Automated programming of infusion therapy

1. A method for administering an infusion order via an infusion device operated by a caregiver, the method comprising:

at the infusion device:

from the caregiver operating the infusion device, receiving an identity of a patient inputted to the infusion device;

using the identity to associate the infusion device with the patient;

communicating over a network from the infusion device to an infusion management system to retrieve the infusion order for the patient, the infusion order indicating a dosage of a fluid to deliver from the infusion device to the patient;

wherein communicating with the network further comprises:

from the infusion device, querying the infusion management system for multiple medication orders, the multiple medication orders including the infusion order;

the method further comprising:

initiating display of the multiple medication orders to the caregiver on a display screen of the infusion device; and

receiving input from the caregiver selecting the infusion order on the display screen of the infusion device from amongst the multiple displayed medication orders;

wherein the infusion device is operable to program settings of a fluid pump device in the infusion device as indicated by the selected infusion order to deliver the fluid to the patient, the method further comprising:

subsequent to selection of the infusion order and prior to initiating delivery of the fluid as specified by the selected infusion order, enabling the caregiver to modify the settings as specified by the infusion order;

receiving input from the caregiver to modify the settings; and

in response to receiving a confirmation from the caregiver, initiating delivery of the fluid to the patient in accordance with the modified settings as specified by the caregiver.

2. The method as in claim 1 , further comprising:

obtaining fluid pump settings associated with the infusion order; and

applying the fluid pump settings to the fluid pump device of the infusion device.

3. The method as in claim 2 , further comprising:

prior to activation of the fluid pump to deliver the fluid to the patient, providing a notification requesting the caregiver to confirm the modified settings to deliver the fluid to the patient; and

in response to receiving confirmation inputted to the infusion device from the caregiver, commencing with delivery of the fluid to the patient.

4. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the infusion order indicates a start time in which to start delivery of the fluid from the infusion device to the patient, the method further comprising:

from the infusion device, initiating delivery of the fluid from the infusion device to the patient at the start time.

5. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

subsequent to starting delivery of the fluid to the patient, communicating status information about the delivery of the fluid from the infusion device to the infusion management system.

6. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

at the infusion device, retrieving advisory information from the infusion order; and

initiating display of the advisory information on the display screen of the infusion device to the caregiver.

7. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

at the infusion device: retrieving patient information from the selected infusion order.

8. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

providing the caregiver with an option to adjust fluid pump settings as indicated by the retrieved infusion order.

9. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the infusion device provides an ability to identify the patient and a single order for the patient; a first interface in the infusion device enabling said patient and order to be retrieved from a plurality of patients and orders persisted within the infusion management system; a second interface in the infusion device allowing the infusion device to listen for; acquire, and persist patient and order information communicated by an information system.

10. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the infusion management system distributes status information to the infusion device, the status information indicating usage of multiple infusion devices within a healthcare environment in which the infusion device resides.

11. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

communicating over the network from the infusion device to the infusion management system in response to receiving input from the from the caregiver selecting the infusion order.

12. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

subsequent to receiving input from the caregiver logging onto the infusion device through a graphical user interface on the display screen of the infusion device and associating the identity of the infusion device with the patient, initiating display of the multiple medication orders on the display screen of the infusion device for selection by the caregiver for delivery from the infusion device to the patient.

13. The method as in claim 12 , further comprising:

on the display screen of the infusion device, initiating display of a last known patient association indicating the last patient served by the infusion device.