Computer controlled and monitored medical storage system
View Patent ↗A system is disclosed for monitoring and controlling a refrigerated medical storage unit. The system may include a control station. The control station may receive temperature information from the refrigerated medical storage unit and may cause at least a portion of the temperature information to be stored. The control station may determine whether the temperature is outside a predefined range and may causes an alarm to be generated when the temperature is outside the predefined range. The control station may receive user authentication information from a user, and upon verification of the user authentication information, send unlock instructions to the refrigerated medical storage unit.
1. A system comprising:
a control station, wherein the control station:
is located remotely from a refrigerated medical storage unit;
receives information identifying a particular temperature range related to a particular medication or item;
receives temperature information from the refrigerated medical storage unit, wherein the temperature information includes a temperature of the refrigerated medical storage unit;
causes at least a portion of the temperature information to be stored indicating the temperature of the refrigerated medical storage unit versus time;
determines whether the temperature is outside a predefined range;
causes an alarm to be generated when the temperature is outside the predefined range; and
receives information directing the control station to take a particular action in response to a withdrawal request for the particular medication or item which has experienced storage outside the particular temperature range during the particular medication or item's storage within the refrigerated medical storage unit.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control station further:
causes a bulletin to be displayed or printed when the alarm is generated; and
causes the bulletin to be displayed or printed at predefined intervals until the temperature is back within the predefined range.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control station further:
causes a bulletin to be displayed or printed when the alarm is generated, wherein the bulletin comprises:
an identification of the refrigerated medical storage unit;
a date and time;
a temperature; and
an acknowledgement or signature line or field for the user.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control station further:
receives information from the user specifying the predefined range; and
controls operation of the refrigerated medical storage unit to maintain the temperature inside the refrigerated medical storage unit within the predefined range.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the system further comprises the refrigerated medical storage unit, wherein the refrigerated medical storage unit comprises:
a reversible locking mechanism to secure a door of the refrigerated medical storage unit while in a closed position;
a temperature sensor; and
a visual indicator which changes from a first state to a second state when the refrigerated medical storage unit is unlocked; and
the control station further:
receives instructions from a user to test the visual indicator; and
causes the visual indicator to change from the first state to the second state in response to the instructions to test the visual indicator.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein causing at least a portion of the temperature information to be stored comprises:
storing temperature versus time information only when the temperature is outside the predefined range.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein particular action comprises:
causing a warning to be presented to a user attempting to withdraw the particular medication or item from the refrigerated medical storage unit; or
causing access to the refrigerated medical storage unit to be prohibited.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein:
whether the warning is presented or access is prohibited is based at least in part on an algorithm which is function of time spent by the particular medication or item outside the particular temperature range and the temperature of the particular medication or item during the time outside the particular range.
9. A system comprising:
a control station, wherein the control station:
receives information from a user specifying a predefined rate of temperature change;
controls operation of a medical storage unit to maintain changes to a temperature of the medical storage unit below the predefined rate;
receives temperature information from the medical storage unit, wherein the temperature information includes a temperature of the medical storage unit;
causes at least a portion of the temperature information to be stored indicating the temperature of the medical storage unit versus time;
determine, from the stored temperature information, whether a change in the temperature over time exceeds the predefined rate; and
cause an alarm to be generated when the change in the temperature over time exceeds the predefined rate.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the control station further:
causes a bulletin to be displayed or printed when the alarm is generated; and
causes the bulletin to be displayed or printed at predefined intervals until the temperature is back within the predefined range.
11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the control station further:
causes a bulletin to be displayed or printed when the alarm is generated, wherein the bulletin comprises:
an identification of the medical storage unit;
a date and time;
a temperature; and
an acknowledgement or signature line or field for the user.
12. The system of claim 9 , wherein:
the system further comprises the medical storage unit, wherein the medical storage unit comprises:
a reversible locking mechanism to secure a door of the medical storage unit while in a closed position;
a temperature sensor; and
a visual indicator which changes from a first state to a second state when the medical storage unit is unlocked; and
the control station further:
receives instructions from the user to test the visual indicator; and
causes the visual indicator to change from the first state to the second state in response to the instructions to test the visual indicator.
13. The system of claim 9 , wherein causing at least a portion of the temperature information to be stored comprises:
storing temperature versus time information only when the change in the temperature over time exceeds the predefined rate.
14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the control station further:
receives information identifying a particular temperature range related to a particular medication or item;
receives information directing the control station to take a particular action in response to a withdrawal request for the particular medication or item which has experienced storage outside the particular temperature range during the particular medication or item's storage within the medical storage unit.
15. A system comprising:
a control station, wherein the control station:
receives information identifying what items are stored in a medical storage unit;
receives information identifying what items are withdrawn from the medical storage unit;
receives temperature information from the medical storage unit, wherein the temperature information includes a temperature of the medical storage unit; and
causes at least a portion of the temperature information to be stored indicating the temperature of each item in the medical storage unit versus time.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the control station further:
determines whether the temperature is outside a predefined range; and
causes an alarm to be generated when the temperature is outside the predefined range.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the control station further:
causes a bulletin to be displayed or printed when the alarm is generated; and
causes the bulletin to be displayed or printed at predefined intervals until the temperature is back within the predefined range.
18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the control station further:
causes a bulletin to be displayed or printed when the alarm is generated, wherein the bulletin comprises:
an identification of the medical storage unit;
a date and time;
a temperature; and
an acknowledgement or signature line or field for a user.
19. The system of claim 15 , wherein causing at least a portion of the temperature information to be stored comprises:
storing temperature versus time information only when the temperature is outside a predefined range.
20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the control station further:
receives information identifying a particular temperature range related to a particular medication or item;
receives information directing the control station to take a particular action in response to a withdrawal request for the particular medication or item which has experienced storage outside the particular temperature range during the particular medication or item's storage within the medical storage unit.