Method for controlling access to medications
The exemplary embodiments herein provide a method for controlling access to medications. The method preferably includes the step of electronically unlocking a lid for a single bin out of a plurality of bins within a delivery module at a first location, to accept a medication into the unlocked bin, where the rest of the bins in the same delivery module remain locked. The method should then engage a mechanical lock on the lid once it has been closed, maintain the bin in a locked state during transport to a second location, and engage a mechanical lock on the delivery module once it has been lowered into a drawer at the second location.
1. A method for controlling access to medications comprising the steps of:
electronically unlocking a lid for a single bin out of a plurality of bins within a delivery module at a first location, to accept a medication into the unlocked bin, where the rest of the bins in the same delivery module remain locked;
engaging a mechanical lock on the lid once it has been closed;
maintaining the bin in a locked state during transport to a second location; and
engaging a mechanical lock on the delivery module once it has been lowered into a drawer at the second location.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the step of maintaining the bin in a locked state during transport to a second location is performed even if there is no electrical power within the delivery module.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:
transmitting power wirelessly from the cart to a battery in the delivery module.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
accepting patient name data;
electronically identifying the bin which contains medication for said patient; and
directing light into the bin which contains said medication.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
electronically unlocking a lid for a waste bin for accepting medication waste;
engaging a mechanical lock on the lid of the waste bin once it has been closed;
electronically unlocking the delivery module containing the waste bin from a drawer so that it can be removed from the drawer;
maintaining the waste bin in a locked state during transport to a medication return location; and
directing light out of the drawer which contains the waste medication once it has been inserted into a drawer at the medication return location.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein:
the step of maintaining the bin in a locked state during transport to a second location is performed even if there is no electrical power within the delivery module.
7. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of:
directing light out of the bin which contains the waste medication.
8. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of:
accepting input data regarding the waste medication.
9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
transmitting power wirelessly from a cart containing the drawer to a battery in the delivery module;
storing identifying data for the delivery module on electronic storage placed on the delivery module;
displaying the delivery module identifying information on an electronic display mounted on a protrusion extending from the delivery module;
maintaining the display of identifying information during transport to a third location;
engaging a mechanical lock on the delivery module once the delivery module is lowered into a drawer at the third location; and
continuing to display identifying information on the electronic display even when the drawer is closed.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein:
the step of maintaining the bin in a locked state during transport to a second location is performed even if the battery in the delivery module has lost all power or becomes disconnected.
11. A method for controlling access to medications comprising the steps of:
electronically unlocking a lid for a single bin out of a plurality of bins within a delivery module at a first location, to accept a medication into the unlocked bin, where the rest of the bins in the same delivery module remain locked;
rotating a mechanical lock to engage with the lid once it has been closed;
rotating a mechanical lock inside the delivery module to lock the delivery module within a drawer at a second location;
accepting patient name data along with medication data for said patient;
electronically identifying the delivery module which contains the bin having medication for said patient; and
directing light out of a protrusion extending from the delivery module which contains said medication.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein:
the light is directed into a space beneath the protrusion.
13. The method of claim 11 wherein:
the mechanical lock inside the delivery module is below the plurality of bins and above a bottom surface of the delivery module.
14. The method of claim 11 wherein:
the step of rotating a mechanical lock inside the delivery module is performed as a post in the bottom of the drawer penetrates into the delivery module.
15. A method for controlling access to medications comprising the steps of:
electronically unlocking a lid for a single bin out of a plurality of bins within a delivery module at a first location, to accept a medication into the unlocked bin, where the rest of the bins in the same delivery module remain locked;
rotating a mechanical lock to engage with the lid once it has been closed;
maintaining the bin in a locked state during transport to a second location;
rotating a mechanical lock on the delivery module to engage with a post in the bottom of a drawer once the delivery module has been lowered into a drawer at the second location containing said post;
electronically unlocking a lid for a waste bin for accepting medication waste;
rotating a mechanical lock to engage with the lid of the waste bin once it has been filled with waste medication and closed;
electronically unlocking the delivery module containing the waste bin from a drawer so that it can be removed from the drawer; and
maintaining the waste bin in a locked state during transport to a medication return location.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:
directing light out of the drawer which contains the waste medication once it has been inserted into a drawer at the medication return location.
17. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of:
accepting waste medication data prior to electronically unlocking the lid for the waste bin.
18. The method of claim 15 wherein:
the step of electronically unlocking the delivery module from the drawer is performed by rotating an elongate lock about a pivot point located near the center of the elongate lock.
19. The method of claim 15 wherein:
the step of electronically unlocking the delivery module from the drawer is performed by rotating an elongate lock so that it no longer engages with a first post extending from the bottom of the drawer and engaging with a first end of the elongate lock as well as a second post extending from the bottom of the drawer and engaging with a second end of the elongate lock.