicines A and B to be packaged in the medicine packet 7. That is, the packaging processing unit 312 prints the specific information P1 on the medicine packet 7 in association with at least one of the medicine information of the medicine to be packaged and the medicine information of the medicine not to be packaged.

[0036] In another embodiment, the packaging processing unit 312 may vary the identifying information P1 depending on the type or dosage form of the drug not to be packaged (e.g., PTP sheet, heat-sealed, tablet, powder, liquid, etc.). For example, the packaging processing unit 312 prints the letter "P" as the identifying information P1 if the drug not to be packaged is a PTP sheet drug, and prints the letter "Hi" as the identifying information P1 if the drug not to be packaged is a heat-sealed drug. In other words, the identifying information P1 may be information that can identify the type or dosage form of the drug not to be packaged. In another embodiment, in addition to the identifying information P1 (e.g., "●") displayed in association with the drug name, the packaging processing unit 312 may print information that can identify the type or dosage form of the drug not to be packaged in a location other than the drug name display field (e.g., the upper right area of ​​the medicine packet 7).

[0037] In another embodiment, the packaging processing unit 312 may print the names of drugs to be packaged and drugs not to be packaged in different locations on the medicine packet 7. Furthermore, the packaging processing unit 312 may print the names of drugs to be packaged at the top of the drug name display field and the names of drugs not to be packaged at the bottom.

[0038] According to the above configuration, a worker can easily determine all medications to be taken during the medication period for the medication package 7 simply by looking at the medication package information printed on the medication package 7. For example, when looking at the medication package 7 shown in FIG. 4, the worker can easily determine that medications to be taken after breakfast are medication A and medication B. Similarly, when looking at the medication package 7 shown in FIG. 5, the worker can easily determine that medications to be taken after dinner are medication A, medication B, and medication C. Therefore, for example, during inspection after packaging, the worker can easily check whether the medications are correctly packaged in the medication package 7 based on the medication names recorded on the medication package 7. Note that, as in the example shown in FIG. 5, when medications packaged in the medication package 7 and medications not packaged in the medication package 7 (medicines packaged in the heat-sealed packaging 8) are to be taken at the same time, the worker adheres the medication package 7 and the heat-sealed packaging 8 with tape, fasteners, or the like. This allows the worker to easily check, during inspection work, whether the medicines are correctly packaged in the medicine packets 7 by the names of the medicines recorded on the medicine packets 7, and whether the medicines in the heat seals 8 are set.

[0039] Furthermore, the worker can easily recognize from the identification information P1 (see FIG. 5 ) displayed on the medicine package 7 that there is a medicine that should be taken at the same time but is not packaged in the medicine package 7 (a medicine not to be packaged separately). In the example shown in FIG. 5 , the worker can easily recognize by looking at the identification information P1 on the medicine package 7 that the medicine C is not contained in the medicine package 7 and that a package (heat-sealed 8) in which the medicine C is packaged exists separately from the medicine package 7.

[0040] After the inspection is completed, the worker performs a sorting operation to sort the medication packets 7 into the medication calendar 9. Specifically, the worker sorts the medication packets 7 (see FIG. 4) and sets of medication packets 7 and heat-sealed packets 8 (see FIG. 5) into the medication storage sections 91 corresponding to the corresponding medication times on the medication calendar 9. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the worker places the "after breakfast" and "after lunch" medication packets 7 containing medication A and medication B in the "morning" and "afternoon" medication storage sections 91 for each day of the week, and the "after dinner" medication packet 7 containing medication A and medication B and the heat-sealed packet 8 containing medication C in the "evening" medication storage section 91 for each day of the week. This allows the multiple medications for the target user to be sorted into the medication calendar 9. Note that, for convenience, the date of administration (year, month, and day) is omitted in FIG. 6, but the date of administration may be printed on the medication packet 7.

[0041] Furthermore, for example, when specific information P1 is printed on a medicine package 7, if the medicine container 91 containing the medicine package 7 does not contain the medicine (heat-sealed medicine 8) corresponding to the specific information P1, the worker can quickly recognize an error in the allocation of the heat-sealed medicine 8. For example, as shown in Figure 6, if the heat-sealed medicine 8 is not contained in the medicine container 91 for "Friday night," the worker can quickly recognize that the heat-sealed medicine 8 for the medicine C is not contained in the medicine container 91, even though the specific information P1 is attached to "medicine C" printed on the medicine package 7.

[0042] In the sorting operation, the worker may first sort only the medicine packets 7 into the medicine storage sections 91 corresponding to the corresponding dosing periods on the medication calendar 9, and then sort the medicines packaged in other packages (e.g., heat-sealed packages 8, PTP sheets, etc.) into the medicine storage sections 91. In this case, the worker first places the medicine packets 7 containing medicine A and medicine B into the respective medicine storage sections 91 for "morning," "afternoon," and "evening" on each day of the week. Then, the worker places the heat-sealed package 8 for medicine C into the corresponding medicine storage section 91, based on the specific information P1 printed on the medicine packets 7. That is, the worker adds the heat-sealed package 8 to the medicine storage section 91 containing the medicine packet 7 with the specific information P1 printed on it. This allows the worker to sort all the medicines by checking only the medicine information printed on the medicine packets 7. This also prevents mistakes such as forgetting to place medicine C in a medicine storage section 91 or placing it in the wrong medicine storage section 91 for the wrong dosing period.

[0043] Furthermore, with the above configuration, for example, a user can see at a glance which medicines should be taken at each dosing time based on the information printed on each medicine packet 7 allocated to the medication calendar 9, thereby preventing forgetting to take medicine. Similarly, a medication distribution worker can see at a glance which medicines a user should take at each dosing time, thereby preventing omission of medication to a user.

[0044] As described above, the packaging processing unit 312 records the drug information (drug name) of the drug to be packaged and the drug information (drug name) of the drug not to be packaged but having the same dosing period as the drug to be packaged, in a position corresponding to the medicine packet 7 into which the drug to be packaged is packaged. Specifically, the packaging processing unit 312 causes the packaging printer 32 to execute a printing process (recording process) that prints the drug names of the drug to be packaged and the drug names of the drug not to be packaged on the medicine packet 7 based on the packaging data D1 input from the medication dispensing support device 1. The packaging processing unit 312 is an example of a record processing unit of the present invention.

[0045] [Medication Dispensing Support Device 1] The medication dispensing support device 1 is a personal computer including a control unit 11, a data storage unit 12, a communication interface 13, a display device 14, an operation device 15, and a drive device 16. In this embodiment, the medication dispensing support device 1 alone is an example of a medication dispensing support system according to the present invention. The packaging device 3 may also acquire necessary information from the medication dispensing support device 1 and execute the medication dispensing support process described below, in which case the packaging device 3 is an example of a medication dispensing support system. The medication dispensing support device 1 and the packaging device 3 may also cooperate to execute the medication dispensing support process described below, in which case the configuration including the medication dispensing support device 1 and the packaging device 3 is an example of a medication dispensing support system.

[0046] Furthermore, the operations and displays of the medication dispensing support device 1 described in this embodiment may be performed by an operation device and a display device of a client terminal that can communicate with the medication dispensing support device 1 via the network N1. In this case, the control unit 11 accepts user operations on the client terminal, executes various processes, and transmits display data for displaying various information on the client terminal. In other words, the medication dispensing support device 1 and the client terminal may constitute a server-client system, and the client terminal may be used as an operation terminal for the medication dispensing support device 1.

[0047] The control unit 11 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, etc. The CPU is a processor that controls the medication distribution support device 1 by executing processes according to various control programs. The ROM is a non-volatile memory in which programs such as BIOS executed by the CPU are pre-stored. The RAM is a volatile or non-volatile memory used for the CPU to deploy various control programs and temporarily store data. The control unit 11 then uses the CPU to execute various processes according to various control programs pre-stored in the ROM or the data storage unit 12, etc.

[0048] The data storage unit 12 is a non-volatile storage means such as a hard disk or SSD that stores various application programs and various data executed by the control unit 11. For example, the data storage unit 12 stores the prescription data acquired from the upper system 6.

[0049] The data storage unit 12 also stores various databases, such as a drug master, a patient master, a pharmacist master, a medical department master, and a ward master. For example, the drug master includes information such as a drug code, a drug name, a JAN code (or RSS), a medicine bottle code, a classification (dosage form: powder, tablet, liquid, topical medicine, etc.), a specific gravity, a drug type (ordinary medicine, poison, narcotic, powerful drug, antipsychotic, therapeutic drug, etc.), a compounding change, an excipient, and precautions. The drug code or the drug name is an example of drug identification information that can identify a drug. The patient master includes information such as the patient ID, patient name, gender, age, address, medical history, family information, medical department, and hospital ward of each patient, as well as the facility where the patient resides.

[0050] The data storage unit 12 also stores packaging data D1 generated by the control unit 11 in the medication dispensing support device 1 based on the prescription data. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the packaging data D1. As shown in FIG. 7, the packaging data D1 stores information such as a recipient ID, recipient name, date of administration, time of administration, the administered drug, and a non-packaging flag in association with each other. The non-packaging flag is information that can identify whether the target drug is a drug to be packaged in a medicine packet 7 (a drug to be packaged). If the target drug is a drug to be packaged, a "0" is registered. If the target drug is a drug not to be packaged in a medicine packet 7 (a drug not to be packaged), a "1" is registered. In the example shown in FIG. 7, drug C is a drug that is not packaged in a medicine packet 7 but is packaged in a heat-sealed package 8, and is dispensed from a device other than the packaging device 3 (e.g., a PTP sheet dispensing device). Therefore, a "1" is registered in association with drug C.

[0051] Specifically, in the packaging data D1 shown in Fig. 7, the data is arranged in order so that drugs taken at different times by one patient are grouped together for all dates of administration and packaged in consecutive medicine packets 7. When the packaging data D1 is input, the packaging device 3 packages the drugs in the order shown in the packaging data D1. As a result, when the packaging data D1 is input to the packaging device 3, the packaging results (drug packaging strips) in the format shown in Fig. 2 are discharged from the packaging device 3.

[0052] The data storage unit 12 also stores a medication dispensing support program for causing the control unit 11 to execute a medication dispensing support process (see FIG. 8 ) described below. The control unit 11 executes various processes in accordance with the medication dispensing support program, thereby functioning as various processing units such as an acquisition processing unit 111 and an output processing unit 112. Specifically, the control unit 11 executes various processes in accordance with the medication dispensing support program, thereby functioning as the various processing units. One or more of the various processing units may be electronic circuits such as an ASIC or a DSP.

[0053] The acquisition processing unit 111 acquires the prescription data corresponding to the recipient from the host system 6. Specifically, when the acquisition processing unit 111 receives a user operation to select the prescription data of the recipient as a medication to be dispensed, the acquisition processing unit 111 acquires the prescription data. For example, when the acquisition processing unit 111 receives a user operation to select the prescription data of "Yuyama Taro" as a medication to be dispensed, the acquisition processing unit 111 acquires the prescription data of "Yuyama Taro."

[0054] The output processing unit 112 generates packaging data D1 based on the prescription data acquired by the acquisition processing unit 111, and outputs the generated packaging data D1 to the packaging device 3. When there is a drug to be dispensed using the dispensing device 2, the output processing unit 112 outputs dispensing data to the dispensing device 2. For example, when the prescription data includes drug C with a heat seal 8, the output processing unit 112 outputs dispensing data for drug C to the dispensing device 2 (PTP sheet dispensing device).

[0055] For example, the output processing unit 112 generates packaging data D1 (see FIG. 7 ) based on the prescription data for "Taro Yuyama" that associates information such as the patient ID, patient, date of administration, time of administration, medication taken, and non-packaging flag. For example, when generating packaging data D1 to be input to the packaging device 3 that packages drugs A and B included in the prescription data, the output processing unit 112 registers the non-packaging flag "0" for drugs A and B, and registers the non-packaging flag "1" for drug C (drug C with heat seal 8) that is included in the prescription data but will not be packaged by the packaging device 3. The packaging data D1 includes information on all medications taken by the patient.

[0056] The output processing unit 112 outputs the packaging data D1 to the packaging device 3, which packages the medicines included in the packaging data D1. For example, if medicine A and medicine B are tablets to be packaged by a tablet packaging machine, the output processing unit 112 outputs the packaging data D1 to the tablet packaging machine. For example, if medicine A and medicine B are powder medicines to be packaged by a powder packaging machine, the output processing unit 112 outputs the packaging data D1 to the powder packaging machine. In this way, the packaging data D1 including information on all medicines included in the prescription data (drug A, drug B, and drug C in FIG. 7 ) is input to the packaging device 3.

[0057] The packaging device 3 performs packaging processing based on the packaging data D1. In the example described above, as shown in Fig. 2, the packaging device 3 packages drugs A and B into medicine packets 7 based on the packaging data D1, prints the names of drugs A and B on the medicine packets 7 corresponding to the administration periods of drugs A and B, prints the name of drug C and identification information P1 on the medicine packet 7 corresponding to the administration period of drug C that is not to be packaged, and discharges a single medicine packaging band in which multiple medicine packets 7 are connected together.

[0058] As described above, the output processing unit 112 records the drug information (drug name) of the drug to be packaged and the drug information (drug name) of the drug not to be packaged but having the same dosing period as the drug to be packaged, at a position corresponding to the medicine packet 7 into which the drug to be packaged is packaged. Specifically, the output processing unit 112 outputs the packaging data D1 to the packaging device 3 and causes the packaging device 3 to execute a printing process (recording process) that prints the drug names of the drug to be packaged and the drug names of the drug not to be packaged on the medicine packet 7. The output processing unit 112 is an example of a recording processing unit of the present invention.

[0059] In another embodiment, the output processing unit 112 may cause the printer 4 to execute a printing process that prints the names of drugs to be packaged and drugs not to be packaged on labels (or stickers). The printer 4 prints and discharges a plurality of labels for each dosage period, each of which includes the recipient, dosage period, drug name, specific information P1, etc. The labels are affixed to each medicine packet 7 discharged from the packaging device 3. That is, the output processing unit 112 may record information such as the recipient, dosage period, drug name, and specific information P1 on the medicine packet 7 using the labels.

[0060] The communication interface 13 has a network card or the like that performs wireless or wired data communication in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol between the dispensing equipment 2, the packaging device 3, and the printer 4 via the network N1. The display device 14 is a display means such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display that displays various information in accordance with control instructions from the control unit 11. The operation device 15 is an operation means operated by a user to input various information into the medication dispensing support device 1. Specifically, the operation device 15 includes a keyboard and a mouse (pointing device) that accept input operations of various information in accordance with the display screen of the display device 14.

[0061] The drive device 16 can read the medication distribution support program from a computer-readable recording medium 17 on which the medication distribution support program is recorded. The recording medium 17 is a CD, DVD, BD, USB memory, etc. Then, in the medication distribution support device 1, the control unit 11 installs the medication distribution support program read from the recording medium 17 by the drive device 16 into the data storage unit 12.

[0062] [Medication Dispensing Support Processing] An example of the procedure of the medication dispensing support processing executed in the medication dispensing support system 10 will be described with reference to Figures 8 and 9. The medication dispensing support processing is executed by the control units 11 and 31 when a predetermined user operation is performed on the medication dispensing support device 1 and the packaging device 3 to execute the medication dispensing support program. Note that the present invention may be understood as an invention of a medication dispensing support method that executes some or all of the processing procedures of the medication dispensing support processing, or the medication dispensing support program that causes a computer such as the medication dispensing support device 1 to execute the medication dispensing support method. Figure 8 shows an example of the processing procedures of the medication dispensing support processing executed by the control unit 11 of the medication dispensing support device 1.

[0063] <Step S1> In step S1, the control unit 11 acquires prescription data for the recipient in response to a user operation. Specifically, the control unit 11 displays a selection screen for selecting a prescription target on the display device 14, and selects the prescription target in response to a selection operation by the user on the operation device 15. For example, in the selection process, the control unit 11 selects any prescription data from the prescription data stored in the data storage unit 12 in response to a user operation. The control unit 11 acquires the prescription data selected by the user. Here, the control unit 11 acquires prescription data for the recipient "Taro Yuyama."

[0064] <Step S2> In step S2, the control unit 11 generates packaging data D1. Specifically, the control unit 11 generates packaging data D1 (see FIG. 7 ) based on the prescription data, in which information such as the recipient ID, recipient, date of administration, time of administration, medication, and outside-package flag are associated with each other. The control unit 11 stores the packaging data D1 in the data storage unit 12.

[0065] <Step S3> In step S3, the control unit 11 outputs the packaging data D1 to the packaging device 3. Specifically, the control unit 11 outputs the packaging data D1 to the packaging device 3 that packages the medicines included in the packaging data D1 (medicines to be packaged). For example, when medicine A and medicine B included in the packaging data D1 are packaged by the packaging device 3, the control unit 11 outputs the packaging data D1 to the packaging device 3. The control unit 11 also outputs dispensing data to a dispensing machine 2 (a PTP sheet dispensing device) that dispenses a medicine not to be packaged (medicine C) included in the packaging data D1.

[0066] Furthermore, for example, when drug A and drug B are packaged by different packaging devices 3, i.e., when drug A is packaged by a tablet packaging machine and drug B is packaged by a powder packaging machine, the control unit 11 outputs packaging data D1 to each of the tablet packaging machine and the powder packaging machine. In this case, the control unit 11 prints the drug name of drug C, which is heat-sealed 8 and not packaged by the packaging device 3, on the drug package 7 of drug A packaged by the tablet packaging machine, but does not print it on the drug package 7 of drug B packaged by the powder packaging machine. The tablet packaging machine prints the drug names of drug A, drug B, and drug C on the drug package 7 that packages drug A, and the powder packaging machine prints the drug name of drug B on the drug package 7 that packages drug B. In another embodiment, the control unit 11 may print the drug name of drug C on the drug package 7 of drug B packaged by the powder packaging machine. Depending on the user's selection operation, the control unit 11 may determine that the medicine package 7 on which to print the name of the medicine C is the medicine package 7 packaged by the tablet packaging machine or the medicine package 7 packaged by the powder medicine packaging machine.

[0067] In this way, when a first drug to be packaged packaged in a first medicine packet 7 by a first packaging device (e.g., a tablet packaging machine), a second drug to be packaged in a second medicine packet 7 by a second packaging device (e.g., a powder packaging machine), and a drug not to be packaged are to be taken at the same time, the medication dispensing support system 10 may be configured to record the names of the first drug to be packaged, the second drug to be packaged, and the drug not to be packaged at a position corresponding to the first medicine packet 7, and to record the name of the second drug to be packaged but not the drug not to be packaged at a position corresponding to the second medicine packet 7. In other words, when there are multiple medicine packets 7 for the same dosing time, the medication dispensing support system 10 may be configured to record the names of all drugs to be taken at that time in one medicine packet 7, and to record only the names of the drugs packaged in that medicine packet 7 out of all drugs in the other medicine packets 7. In another embodiment, the medication distribution support system 10 may be configured to record the drug name of the first drug to be packaged and the drug name of the drug not to be packaged at a position corresponding to the first drug packet 7, and to record the drug name of the second drug to be packaged at a position corresponding to the second drug packet 7, but not to record the drug name of the drug not to be packaged.

[0068] In another embodiment, the control unit 11 may print the names of all the drugs, in this case the names of drugs A, B, and C, on each of the drug packets 7 of drug A packaged by the tablet packaging machine and drug packets 7 of drug B packaged by the powder packaging machine.

[0069] FIG. 9 shows an example of the procedure of the medication distribution support process executed by the control unit 31 of the packaging device 3.

[0070] <Step S11> In step S11, the control unit 31 acquires packaging data D1 output from the medication dispensing support device 1. For example, when prescription data for patient "Taro Yuyama" is selected, the medication dispensing support device 1 generates packaging data D1 (see FIG. 7) based on the prescription data and outputs the generated packaging data D1 to the packaging device 3, which packages the medicines included in the prescription data. As a result, the control unit 31 of the packaging device 3 acquires the packaging data D1. Here, it is assumed that, of the medicines included in the packaging data D1, the packaging device 3 packages medicine A and medicine B, but does not package medicine C. In other words, it is assumed that medicine A and medicine B are medicines to be packaged by the packaging device 3, and medicine C is a medicine not to be packaged by the packaging device 3.

[0071] <Step S12> In step S12, the control unit 31 executes packaging processing based on the packaging data D1. Specifically, the control unit 31 packages the medicines to be taken by the user into medicine packets 7 for each dosing period. For example, based on the packaging data D1 shown in Fig. 7, the control unit 31 packages medicine A and medicine B into medicine packets 7 corresponding to each dosing period ("after breakfast," "after lunch," and "after dinner"). The control unit 31 creates 21 medicine packets 7 (for 21 doses) from "December 11" to "December 17."

[0072] Furthermore, the control unit 31 uses the packet printer 32 to print the medicine package information, including the name of the recipient, the date of administration, the time of administration, the name of the drug, etc., onto the medicine package 7. Specifically, the control unit 31 prints the names of all drugs for the same administration time onto the medicine package 7 corresponding to each administration time. For example, the control unit 31 prints the names of drugs A and B onto the medicine package 7 corresponding to "after breakfast" (see FIG. 4), prints the names of drugs A and B onto the medicine package 7 corresponding to "after lunch," and prints the names of drugs A, B, and C onto the medicine package 7 corresponding to "after dinner" (see FIG. 5).

[0073] Furthermore, the control unit 31 prints, on the medicine packet 7, specific information P1 that can be distinguished from other medicines, next to the name of the medicine for which "1" is registered in the non-package flag of the packaging data D1. For example, as shown in Fig. 5, the control unit 31 prints, on the medicine packet 7 corresponding to "after dinner," the specific information P1 associated with the name of medicine C for which "1" is registered in the non-package flag.

[0074] In this way, the control unit 31 performs the packaging process for the medicines in the order shown in the packaging data D1, thereby creating a medicine packaging strip of the form shown in Fig. 2. Note that in step S12, the order of the process of packaging the medicines into medicine packets 7 and the process of printing medicine packaging information on the medicine packets 7 is not limited. For example, the control unit 31 may print the medicine packaging information at the positions where each bag (medicine packet 7) is to be formed on the long medicine packaging sheet, and then adhere the sheets at predetermined locations to form each bag (medicine packet 7), and then contain medicines in the bags.

[0075] <Step S13> In step S13, the control unit 31 ejects the packaged medicine packets 7 from the packaging device 3. Specifically, the control unit 31 ejects from the packaging device 3 one medicine packaging band (see FIG. 2 ) in which a plurality of medicine packets 7 corresponding to the administration timing are connected together.

[0076] When the medicine packet 7 is discharged from the packaging device 3, for example, the worker checks whether or not there is specific information P1 printed on the medicine packet 7. After checking the specific information P1 printed on the medicine packet 7, the worker prepares a medicine corresponding to the specific information P1 (a medicine not to be packaged) and attaches the medicine to the medicine packet 7. In the example shown in FIG. 5 , the worker attaches the heat seal 8 of the medicine C having the specific information P1 printed on the "after dinner" medicine packet 7 to the medicine packet 7.

[0077] The worker also performs an inspection to determine whether the packaging process is appropriate. For example, for each medicine package 7, the worker checks whether the drug with the name printed on the medicine package 7 is properly packaged in the medicine package 7. Furthermore, when identification information P1 is printed on the medicine package 7, the worker checks whether a drug not to be packaged corresponding to the identification information P1 is attached to the medicine package 7. With the above configuration, the worker can easily perform the inspection process using the medicine package information printed on the medicine package 7. For example, if a medicine name is printed on the medicine package 7 but the medicine with the name is not packaged in the medicine package 7, the worker can determine that an error has occurred in the packaging operation in the packaging device 3. For example, if a medicine name and identification information P1 are printed on the medicine package 7 but the drug not to be packaged is not attached to the medicine package 7, the worker can determine that an error has occurred in the dispensing operation in the dispensing device 2 or that the process of attaching the medicine package 7 has not been performed.

[0078] After completing the inspection, the worker performs a sorting operation to sort each medication packet 7 into medication calendar 9. For example, as shown in FIG. 6 , the worker places the "after breakfast" and "after lunch" medication packets 7 containing Drug A and Drug B in the "morning" and "after noon" medication storage sections 91 for each day of the week, and places the "after dinner" medication packet 7 containing Drug A and Drug B and the heat-sealed medication packet 8 containing Drug C in the "evening" medication storage section 91 for each day of the week. According to the above configuration, for example, as shown in FIG. 6 , if the heat-sealed medication packet 8 is not stored in the "Friday evening" medication storage section 91, the worker can quickly determine that the heat-sealed medication packet 8 for Drug C is not stored in the medication storage section 91, even though the specific information P1 is attached to "Drug C" printed on the medication packet 7.

[0079] As described above, in the medication dispensing support system 10, based on information about the medication to be taken by the patient and the timing of taking the medication (e.g., date of administration, time of administration), drug information about the medication to be packaged by the packaging device 3 and drug information about the medication not to be packaged by the packaging device 3, which has the same administration timing as the medication to be packaged, are recorded in positions corresponding to the medicine packet 7 into which the medication to be packaged is packaged by the packaging device 3. For example, if the administration timing of the medication to be packaged (e.g., tablet) and the medication not to be packaged (e.g., heat-sealed 8) is the same, the drug name of the tablet and the drug name of the heat-sealed 8 are printed together on the medicine packet 7 into which the tablet is packaged. This allows the worker to easily determine the medication to be taken at the relevant administration timing simply by looking at the information (e.g., drug name) printed on the medicine packet 7. In addition, by simply looking at the information printed on the medicine packet 7, the worker can quickly identify any packaging errors that occurred during the inspection process, and can quickly identify any sorting errors during sorting, thereby preventing missed medications during medication distribution. Furthermore, the user can prevent missed doses.

[0080] Other Embodiments The display method for displaying (recording) the medicine package information on the medicine package 7 is not limited to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 . In another embodiment, the packaging device 3 may add package identification information that identifies the packaging method of the medicine to the medicine name displayed on the medicine package 7. For example, the packaging device 3 prints package identification information that can identify, in association with the medicine name, a medicine dispensed from a medicine cassette containing the medicine in advance, a medicine dispensed from a manual dispensing unit (DTA (Detachable Tablet Adapter)) in which medicines are fed into a plurality of DTA cells arranged in a grid pattern, and a medicine dispensed from an unspecified cassette into which the target medicine is fed at the time of packaging. For example, as shown in FIG. 10 , the packaging device 3 prints "U" associated with the medicine name of medicine A on the medicine package 7 and "D" associated with the medicine name of medicine B. "U" indicates that the medicine was dispensed using the unspecified cassette, and "D" indicates that the medicine was dispensed using the manual dispensing unit. "Empty" is an example of specific information P1 indicating that the medicine is not to be packaged. By printing "U" or "D" on the medicine packet 7, workers can be alerted during inspection work to check whether the medicines that were manually dispensed have been packaged properly. Furthermore, workers can understand the packaging method (dispensing method) by simply looking at the information printed on the medicine packet 7, without having to look at detailed information on the medicine to be packaged.

[0081] However, there may be cases where the only medications to be taken at a certain time are medications not to be packaged. In this case, since there are no medications to be contained in the medication packet 7, the packaging device 3 may not create a medication packet 7 for that time. However, if a medication packet 7 for that time is not created, it becomes difficult to determine whether an error occurred during the packaging operation or an allocation error occurred in the allocation of the medication packets 7 to the medication calendar 9. Therefore, when the only medications to be taken at that time are medications not to be packaged, the packaging device 3 creates an empty medication packet 71 (blank packet) that does not contain any medication. Furthermore, the packaging device 3 prints the name of the medication not to be packaged and identification information P1 on the medication packet 71, as well as identification information P2 indicating that there are no medications to be contained in the medication packet 71 (that the medication packet 7 is empty). 11, if the only medicine to be taken by patient "Yuyama Jiro" "after lunch" is medicine C packaged in heat seal 8, packaging device 3 prints the name of medicine C, specific information P1, and the words "blank package" (identification information P2) on medicine package 71 corresponding to the time of administration "after lunch." This allows an operator to know, just by looking at medicine package 71, that there is a medicine not to be packaged and that medicine package 71 does not contain any medicine (it is an empty package).

[0082] In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6 , the medication calendar 9 is configured such that no medication packet 7 is stored in the medication storage section 91 for a medication period when no medication to be taken is available ("before going to bed" in FIG. 6 ). In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12 , the packaging device 3 may create a medication packet 72 (blank packet) for a medication period when no medication to be taken is available. Furthermore, the packaging device 3 may record information indicating that no medication to be taken is available in a medication packet 72 corresponding to a medication period when the user will not take medication. For example, as shown in FIG. 12 , the packaging device 3 prints identification information P3 on the medication packet 72, indicating that no medication to be taken is available in that medication period.

[0083] FIG. 13 shows a specific example of packaging data D1 corresponding to this configuration. The medication dispensing support device 1 generates packaging data D1 in which a "2" is registered in the non-package flag for the administration time "before going to bed." Based on the packaging data D1, the packaging device 3 prints identification information P3 at the position of the medicine package 72 for the administration time "before going to bed" corresponding to the non-package flag "2." When the medicine packages 7 and 72 packaged based on the packaging data D1 shown in FIG. 13 are sorted into the medication calendar 9, as shown in FIG. 14, the medicine packages 7 and 72 are stored in the medicine storage sections 91 corresponding to all of the administration times included in the medication calendar 9. In this manner, the medication dispensing support system 10 may create the same number of medicine packages 7 as the number of medicine storage sections 91 included in the medication calendar 9 (28 medicine packages in FIG. 14). This allows the operator to easily identify whether a medicine package has been forgotten to be included in the medication calendar 9. Furthermore, during inspection, the operator can determine by simply looking at the medicine package 72 that there is no medicine that should be taken "before going to bed." This embodiment is particularly suitable for use in a medication calendar used in facilities that cater to multiple users with different dosage regimens.

[0084] In this way, it is normally not necessary to create a medicine packet 7 for a period when no medicine is available to be taken, but when using a medication calendar 9, it is preferable that the packaging device 3 create a medicine packet 72 (empty packet) corresponding to a period when no medicine is available to be taken (a period when no medicine is to be taken) and further print identification information P3 on the medicine packet 72 so that the medicine storage section 91 does not become empty during that period.

[0085] Furthermore, the medications to be taken may include topical medications, emergency medications, etc. In this case, the packaging device 3 may, for example, create a medicine packet 73 (blank packet) corresponding to the topical medication and adhere the medicine packet 73 to the topical medication. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 15 , the packaging device 3 prints on the medicine packet 73 the timing of taking the topical medication D (heat-sealed 8) (e.g., "once a day" or "when in pain"), as well as the name of the topical medication D, specific information P1, and identification information P2 ("blank packet"). The medicine packet 73 and the heat-sealed 8 for the topical medication D may be stored in a medicine storage section 91 (not shown) for topical medications in the medication calendar 9.

[0086] Furthermore, medications to be taken at the same time may include multiple types of medications not intended for separate packaging. For example, medications to be taken "after dinner" may include both medications in a PTP sheet and medications in a heat-sealed packaging. In this case, the packaging device 3 may print specific information P1 on the medicine package 7 corresponding to each of the medications in the PTP sheet and the heat-sealed medication, and may print different specific information P1 (such as "●" or "◯"). Furthermore, the packaging device 3 may print information on the medicine package 7 that identifies the number of medications not intended for separate packaging, in addition to the specific information P1. For example, the packaging device 3 may print text such as "2 medications not intended for separate packaging" in the upper right corner of the medicine package 7. This allows the operator to know that there are two types of medications not intended for separate packaging just by looking at the medicine package 7.

[0087] In another embodiment, from the perspective of protecting personal information, it is possible to consider not printing the drug name on the medicine packet 7. In this case, if there are no drugs (drugs to be packaged) for the same dosage period in the medicine packet 7 but there are drugs not to be packaged, the packaging device 3 prints identification information P2 ("empty package") on the medicine packet 7 and does not print the drug name. Furthermore, if there are drugs to be packaged, the packaging processing unit 312 may not print the drug name of the drug to be packaged on the medicine packet 7, but may print identification information indicating the presence of drugs to be taken (e.g., "medication taken" or "overthelipid medication taken") This allows the operator to easily determine whether the medicine packet 7 is correctly empty or whether drugs that should be packaged in the medicine packet 7 were not packaged due to an error in the packaging operation of the packaging device 3.

[0088] [Inspection of Drugs Not to be Packaged] In another embodiment, the packaging device 3 may be equipped with a function for inspecting drugs not to be packaged. Specifically, the packaging device 3 generates an inspection drug packet 74 (empty packet) containing no drug at the end (first or last) of a drug packaging band in which multiple drug packets 7, each containing drugs with different dosing periods, are connected. The packaging device 3 also displays (prints or labels) the drug packet information, including the recipient ID, recipient name, dosing date, dosing period, drug name, etc., on the inspection drug packet 74. Furthermore, if the corresponding prescription data includes a drug not to be packaged, the packaging device 3 displays the drug name, dosing period, and identification code (one-dimensional code, two-dimensional code, etc.) of the drug not to be packaged on the inspection drug packet 74. The identification code includes information that can identify the drug not to be packaged (drug name, GS1 code, JAN code, etc.).

[0089] For example, if the prescription data for "Taro Yuyama" includes drug A to be packaged and drugs C and D (both heat-sealed) that are not to be packaged, the packaging device 3 performs packaging processing based on the packaging data D1. The packaging device 3 packages drug A into medicine packets 7, prints the name of drug A on the medicine packets 7 corresponding to the time of drug A's administration, prints the name of drug C and identification information P1 (such as "●" or "◯") on the medicine packets 7 corresponding to the time of drug C and D that are not to be packaged, prints the name of the recipient, the name and time of administration of drug A, the name, time of administration, and identification code G1 of drug C, and the name, time of administration, and identification code G2 of drug D on the inspection drug packet 74 at the head of the medicine packet 7, and discharges a single medicine packaging band in which the inspection drug packet 74 and multiple medicine packets 7 are connected.

[0090] After gathering drugs C and D, which are not to be packaged, the worker inspects drugs C and D. Specifically, the inspection system (or medication dispensing support system 10) verifies drugs C and D gathered by the worker. For example, the worker uses a reading device (such as a barcode reader) to read the identification code G1 (see FIG. 16 ) corresponding to drug C printed on the inspection drug package 74, and also reads the identification code Gc (such as a GS1 code or JAN code) (see FIG. 17A ) pre-printed on the packaging (e.g., heat seal 8) of drug C. The inspection system determines (verifies) whether the drug information read from the identification code G1 on the inspection drug package 74 matches the drug information read from the identification code Gc of drug C, and displays the determination result.

[0091] Similarly, the worker uses a reading device to read the identification code G2 (see FIG. 16) corresponding to drug D printed on the inspection drug package 74, and also reads the identification code Gd (GS1 code, JAN code, etc.) (see FIG. 17B) pre-printed on the packaging of drug D. The inspection system determines whether the drug information read from the identification code G2 on the inspection drug package 74 matches the drug information read from the identification code Gd of drug D, and displays the determination result.

[0092] This allows the worker to confirm that the collected drugs C and D are correct, preventing mix-ups and dispensing errors. After the inspection is complete, the worker attaches the drugs not to be packaged (drugs C and D) (heat-sealed 8) to the medicine packet 7 corresponding to the time of administration using tape, fasteners, etc. For example, the worker attaches drug C to the medicine packet 7 containing drug A corresponding to "after breakfast," and drug D to the medicine packet 7 containing drug A corresponding to "after dinner."

[0093] In another embodiment, as shown in Fig. 18 , the packaging device 3 may display one identification code G0 corresponding to a drug not to be packaged on the drug inspection package 74. Specifically, when the target prescription data includes multiple drugs not to be packaged, the packaging device 3 prints an identification code G0 including the drug package information of the multiple drugs not to be packaged on the drug inspection package 74. In the example shown in Fig. 18 , the packaging device 3 prints an identification code G0 including the drug information of drug C and drug D on the drug inspection package 74.

[0094] In this case, when an operator uses a reading device to read the identification code G0 printed on the inspection package 74 and also reads the identification code Gc (see FIG. 17A) pre-printed on the package of drug C, the inspection system determines whether the drug information read from the identification code Gc of drug C is included in the multiple pieces of drug information read from the identification code G0 of the inspection package 74 and displays the determination result. Next, when the operator reads the identification code Gd (see FIG. 17B) pre-printed on the package of drug D, the inspection system determines whether the drug information read from the identification code Gd of drug D is included in the multiple pieces of drug information read from the identification code G0 of the inspection package 74 and displays the determination result. The configuration shown in FIG. 18 makes it possible to prevent the display of the identification codes on the inspection package 74 from becoming cumbersome when there are a large number of drugs not to be individually packaged, and also prevents errors in reading the identification codes on the inspection package 74.

[0095] In another embodiment, the packaging device 3 may display an identification code corresponding to a drug not to be packaged on a medicine packet 7 corresponding to the period in which the drug is to be taken. For example, as shown in Fig. 19, the packaging device 3 prints an identification code G1 corresponding to drug C on an "after breakfast" medicine packet 7 that packages drug A, and prints an identification code G2 corresponding to drug D on an "after dinner" medicine packet 7 that packages drug A. Note that the identification codes G1 and G2 displayed on the medicine packet 7 and the identification codes G1 and G2 displayed on the inspection package 74 may be the same or different.

[0096] In this case, the worker reads and compares the identification codes G1 and G2 (see FIG. 19 ) on the inspection package 74 with the identification codes Gc and Gd (see FIGS. 17A and 17B ) pre-printed on the packages of drugs C and D, and then reads the identification code G1 on the medicine package 7 corresponding to "after breakfast" and the identification code Gc pre-printed on the package of drug C. The inspection system determines whether the drug information read from the identification code G1 on the medicine package 7 matches the drug information read from the identification code Gc of drug C, and displays the determination result. Furthermore, when the worker reads the identification code G2 on the medicine package 7 corresponding to "after dinner" and the identification code Gd pre-printed on the package of drug D, the inspection system determines whether the drug information read from the identification code G2 on the medicine package 7 matches the drug information read from the identification code Gd of drug D, and displays the determination result.

[0097] If the drug information read from the identification code G1 of the medicine packet 7 corresponding to "after breakfast" matches the drug information read from the identification code Gc of drug C, the worker determines that the time to take drug C is correct and attaches drug C to the medicine packet 7 corresponding to "after breakfast." Also, if the drug information read from the identification code G2 of the medicine packet 7 corresponding to "after dinner" matches the drug information read from the identification code Gd of drug D, the worker determines that the time to take drug D is correct and attaches drug D to the medicine packet 7 corresponding to "after dinner."

[0098] 19 , it is possible to prevent errors in dispensing the timing of taking medicines that are not to be packaged. It is also possible to prevent errors in sorting the medicine packets 7 and the medicines that are not to be packaged into the medication calendar 9 (see FIG. 3). The packaging device 3 may display one identification code G0 (see FIG. 18 ) on the inspection medicine packet 74, and may also display an identification code (see FIG. 19 ) for the medicine that is not to be packaged on the medicine packet 7.

[0099] [Packaging of Multiple Medicines] In another embodiment, the packaging device 3 may execute a packaging process in which multiple medicines corresponding to prescription data are packaged in one medicine packet 7. For example, when prescription data corresponding to one prescription X1 of patient P shown in Fig. 20 includes multiple medicines M1 and M2 and an instruction for packaging is acquired, the packaging device 3 packages the medicines M1 and M2 in one medicine packet 7 according to the timing of administration.

[0100] 21 , if multiple prescriptions (prescriptions Y1 and Y2) are issued for patient Q and the prescription data corresponding to each of the multiple prescriptions Y1 and Y2 includes multiple drugs M11 to M13, the packaging device 3 may package the drugs M11 to M13 into a single medicine packet 7 according to their respective intake times. For example, if prescription Y1 is issued to patient Q by a first medical department and prescription Y2 is issued by a second medical department on the same day, the intake times of the drugs M11 and M12 in prescription Y1 may overlap with the intake time of drug M13 in prescription Y2. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 21 , the intake time for both drug M12 in prescription Y1 and drug M13 in prescription Y2 is set to "after breakfast."

[0101] In this case, when the packaging device 3 receives an instruction to package the medicine M12 of prescription Y1 and the medicine M13 of prescription Y2, the packaging device 3 packages the medicine M12 of prescription Y1 and the medicine M13 of prescription Y2 into a single package in the medicine package 7 corresponding to "after breakfast." Note that if the medicines M12 and M13 are incompatible drugs, the packaging device 3 may prohibit the medicines M12 and M13 from being packaged together.

[0102] In this way, when multiple prescriptions with overlapping dosing periods are issued to the same patient, the packaging device 3 may package (package) multiple medications with the same dosing periods contained in the multiple prescriptions into the same medicine bag 7.

[0103] [Supplementary Notes on the Invention] The following provides an outline of the invention extracted from the above-described embodiments. Note that the configurations and processing functions described in the following supplementary notes can be selected and combined as desired.

[0104] <Supplementary Note 1> A medication dispensing support system including a recording processing unit that records, based on information about the medication to be taken by the user and the timing of taking the medication, medication information about the medication to be packaged by the packaging device and medication information about the medication that has the same timing of taking the medication as the medication to be packaged but is not to be packaged by the packaging device, at positions corresponding to the packaging containers into which the medication to be packaged is packaged by the packaging device.

[0105] <Supplementary Note 2> The medication distribution support system described in Supplementary Note 1, wherein the recording processing unit records the drug information at a position corresponding to the packaging container in a manner that enables identification as to whether the drug information is drug information for the drug to be packaged or drug information for the drug not to be packaged.

[0106] <Supplementary Note 3> The medication distribution support system according to Supplementary Note 1 or 2, wherein the recording processing unit records specific information in association with at least one of the drug information of the drug to be packaged and the drug information of the drug not to be packaged at a position corresponding to the packaging container.

[0107] <Supplementary Note 4> The medication distribution support system described in any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 3, wherein when there is no drug to be packaged that has the same administration timing as the drug not to be packaged, the recording processing unit records identification information that can identify that the packaging container is empty in a position corresponding to an empty packaging container that does not contain any drug.

[0108] <Supplementary Note 5> The medication dispensing support system according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 4, wherein when a first drug to be packaged packaged into a first packaging container by a first packaging device, a second drug to be packaged packaged into a second packaging container by a second packaging device, and the drug not to be packaged are to be taken at the same time, the recording processing unit records drug information of the first drug to be packaged, the drug name of the second drug to be packaged, and drug information of the drug not to be packaged at a position corresponding to the first packaging container, and records drug information of the second drug to be packaged at a position corresponding to the second packaging container, but does not record drug information of the drug not to be packaged.

[0109] <Supplementary Note 6> The medication distribution support system described in any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 5, wherein the recording processing unit records information indicating that the medication to be taken is not present in the packet corresponding to the timing at which the user does not take the medication.

[0110] <Supplementary Note 7> The medication dispensing support system according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 6, wherein the record processing unit outputs packaging data to the packaging device, causing the packaging data to record drug information of the drug to be packaged by the packaging device and drug information of the drug not to be packaged by the packaging device at positions corresponding to the packaging containers into which the drug to be packaged is packaged by the packaging device.

Claims

1. A dispensing support system comprising a recording processing unit that, based on information on drugs taken by a user and the timing of taking the drugs, records drug information of drugs to be packaged by a packaging device, which are drugs to be packaged, and drug information of drugs that are not to be packaged by the packaging device but have the same timing of taking as the drugs to be packaged, at a position corresponding to a packaging container in which the drugs to be packaged are packaged by the packaging device.

2. The dispensing support system according to claim 1, wherein the recording processing unit records at a position corresponding to the packaging container in such a manner that it is possible to identify whether the drug information is drug information of the drugs to be packaged or drug information of the drugs not to be packaged.

3. The dispensing support system according to claim 2, wherein the recording processing unit records specific information in association with at least any one of the drug information of the drugs to be packaged and the drug information of the drugs not to be packaged at a position corresponding to the packaging container.

4. The dispensing support system according to claim 1, wherein when there are no drugs to be packaged having the same timing of taking as the drugs not to be packaged, the recording processing unit records identification information that can identify that the packaging container is empty at a position corresponding to an empty packaging container in which no drugs are packaged.

5. When the first drug to be packaged packaged in a first packaging container by a first packaging device, the second drug to be packaged packaged in a second packaging container by a second packaging device, and the drugs not to be packaged have the same timing of taking, the recording processing unit records the drug information of the first drug to be packaged, the drug name of the second drug to be packaged, and the drug information of the drugs not to be packaged at a position corresponding to the first packaging container, and records the drug information of the second drug to be packaged at a position corresponding to the second packaging container and does not record the drug information of the drugs not to be packaged. The dispensing support system according to claim 1.

6. A dispensing support program for causing one or more processors to record drug information of drugs to be packaged by a packaging device, which are drugs to be packaged, and drug information of drugs that are not to be packaged by the packaging device but have the same timing of taking as the drugs to be packaged, at a position corresponding to a packaging container in which the drugs to be packaged are packaged by the packaging device, based on information on drugs taken by a user and the timing of taking the drugs.

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