Point-of-care medication dispensing

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#Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to medication dispensing and, in particular, relate to point-of-care medication dispensing.

#The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

#FIG. 1 illustrates a point-of-care medication dispenser in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic interface of a medication dispenser in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

#In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a full understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to one ordinarily skilled in the art that the embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without some of these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques have not been shown in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the disclosure.

#Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a point-of-care (POC) medication dispenser 100 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Medication dispenser 100 is located at a point of care to allow a patient or other authorized user to quickly and efficiently procure medications based upon user input regarding, for example, the symptoms experienced by a patient. The medication dispenser 100 allows patients and other authorized users, such as caregivers, to access medications securely stored in the medication dispenser 100 based upon user input regarding symptoms, and upon a database of patient information including, for example, a list of pre-approved medications and doses. When a patient is experiencing symptoms, the patient can input information regarding those symptoms into the electronic interface 110. Based upon this input, a processor 140 within medication dispenser 100 selects an appropriate dose of an appropriate medicine stored within the securable cabinet 120 and permits access to the dose through an access device 130.

#By way of example, a patient in a hospital room may experience a headache and require a simple analgesic. Without medication dispenser 100, the patient would likely have to activate a nurse call button, wait for a nurse to respond, describe his symptoms to the nurse, and wait for the nurse to determine the correct medication and dosage, retrieve said medication and return to the patient's room to administer it. Moreover, an overworked nurse might neglect to check the patient's file and discover, for example, his allergy to ibuprofen, a potentially life-threatening mistake. With medication dispenser 100, the patient can, without having to wait for a nurse, provide information regarding his symptoms to the medication dispenser 100, such as by selecting an entry corresponding to “headache” from a touch screen interface. In response to this input, the medication dispenser 100 compares the described symptom to a database correlating symptoms to appropriate medications and cross-referencing information about the patient (e.g., his allergy to ibuprofen, his mass, etc.). Based upon this comparison, the medication dispenser 100 selects an appropriate dose of an appropriate medication (e.g., 200 mg of acetaminophen). This medication, which is stored within secured cabinet 120 in medication dispenser 100 (e.g., in 50 mg dose increments), is then made available to the patient through access device 130. A record of the transaction, including, for example, the user input entered, the medication dispensed, the time of the transaction, etc., is created by medication dispenser 100, and either stored locally or provided to a remote location for review by a health provider.