Medical cart for dispensing medication
Technology for dispensing medication from a wheeled medical cart is disclosed. A method comprises placing the medication in a medication storage compartment of a storage container of the wheeled medical cart. A method can further comprise entering medication data into a computing device operating on the wheeled medical cart. A method can further comprise electronically securing the medication stored in the medication storage compartment. A method further comprises repositioning the wheeled medical cart a patient location The method can further comprise electronically identifying at least one predetermined user of the wheeled medical cart at the patient location to enable the predetermined user to gain access to the medication in the medication storage compartment for a patient to enable the predetermined user to provide medication from the wheeled medical cart to the patient.
1. A method for dispensing medication from a wheeled medical cart, comprising:
placing the medication in a medication storage compartment of a storage container of the wheeled medical cart;
entering medication data into a computing device operating on the wheeled medical cart, wherein the medication data identifies each type or amount of medication stored in the wheeled medical cart;
electronically securing the medication stored in the medication storage compartment of the storage container of the wheeled medical cart to restrict access to the medication to at least one predetermined user;
repositioning the wheeled medical cart to a patient location; and
electronically identifying the at least one predetermined user of the wheeled medical cart at the patient location to enable the predetermined user to gain access to the medication in the medication storage compartment for a patient to enable the predetermined user to provide medication from the wheeled medical cart to the patient;
electronically verifying a status of the medication when the at least one predetermined user gains access to the medication, wherein the status of the medication comprises:
a receipt of the medication provided to the patient by the at least one predetermined user;
a consumption of the medication provided to the patient by the at least one predetermined user; or
a refusal of the patient to receive the medication provided to the patient by the at least one predetermined user; and
disabling control of the wheeled medical cart until the status of the medication is electronically verified when the at least one predetermined user gains access to the medication.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising electronically identifying the patient receiving the medication from the wheeled medical cart.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising electronically identifying the patient receiving the medication or the at least one predetermined user using a biometric identification device operating on the wheeled medical cart.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying when the patient refuses to receive the medication from the predetermined user; and
electronically verifying a disposal of the medication.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing access to the medication in the medication storage compartment when the at least one predetermined user of the wheeled medical cart has been electronically identified.
6. A portable medical cart having a computing device with computer circuitry configured to:
receive medication data into the computing device operating on the portable medical cart, wherein the medication data identifies each type of medication stored in a medication storage compartment of a storage container of the portable medical cart;
electronically secure the medication stored in the medication storage compartment of the storage container of the portable medical cart to restrict access to the medication to at least one operator; and
electronically identify the at least one operator of the portable medical cart at a medication distribution location to gain access to the medication in the medication storage compartment for an individual to enable the operator to provide medication from the portable medical cart to the individual;
electronically restrict access to selected medication storage compartments to require electronic identification of at least two operators of the medical cart to access the selected medication storage compartments; and
determine a time period that the wheeled medical cart is located at a selected location for dispensing medication.
7. The portable medical cart of claim 6 , wherein the computer circuitry is further configured to verify the identity of the operator of the portable medical cart at a time approximate to a time the operator provides the medication from the portable medical cart to the individual.
8. The portable medical cart of claim 6 , wherein the computer circuitry is further configured to:
determine a proximity of the individual using a proximity sensor;
electronically identify the at least one operator of the portable medical cart when the portable medical cart is located in proximity to a location of the individual; and
provide access to at least one medication storage compartment of a storage container when the identity of the at least one operator of the portable medical cart is verified at the location in proximity to the individual.
9. The portable medical cart of claim 6 , wherein the computer circuitry is further configured to:
electronically identify the individual receiving the medication from the medication storage compartment of the storage container; and
limit access of the at least one operator of the portable medical cart to medication storage compartment containing medication for the electronically identified individual.
10. The portable medical cart of claim 6 , wherein the computer circuitry is further configured to:
electronically identifying the individual receiving the medication from the medication storage compartment of the storage container;
determine when the medication stored in the medication storage compartment will interfere with other medications that the electronically identified individual is using; and
provide a sensory indication to the at least one operator when the medication will interfere with the other medications.
11. The portable medical cart of claim 6 , wherein the computer circuitry is further configured to map at least one medication storage compartment to at least one selected type of medication.
12. The portable medical cart of claim 6 , wherein the selected medication storage compartment contains a narcotic medication or another restricted medication type.
13. The portable medical cart for the dispensing of medication of claim 6 , wherein the computer circuitry is further configured to enable access to the medication storage compartment when the portable medical cart is located at the selected location for dispensing medication.
14. A wheeled medical cart for a dispensing of medication, comprising:
a storage container, wherein the storage container has at least one medication storage compartment with an interior space for storing at least one medication or at least one medical supply;
a computing device operating on the wheeled medical cart, wherein the computing device can receive medication data that identifies each type or amount of medication or medical supply stored in the at least on medication storage compartment;
an electronic locking device that electronically secures the medication or medical supply stored in the medication storage compartment of the storage container of the wheeled medical cart to restrict access to the medication storage compartment to at least one operator;
an electronic identification device to:
electronically identify the at least one operator of the wheeled medical cart at a patient location to enable the at least one operator to gain access to the medication in the medication storage compartment for distribution to a patient;
electronically restrict access to selected medication storage compartments to require electronic identification of at least two operators of the medical cart to access the selected medication storage compartments; and
determine a time period that the wheeled medical cart is located at a selected location for dispensing medication; and
a structure connecting the storage container to a wheeled pedestal of the wheeled medical cart.
15. The wheeled medical cart for the dispensing of medication of claim 14 , further comprising a medication storage compartment measurement device to determine an amount of medication in a selected medical storage compartment.
16. The wheeled medical cart for the dispensing of medication of claim 15 , wherein the medication storage compartment measurement device can use a strain gauge or weight scale to determine an amount of medication in a selected medical storage compartment.
17. The wheeled medical cart for the dispensing of medication of claim 15 , wherein the computing device is configured to display or record the amount of medication in the selected medical storage compartment.
18. The wheeled medical cart for the dispensing of medication of claim 15 , wherein the medication storage compartment measurement device determines the amount of medication remaining after the medication has been dispensed.
19. The wheeled medical cart for the dispensing of medication of claim 14 , further comprising a medication dispensing recordation device that records a location of the wheeled medical cart or a time that the operator accesses the medication storage compartment.