Automated centralized preparation of medications in anticipation of use

A centralized system for preparing and managing sterile compounded medication products prepared in anticipation of use at a remote location, the system comprising:

• a dose preparation station for preparation of a plurality of inventory doses based on corresponding inventory dose orders, wherein the inventory doses are non-patient specific doses independent of any particular patient-specific dose order, and wherein the plurality of inventory doses are sterile compounded medication products suitable for administration by intravenous introduction to a patient that do not require any further preparation;
• an inventory database configured to store inventory data concerning the plurality of inventory doses prepared at the dose preparation station;
• an application server executing software on a processor thereof and configured to access an order database to:
• analyze a plurality of previously received patient-specific dose orders contained in the order database, wherein the plurality of patient-specific dose orders are collectively analyzed without regard to any particular patient-specific dose order to make a determination of how frequently patient-specific-dose orders for a particular type of medication are received,
• generate at least one inventory dose order for a given particular type of medication according to the determination of how frequently patient-specific-dose orders for the given particular type of medication are received, and
• instruct the dose preparation station to prepare at least one of the plurality of inventory doses, based on the generated at least one inventory dose order in anticipation of use and prior to receipt of a patient specific dose order for the particular type of medication, such that the dose preparation station prepares at least one of the plurality of inventory doses;
• and
• an order processing server connected by a network to a remote site configured to receive a patient-specific dose order from the remote site, wherein, after receipt of the patient specific dose order, the application server is configured to:
• query the inventory data stored in the inventory database regarding the plurality of inventory doses prepared by the dose preparation station for a matching inventory dose corresponding to the patient-specific dose order, wherein:
• in the absence of a match, the application server provides instructions to the dose preparation station to:
• prepare a patient-specific dose that fulfills the received patient-specific dose order, and
• print a label reflecting an association of the received patient-specific dose order with the patient-specific dose order prepared by the dose preparation station;
• or
• in the event of a match, the order processing server is operative to associate the received patient-specific dose order with at least one of the plurality of inventory doses previously prepared by the dose preparation station to thereby satisfy the received patient-specific dose order and print a label reflecting an association of the received patient-specific dose order with the at least one of the inventory doses matched to the received patient-specific dose order;
• wherein a match at least comprises the inventory dose and the received patient-specific dose order corresponding to an identical medication.