System and method for acquiring images of medication preparations
A system for holding a camera for acquiring images of preparations includes a rail that can be mounted above a preparation surface. A camera carrier couples a camera with the rail such that the camera is movable relative to the rail and such that the camera can acquire images of preparations on the preparation surface.
1. A system for acquiring images of a sterile compounding process, comprising:
a pharmaceutical preparation surface configured to be placed within a hood;
a camera assembly comprising:
a camera configured to capture one or more images of the pharmaceutical preparation surface; and
a housing configured to hold the camera above the pharmaceutical preparation surface, the housing comprising at least one seal to inhibit fluids outside the housing from reaching the camera;
a printer;
a trigger;
a processor in communication with the camera, the printer, and the trigger; and
memory having stored thereon programming instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
capture, with the camera and based on receipt of a trigger signal from the trigger, an image of the pharmaceutical preparation surface; and
receive the captured image from the camera.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the programming instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
associate the captured image with pharmacy work task data; and
send the image and associated pharmacy work task data to a database.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is in wired communication with the camera, the printer, and the trigger.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is in wireless communication with the camera, the printer, and the trigger.
5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a barcode scanner in communication with the processor.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the image of the pharmaceutical preparation surface comprises a patient label comprising a patient barcode and an ingredient label comprising an ingredient barcode, and
wherein the programming instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
extract patient barcode data from the patient barcode;
extract ingredient barcode data from the ingredient barcode;
compare patient data and ingredient data; and either
provide an indication that compounding can continue when the patient data matches the ingredient data; or
provide an indication that compounding cannot continue when the patient data does not match the ingredient data.
7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a display in communication with the processor.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the programming instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
send the captured image over a network to a pharmacist; and
receive approval data from the pharmacist over the network.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the programming instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
control the printer to print a document comprising the approval data.
10. A system for acquiring images of a sterile compounding process, comprising:
a pharmaceutical preparation surface configured to be placed within a hood;
a camera assembly comprising:
a camera configured to capture one or more images of the pharmaceutical preparation surface; and
a housing configured to hold the camera above the pharmaceutical preparation surface;
a printer;
a trigger;
a processor in communication with the camera, the printer, and the trigger; and
memory having stored thereon programming instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
capture, with the camera and based on receipt of a trigger signal from the trigger, an image of the pharmaceutical preparation surface, the image comprising:
a patient barcode; and
an ingredient barcode;
receive the captured image from the camera;
extract patient barcode data from the patient barcode;
extract ingredient barcode data from the ingredient barcode;
compare the patient data and the ingredient data; and either
provide an indication that compounding can continue when the patient data matches the ingredient data; or
provide an indication that compounding cannot continue when the patient data does not match the ingredient data.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the programming instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
send the captured image over a network to a pharmacist; and
receive approval data from the pharmacist over the network.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the programming instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
control the printer to print a document comprising the approval data.
13. A method of acquiring images of a sterile compounding process, comprising:
receiving, with a processor and from a barcode scanner, ingredient data associated with an ingredient of a sterile compounded medication;
triggering, with the processor, a camera to capture an image of the ingredient, the camera held at least partially within a housing above a pharmaceutical preparation surface within a hood and the image comprising the ingredient data;
receiving, with the processor and from the camera, the captured image;
associating, with the processor, the captured image with a medication record of a patient for which the sterile compounded medication is being prepared, the medication record comprising medication data;
sending the captured image and associated medication record over a network to a pharmacist; and
receiving approval data from the pharmacist over the network when the medication data matches the ingredient data.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
printing, with at least one printer, a document comprising the approval data.
15. A method of verifying a sterile compounding process, comprising:
receiving, with a processor and from a barcode scanner, patient barcode data;
extracting, with the processor, patient data from the patient barcode data;
receiving, with the processor and from the barcode scanner, ingredient barcode data;
extracting, with the processor, ingredient data from the ingredient barcode data;
comparing, with the processor, the patient data and the ingredient data; and either
providing, with the processor, an indication that compounding can continue when the patient data matches the ingredient data; or
providing, with the processor, an indication that compounding cannot continue when the patient data does not match the ingredient data.