System and apparatus for administering prescribed medication to a patient

A patient verification method for verifying that a prescribed dose of medication is administered to a specific patient, said patient verification method comprising the steps of:

• providing a dispensing workstation in communication with a database having predetermined patient information and corresponding prescribed medication dose information for each of a plurality of predetermined patients, a portable container, an information device having a memory, a comparison device, and a patient identification device associated with the specific patient, said patient identification device containing specific patient information;
• using said dispensing workstation to select a selected patient from said database, said selected patient having selected patient information and corresponding selected prescribed medication dose information;
• dispensing the prescribed dose of medication for said selected patient into said portable container, and communicating a dispensing signal containing said selected patient information to said information device, storing said selected patient information in said memory of said information device, and attaching said information device to said portable container;
• transporting said portable container and information device to the specific patient;
• communicating a verification signal containing either of said selected patient information and said specific patient information to said comparison device;
• comparing said specific patient information to said selected patient information;
• and,
• activating an indicator when said specific patient information differs from said selected patient information.

A healthcare worker authorization method for ensuring an administering healthcare worker is authorized to administer a prescribed dose of medication to a specific patient, said healthcare worker authorization method comprising the steps of:

• providing a dispensing workstation in communication with a database having predetermined patient information and corresponding prescribed medication dose information for each of a plurality of predetermined patients, and said prescribed medication dose information being associated with predetermined healthcare worker information, a portable container adapted to move from open and closed positions, an information device having a memory, a healthcare worker identification device associated with the administering healthcare worker, said healthcare worker identification device containing administering healthcare worker information, and a comparison device for comparing said information;
• using said dispensing workstation to select a selected patient from said database;
• dispensing the prescribed dose of medication for said selected patient into said portable container, communicating a dispensing signal containing said predetermined healthcare worker information to said information device, and storing said predetermined healthcare worker information in said memory of said information device, attaching said information device to said portable container, and locking said portable container in said closed position;
• transporting said portable container and information device to the specific patient;
• communicating an authorization signal containing either of said predetermined healthcare worker information and said administering healthcare worker information to said comparison device;
• comparing said administering healthcare worker information to said predetermined healthcare worker information;
• and,
• unlocking said portable container when said administering healthcare worker information matches said predetermined healthcare worker information.

A healthcare worker authorization method for ensuring an administering healthcare worker is authorized to administer a prescribed dose of medication to a specific patient, said healthcare worker authorization method comprising the steps of:

• providing a dispensing workstation in communication with a database having predetermined patient information and corresponding prescribed medication dose information for each of a plurality of predetermined patients, said prescribed medication dose information being associated with predetermined healthcare worker information, a portable container, an information device having a memory, a healthcare worker identification device associated with the administering healthcare worker, said healthcare worker identification device containing administering healthcare worker information, and a comparison device for comparing said information;
• using said dispensing workstation to select a selected patient from said database;
• dispensing the prescribed dose of medication for said selected patient into said portable container, communicating a dispensing signal containing said predetermined healthcare worker information to said information device, storing said predetermined healthcare worker information in said memory of said information device, and attaching said information device to said portable container;
• transporting said portable container and information device to the specific patient;
• communicating an authorization signal containing either of said predetermined healthcare worker information and said administering healthcare worker information to said comparison device;
• comparing said administering healthcare worker information to said predetermined healthcare worker information;
• and,
• activating an indicator when said administering healthcare worker information differs from said predetermined healthcare worker information.

A medication tracking method for a prescribed dose of medication administered to a specific patient by a healthcare worker, said medication tracking method comprising the steps of:

• providing a dispensing workstation containing predetermined patient infringement and corresponding prescribed medication dose information for each of a plurality of predetermined patient, a portable container adapted to move from open and closed positions, an information device having a memory, a healthcare worker identification device associated with the administering healthcare worker, said healthcare worker identification device containing administering healthcare worker information, a patient identification device associated with the specific patient, said patient identification device containing specific patient information;
• using said dispensing workstation to select a selected patient, said selected patient having selected patient information and corresponding selected prescribed medication dose information;
• dispensing the prescribed dose of medication for said selected patient into said portable container, communicating a dispensing signal containing said selected medication dose information to said information device, storing said selected medication dose information in said memory of said information device, attaching said information device to said portable container, and moving said portable container to said closed position;
• transporting said portable container and associated information device to the specific patient;
• communicating an authorization signal from said healthcare worker identification device containing said administering healthcare worker information to and storing said administering healthcare worker information in said memory of said information device;
• communicating a verification signal from said patient identification device containing said specific patient information to and storing said specific patient information in said memory of said information device;
• moving said portable container to said open position after said administering healthcare worker information and specific patient information are received by said information device;
• and
• communicating a confirmation signal containing said selected medication dose information, said administering healthcare worker information and said specific patient information to either of said dispensing workstation and a separate database.

A patient verification apparatus for holding and limiting access to a prescribed dose of medication during transport to a specific patient, said patient verification apparatus comprising:

• a portable container having first and second portions, said first portion having a compartment adapted to hold the medication during transport to the specific patient, and an opening for removing the medication, said second portion being adapted for movable engagement with said first portion to and from open and closed positions to selectively open and close said opening in said first portion;
• a locking mechanism adapted to engage said second portion, said locking mechanism having a latch adapted to move between locked and unlocked positions, said locking mechanism being adapted to selectively lock said second portion in said closed position when said latch is in said locked position;
• an information device attached to said portable container during transport to the specific patient, said information device having a communication device, a computer processor and a memory, said communication device and memory being in communication with said computer processor, said communication device being adapted to receive a dispensing signal containing selected patient information for storage in said memory;
• a patient identification device containing specific patient information associated with the specific patient, said communication device being adapted to receive a verification signal containing said specific patient information from said patient identification device;
• and,
• wherein said computer processor of said information device compares said selected patient information to said specific patient information, said computer processor enabling said latch to move to said unlocked position and said second portion of said portable container being movable to said open position when said selected patient information corresponds to s aid specific patient information.

A patient verification apparatus for verifying that a healthcare worker administers a prescribed dose of medication to a specific patient, said patient verification apparatus comprising:

• a portable container adapted to hold the prescribed dose of medication during transport of the medication to the specific patient;
• an information device attached to said portable container during transport to the specific patient, said information device having a communication device, a computer processor and a memory, said communication device and memory being in communication with said computer processor, said communication device being adapted to receive selected patient information for storage in said memory;
• a patient identification device associated with the specific patient and containing specific patient information, said communication device being adapted to receive a verification signal containing said specific patient information, said computer processor comparing said selected patient information to said specific patient information;
• and,
• an indicator in communication with said information device, said computer processor activating said indicator after comparing said selected patient information to said specific patient information.

A medication dispensing and tracking apparatus for tracking the administration of a prescribed dose of medication to a specific patient by a healthcare worker, said medication dispensing and tracking apparatus comprising:

• a dispensing workstation in communication with a database containing predetermined patient information and corresponding prescribed medication dose information for each of a plurality of predetermined patients, said dispensing workstation having a first computer processor, a first communication device and an input terminal, said database, first communication device, and input terminal being in communication with said first computer processor, said input terminal enabling the healthcare worker to select a selected patient from said database, said selected patient having selected patient information and corresponding selected prescription medication dose information, and said input terminal enabling the healthcare worker to transmit said selected patient information and said selected prescribed medication dose information to said first communication device;
• a portable container adapted to receive the prescribed dose of medication during transport to the specific patient, said portable container having first and second portions, said first portion having a compartment adapted to hold the prescribed dose of medication and an opening for removing the prescribed dose of medication, said second portion being movable to and from open and closed positions to selectively open and close said opening;
• an information device attached to said portable container during transport to the specific patient, said information device having a second communication device, a second computer processor, a memory and a clock, said second communication device, memory and clock being in communication with said second computer processor, said second communication device being adapted to receive a dispensing signal from said first communication device, said dispensing signal containing said selected patient information and said selected prescribed medication dose information for storage in said memory, said second portion of said container being moved to said closed position when the prescribed dose of medication is dispensed into said portable container;
• and,
• a sensor for detecting when said second portion of said container moves from said closed position towards said open position and communicating said movement to said second computer processor, said second computer processor obtaining corresponding consumption time information from said clock and recording said consumption time information in said memory, and said second communication device being adapted to transmit a confirmation signal containing said selected patient information, said selected prescribed medication dose information and said consumption time information to either of said database and a separate database.

A medication tracking apparatus for identifying a healthcare worker that administers a prescribed dose of medication to a specific patient, said medication tracking apparatus comprising:

• a portable container having first and second portions, said first portion having a compartment adapted to hold the prescribed dose of medication during transport to the specific patient and an opening for removing the prescribed dose of medication, said second portion being movable to and from open and closed positions to selectively open and close said opening;
• a locking mechanism adapted to engage said second portion, said locking mechanism having a latch adapted to move between locked and unlocked positions, said locking mechanism being adapted to selectively lock said second portion in said closed position when said latch is in said locked position;
• a healthcare worker identification device containing administering healthcare worker information;
• and,
• an information device attached to said portable container during transport to the specific patient, said information device having a communication device, a computer processor and a memory, said communication device and said memory being in communication with said computer processor, said communication device being adapted to receive a dispensing signal containing selected patient information and corresponding selected prescribed medication dose information for storage in said memory;
• said communication device being further adapted to receive an authorization signal containing said administering healthcare worker information form said healthcare worker identification device, said computer processor enabling said latch to move from said locked position to said unlocked position upon receipt of said administering healthcare worker information.

A healthcare worker authorization apparatus for verifying that a healthcare worker is authorized to administer a prescribed dose of medication to a specific patient, said healthcare worker authorization apparatus comprising:

• a portable container adapted to hold the prescribed dose of medication during transport to the specific patient;
• an information device attached to said portable container during transport to the specific patient, said information device having a communication device, a computer processor and a memory, said communication device and memory being in communication with said computer processor, said communication device being adapted to receive predetermined healthcare worker information for storage in said memory;
• a healthcare worker identification device associated with the specific healthcare worker and containing administering healthcare worker information, said communication device being adapted to receive an authorization signal containing said specific healthcare worker information, said computer processor comparing said predetermined healthcare worker information to said administering healthcare worker information;
• and,
• an indicator in communication with said information device, said computer processor activating said indicator after comparing said predetermined healthcare worker information to said administering healthcare worker information.