Automated utilization driven inventory management

A method for automated inventory management of a healthcare item dispensing unit for a healthcare facility, the method comprising:

• monitoring real time usage of a plurality of items of an item type associated with care of patients in a care area;
• automatically determine, based on monitoring the real time usage over a period of time, a minimum time period for which to stock a supply of the item type in the dispensing unit before a refill request is triggered for the item type;
• receive an order for the item type, wherein the order includes a request for a plurality of item units;
• based on monitoring the real time usage of the plurality of item of the item type, and in response to receiving the order:
• determining a length of stay in the care area for at least one patient associated with the item type;
• determining a current usage of the item type during a first period of time within the care area;
• determining a number of patients admitted to the care area during a second period of time;
• and
• determining a minimum number of stock of the item type to store in a first compartment of the dispensing unit based on the determined minimum time period for which to stock the item supply, a storage capability of the dispensing unit, the determined length of stay, a number of new orders for the item type, the determined current usage of the item type during a first period of time within the care area, and the determined number of patients admitted to the care area during a second period of time;
• automatically determining a first maximum number of stock of the item type that can be stored in the first compartment of the dispensing unit based on a volumetric space of an item unit of the item type when loaded into the first compartment;
• automatically determining a second maximum number of stock of the item type that can be stored in a second compartment of the dispensing unit based on the determined first maximum number, the volumetric space of the item unit when loaded into the first compartment, and a change of volume between the first and second compartments;
• automatically providing, in response to determining the minimum number of stock of the item type, by the one or more computing devices, a notification to a device remote from the one or more computing devices, indicating the minimum number of stock of the item type to store in the first compartment;
• determining a number of stock of the item type to store in the first compartment;
• and
• if the number of stock of the item type to store in the first compartment exceeds the first maximum number of stock of the item type that can be stored the first compartment, provide a notification assigning the second compartment for storage of one or more of the item units based on the determined second maximum number.

A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising machine-readable instructions for causing a processor to execute a method for automated inventory management of a healthcare item dispensing unit for a healthcare facility, the method comprising:

• monitoring real time usage of a plurality of items of an item type associated with care of patients in a care area;
• automatically determine, based on monitoring the real time usage over a period of time, a minimum time period for which to stock an item supply of the item type in the dispensing unit before a refill request is triggered for the item type;
• receive an order for the item type, wherein the order includes a request for a plurality of item units;
• based on monitoring the real time usage of the plurality of items of the item type, and in response to receiving the order:
• determining a length of stay in the care area for at least one patient associated with the item type;
• determining a current usage of the item type during a first period of time within the care area;
• determining a number of patients admitted to the care area during a second period of time;
• and
• determining a minimum number of stock of the item type to store in a first compartment of the dispensing unit based on the determined minimum time period for which to stock the item supply, a storage capability of the dispensing unit, the determined length of stay, a number of new orders for the item type, the determined current usage of the item type during a first period of time within the care area, and the determined number of patients admitted to the care area during a second period of time;
• automatically determine a first maximum number of stock of the item type that can be stored in the first compartment of the dispensing unit based on a volumetric space of an item unit of the item type when loaded into the first compartment;
• automatically determine a second maximum number of stock of the item that can be stored in a second compartment of the dispensing unit based on the determined first maximum number, the volumetric space of the item unit when loaded into the first compartment, and a change of volume between the first and second compartments;
• automatically providing, in response to determining the minimum number of stock of the item type, by the one or more computing devices, a notification to a device remote from the one or more computing devices, indicating the minimum number of stock of the item type to store in the compartment;
• determining a number of stock of the item type to store in the first compartment;
• and
• if the number of stock of the item type to store in the first compartment exceeds the first maximum number of stock of the item type that can be stored the first compartment, provide a notification assigning the second compartment for storage of the item type based on the determined second maximum number.