WO1999006920A1

WO1999006920A1 - Computerized medical supply inventory tracking system for non-closed storage units

Info

Publication number: WO1999006920A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/015822
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joe Calabro; Rob Sobie; Catherine Christensen; William Conrad; Michael Lemons; Paula Richter-Dycaico
Original assignee: Pinnacle Intellectual Property Services-International, Inc.
Priority date: 1997-08-01
Filing date: 1998-07-30
Publication date: 1999-02-11
Also published as: AU8672798A

Abstract

A push button activated medical supply dispensing and inventory management system. The system of the present invention comprises a push-button actuator (10) for use with various storage devices (30) and electronically linked to a processing station (12). The processing station having a memory for storing up to date inventory data. Upon activation of the push-button actuator (10), the processing station updates the inventory data based on the received signal from the push-button actuator (10).

Description

COMPUTERIZED MEDICAL SUPPLY INVENTORY TRACKING SYSTEM FOR NON-CLOSED STORAGE UNITS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a computerized medical supply inventory tracking

system for non-closed storage units.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With more complicated drug regimes, shorter patient stays, and the reality of today's cost containment environment, the challenge has never been greater for hospital personnel to provide correct medications, and other medical supplies, to their patients quickly, accurately and cost effectively.

The practice of dispensing pharmaceutical items from locked storage under a strict accountability and security environment is known. For instance, in many hospitals and nursing homes, medicines are held under locked storage in medication dispenser stations, such as the

one disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,014,875, where nursing personnel retrieve the medicine

from locked storage for dispensing, simultaneously and automatically updating the patients'

records and billing accounts.

While these medical dispensing stations deal adequately with small items such as syringes, vials and the like, larger hospital items are generally not amenable to storage in these traditional dispensing stations, and, in addition, have their own inimitable storage problems.

Larger items such as liter bottles of fluids, boxes of diapers, robes, rolls of bandages, wheelchairs, crutches, and catheter sets are often too large to be dispensed from the patented dispensing cabinet. An auxiliary storage and dispensing unit disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,346,297 discloses an auxiliary unit which stores certain larger medical supplies. However, the supply station disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,346,297 may not be properly suited to store large or specially sized supplies, or items that are not cost effectively stored and dispensed in such an auxiliary unit. Additionally, many hospitals currently store supplies in existing open storage units and open shelves that would be logistically difficult and expensive to replace. Accordingly, even in light of current supply stations discussed above, many hospitals still have problems with the tracking, dispensing, and securing of medical supplies that are on open shelves, hooks, bins, containers, and/or in supply storage rooms that are not automatically controlled.

Others have tried to track medical supplies. OmniCell, Inc has a "See and Touch" Supply System that is used for "closed" storage units such as supply type cabinets with doors that close. Another company, Par Excellence, has a supply system that is used in an open storage unit environment, but it uses a hand held touch probe that reads information from a chip on totes that sit on shelves. The supplies are in the totes. This system requires the user

to carry the hand held device in one hand and gather supplies, etc. at the same time. This system is a fairly expensive setup with the touch probes, chips, etc.

Additionally, having medical supplies stored in a secured and automatically controlled

environment while storing other supplies outside such an environment leads to procedural confusion resulting from having two different dispensing and tracking procedures. Accordingly, there is a need for a medical supply inventory control unit, interfaced and

controlled by a medical supply processing station, adaptable for placement on any traditional

storage device. The present invention relates to a medical supply inventory tracking system, interfaced to a controller through a processing station, and adapted to fit on any known open storage unit. The computerized medical supply inventory tracking system of the present invention for non-closed storage environments includes a button bar containing a plurality of actuators. The button bar is securable to open storage units where medical supplies are stored. The present invention also includes a processing station having memory for storing information about medical supply inventory stored on the open storage units and a communications link between the button bar and the processing station to carry predetermined signals to the processing station when one of the actuators is activated. The memory is updated upon receiving the predetermined signals upon activation of the actuator.

Various objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which set forth certain embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 illustrates a flowchart illustrating one example of the operation of a processing station connected to the push-button actuator of the present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a system diagram of one embodiment of the processing station of the present invention;

Figure 3 illustrates one embodiment of the push-button dispensing system of the

present invention;

Figure 4 illustrates another embodiment of the push-button dispensing system of the

present invention;

Figure 4 A shows a blown up view of the button bar on an auxiliary shelf;

Figure 5 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention having a dual-mode pushbutton actuator; and

Figure 5 A shows a blown up view of the dual-mode push-button actuator. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

The preferred system herein described is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. They are chosen and described to explain the principles of the invention, and the application of the method to practical uses, so that others skilled in the art may practice the invention.

Figure 1 is a flowchart illustrating one example of the operation of a processing station 12 connected to the push-button actuators 10 of the present invention. Upon removal of a supply item, usage and inventory information is automatically routed to the materials and supply management department. The system also allows for accounting data to be sent to the accounting department. For nurses, technicians, and materials personnel, the processing stations 12 eliminate end-of-shift counts and stock-outs. For the hospital administration, these stations 12 eliminate manual billing, inventory reconciliation and some first dose requests.

Figure 1 represents a flowchart of one example of a programming arrangement for the processing station 12. More specifically, in a normal use mode, the keyboard 14 is

appropriately accessed to record removal of medical supply items from the station inventory,

as represented by block 16. Entry of an approved access code permits further data entry for station operation. For example, with appropriate menu display prompts, the processing station

12 may be operated to select a patient 20 and a supply item 22. Such a selection will result in allocating that supply item 22 to the patient area as it is removed and the actuator is activated.

When the items are removed, the appropriate access record is created and may be printed, displayed, and/or recorded 24 to disk or transferred to the central computer. Periodic inventory reports 18 may be generated. In addition to the functions above, the processing station 12 may be programmed with a variety of auxiliary procedures 26. For example, stocking 28 of the inventory may be performed through the processing station 12. Authorized hospital personnel may access the storage devices 30 (e.g. shelves, cabinets, drawers) containing the inventory, for purposes of restocking. Other auxiliary operations may include inventory verification 34, or return of unused items. A configuration 38 mode and/or access code maintenance mode are also desirably provided to permit station set-up and entry of current approved access codes 40.

With the present invention, patient waiting times are significantly reduced by the ease to record the dispensing of supplies by pressing the actuators on the button bar. Additionally, the processing stations 12 eliminates tasks and produces time savings, which translates into more direct time for professional tasks, less overtime, and significant cost savings. The present invention provides a push-button medical supply dispensing and inventory control system that is adaptable to all existing open storage devices.

Figure 2 illustrates a system block diagram of the basic components of the push-button dispensing system of the present invention. The processing station 12 is preferably comprised of a keyboard 14, a controller 42, a memory 44, a disk 46, a display unit 48, and a printer 50.

The present system may also be comprised of a plurality of open storage units 30, each outfitted with a plurality of push-button actuators 10. It is also preferred that the system have a data interface 52 for interfacing the signals from the push-button actuators 10 to the

processing station controller 42. For example, in one embodiment, the data interface may be a microcontroller board 88 (Figure 4) that receives signals from the push button actuators 10 of

the present invention. Upon receiving the signals from the actuators 10, the data interface 52

then sends encoded messages to the inventory control computer 12 for further processing. The data interface 52 may be interfaced to the inventory control computer 12 via a RS45 serial interface.

Figures 3-5 illustrate example embodiments of the push-button dispensing system of the present invention. The computerized medical supply inventory tracking system of the present invention for non-closed storage environments includes a button bar 64 containing a plurality of actuators 10. The button bar is securable to open storage units 30 where medical supplies are stored. The system also includes a processing station 12 with memory for storing information about medical supply inventory stored on the open storage units 30. As used herein, "processing unit" refers to any kind of computer, central processing unit, data processor, programmable processor and the like. The system has a communications link between the button bar and the processing station to carry predetermined signals to the processing station when one of the actuators is activated. The communications link may be a cable, wire, wireless transmission and the like that is suitable to transmit signals from the actuators to the processing station 12. The memory is updated upon receiving the predetermined signals upon activation of the actuator 10 by a user. The present invention may

also include a data interface 52 for interfacing the actuator 10 with the processing station 12.

A predetermined signal is received at the processing station 12 when the actuator 10 is

activated. The actuators 10 of the present invention may be push-button actuators or other known electronic mechanisms such as a toggle switch, a infrared sensor, or equivalents

thereof. The processing station 12 has a memory 44 for storing inventory data regarding the supplies stored in the open storage unit 30. For example, the inventory data may include a list

of all medical supplies in storage and the number of units currently available. (Stocking and restocking the open storage units, and the corresponding updating of the inventory data, may

be accomplished by a hospital worker having an access code to the controller 42 of the processing station 12.) Once a nurse takes one of the items stored in the open storage unit 30, the nurse pushes the corresponding push-button actuator 10 to indicate that an item was taken (the button is pressed twice if two items are taken). The inventory data contained in memory 44 is then updated upon receiving the predetermined signals formed upon activation of the actuator 10 (i.e., the number of items corresponding to the pushed button is decremented by the number of times the button was pushed).

It is preferred that the push-button actuators 10 be movably secured to the open storage unit 30. This allows the push-button actuators 10 to be used and reused with various open storage units 30 and medical supplies. The push-button actuator 10 may also be constructed having two push-buttons: a first push-button 60 which is activated when an item in the open storage unit 30 is to be taken and a second push-button actuator 62 which is activated when an item is to be returned to the open storage unit 30 (see Figures 5 and 5 A). This second "return" button 62 allows for "automatic" restocking, obviating the need for periodic restocking by non-user personnel. This can be done by a user at the location of the open storage unit without going back to the processing station to enter this information. Another feature of this invention, is a "log off' button on the button bar 64 that enables a user to log off of the processing station from the location of the open storage unit. This is

especially helpful when the supply room is very large and the supplies may be located across the room from the processing station.

The actuators 10 may be hardwired to the data interface 52. In the embodiment of the present invention where the communications link is via radio frequency (RF) transmitters and receivers. Such a system would not need hardwires between the actuators 10 and the

processing stations 12. In a wireless mode, actuation of the push button actuators 10 would

cause the sending of bit coded RF signals to a receiver/decoder unit interfaced to the processing station 12 (i.e., inventory control computer). A plurality of push-button actuators 10 may also be formed into a single flexible elongate strip of material ("button bar"). These elongate strips of material 64 may be secured to virtually any open storage unit 30, such as open shelving, cabinets, bins, walls above hooks or rods, or drawers. For example, an elongate strip of material 64 may be secured to the front of one of the shelves 66 of a shelf unit (see Figures 3 and 4). Accordingly, a predetermined medical supply (e.g., a towel, wheelchair, crutches) may be stored on the shelf over a predetermined push-button actuator 10 or the supplies could be hung from a set of hooks under the button bar 64. These elongate strips of push-button actuators 64 allows easy adaptation of virtually any open storage unit 30 to the push-button system of the present invention.

The present invention may also be comprised of a liquid crystal display 90. The liquid crystal display (LCD) 90 may be used for displaying the number of items in each open storage unit 30 or in each area of an open storage unit 30. For example, assume a shelving unit is used

to store bath robes. Also assume that each location on the shelf can fit 10 bathrobes. The LCD 90 will display the roman numeral "10" when that location on the shelf is fully stocked.

Accordingly, if a nurse takes two bathrobes and pushes the button actuator 10 twice, the

processing station 12 will recognize the signals received from the actuation of the push-button actuator 10 and decrement the number on the corresponding LCD by two. This LCD speeds

up the manual process of taking inventory (i.e. a worker may quickly glance at the LCD display without counting the supplies).

The present invention provides a system for keeping track of medical supply

inventories. The present system offers many contributions, particularly, the adaptation of existing open storage units to a computer-controlled inventory management system. The

system provides a user-friendly system for tracking supply counts, particularly on open shelving units where security of the open storage units is not a concern.

Having described the invention in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that, given the present disclosure, modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit of the inventive concept herein described. Therefore, it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited to the specific and preferred embodiments illustrated and described. Rather, it is intended that the scope of the invention be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A computerized medical supply inventory tracking system for non-closed storage

environments, comprising: a button bar containing a plurality of actuators, said button bar being securable to open storage units where medical supplies are stored; a processing station having memory for storing information about medical supply inventory stored on the open storage units; a communications link between said button bar and said processing station to carry predetermined signals to said processing station when one of said actuators is activated; and wherein said memory is updated upon receiving said predetermined signals upon activation of said actuator.

2. A computerized medical supply inventory tracking system according to claim 1, wherein said button bar is an elongated strip of material containing a plurality of push-button

actuators, said push button actuators being connected to the communications link to send

predetermined signals to said processing station when the push-button actuators is pressed by a user, thereby enabling the processing station to determine which push-button actuator was

pressed.

3. A computerized medical supply inventory tracking system according to claim 2, wherein said push-button actuators extend along the length of said button bar and said processing unit is programmable to recognize only certain push-button actuators along said

button bar as being active that relate to certain corresponding medical supplies stored in a

particular area on the open storage units, thereby enabling a user to put a label over the active

push-button actuators to indicate which actuators need to be pressed when a medical supply is added to or removed from the open storage unit.

4. A computerized medical supply inventory tracking system according to claim 1, wherein said actuators have a first push-button actuator that is activated when an item in said open storage unit is to be taken and a second push-button actuator that is activated when an item is to be returned to said open storage unit.

5. A computerized medical supply inventory tracking system according to claim 1, further comprising LEDs on said button bar, said processing station being in communication with said

LEDs to illuminate a particular LED to indicate where a particular medical supply is stored on said open storage units when requested by a user.

6. A computerized medical supply inventory tracking system according to claim 1, wherein said communications link is a cable or RF transmitter/receiver.

7. A computerized medical supply inventory tracking system according to claim 1, wherein said communications link includes a microcontroller interfaced with the processing station via a communications bus.

8. A computerized medical supply inventory tracking system according to claim 1, wherein said open storage units include one or more of the group consisting of open shelf unit,

wall with hooks or rods, bins, and compartments.

9. A computerized medical supply inventory tracking system according to claim 1, further

comprising a liquid crystal display connected to one or more of said actuators and connected to said processing station, said liquid crystal display used to display the number of items in said open storage unit corresponding to said actuator.

10. A computerized medical supply inventory tracking system according to claim 1, further

providing a log off actuator connected to said processing unit to enable a user to log off of the processing station by activating the log off actuator at the location of the open storage unit without being required to log off of the processing station at the site of the processing station.

11. A method of tracking inventory in non-closed storage environments, comprising the

steps of: providing a button bar containing a plurality of actuators; securing said button bar to open storage units where medical supplies are stored; providing a processing station having memory for storing information about medical supply inventory stored on the open storage units; linking said button bar to said processing station to carry predetermined signals to said processing station when one of said actuators is activated; and activating one of said actuators when a medical supply is removed from said open storage unit to cause a predetermined signal to be sent to said processing station; and updating said memory upon receiving said predetermined signal.

12. A computerized medical supply inventory storing and dispensing system for non-closed storage environments, comprising: at least one open storage unit for storing supplies; at least one actuator secured to said open storage unit;

a processing station for receiving signals from said actuator, said processing station

being a separate unit from said storage unit, said processing station having memory for storing inventory data regarding said supplies stored in said open storage unit; and a data interface for interfacing said actuator with said processing station;

wherein a predetermined signal is received at said processing station when said actuator is activated and said memory is updated upon receiving said predetermined signals upon activation of said actuator.

13. A computerized medical supply inventory storing and dispensing system according to claim 12, wherein said actuator is a push-button actuator that is movably secured to said open storage unit.

14. A computerized medical supply inventory storing and dispensing system according to claim 12, wherein said data interface is further comprised of one of the group consisting of (1) a cable and (2) a radio frequency transmitter and wherein said predetermined signals are sent to said processing station via radio frequency waves.

15. A computerized medical supply inventory storing and dispensing system according to claim 12, wherein said memory keeps a log of the number of said supplies currently in said open storage unit.

16. A computerized medical supply inventory storing and dispensing system according to claim 13, wherein said push-button actuator has a first push-button that is activated when an item in said open storage unit is to be taken and a second push-button actuator that is activated when an item is to be returned to said open storage unit.

17. A computerized medical supply inventory storing and dispensing system according to

claim 12, wherein said open storage unit includes one or more of the group consisting of open

shelf unit, wall with hooks or rods, bins, and compartments.

18. A computerized medical supply inventory storing and dispensing system according to

claim 12, wherein said processing station is electronically connected to a central supply computer.

19. A computerized medical supply inventory storing and dispensing system according to claim 12, wherein said processing station is electronically connected to another host computer.

20. A computerized medical supply inventory storing and dispensing system according to claim 12, further comprising:

an elongate strip of material having an array of push-button actuators; and wherein said elongate strip of material is secured to said open storage unit.

21. A computerized medical supply inventory storing and dispensing system according to

claim 20, wherein said open storage unit is an open shelf unit having a plurality of shelves and said elongate strip of material is secured to one of said shelves of said open shelf unit; and a predetermined medical supply is stored on said shelf.

22. A computerized medical supply inventory storing and dispensing system according to claim 12, further comprising a liquid crystal display connected to one or more of said actuators and connected to said processing station, said liquid crystal display being used to display the number of items in said open storage unit corresponding to said actuator.

23. A computerized medical supply inventory storing and dispensing system according to claim 12, wherein said processing station has a controller which may be configured with inventory data according to said supplies to be stored in said open storage unit.

24. A computerized medical supply inventory storing and dispensing system according to claim 12, wherein said processing station is programmed to recognize which push-button

actuator is activated.

25. A computerized medical supply inventory storing and dispensing system according to claim 12, further comprising a display unit connected to said processing station, wherein said

processing station provides detail inventory reports.

26. A computerized medical supply inventory storing and dispensing system according to

claim 12, wherein said data interface transmits encoded messages to said processing station in response to actuation of said push button actuator.

27. A computerized medical supply inventory storing and dispensing system according to

claim 12, comprising at least two open storage units, a first one of said open storage units

electrically connected to said processing station, with the second one of said open storage units electrically connected in series to said first open storage unit.

28. A method for dispensing medical supplies, comprising the steps of: providing a push-button actuator; securing said push-button actuator to a open storage unit; electronically interfacing said push-button actuator to a processing station; linking said processing station with a memory containing inventory data on medical

supplies stored in said open storage unit; pushing said push-button actuator causing a predetermined signal to be sent to said processing station; receiving said predetermined signal at said processing station; and updating said inventory data based on said received predetermined signal.

29. A method according to claim 28, further comprising the step of: providing a report of said inventory data.

30. A method according to claim 28, further comprising the step of:

providing a second push-button activator for indicating the return of said medical supply.

31. A method according to claim 28, further comprising the step of:

programming said processing station to discriminate said predetermined signals received from said push-button actuator.

32. A method according to claim 28, wherein said push-button actuator is movably secured to said open storage unit.