APPARATUSES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR TRANSPORTING MEDICATIONS FROM A CENTRAL PHARMACY TO A PATIENT IN A HEALTHCARE FACILITY

摘要

Provided herein are various apparatuses, systems, and methods for improving the efficiency of medication distribution within a healthcare facility. In particular, embodiments may provide for dispensing medications needed and medications anticipated to be needed to an authorized medical person for administration to a patient in a healthcare facility. Methods may include receiving an indication of one or more unit dose medications anticipated to be needed by a patient; retrieving the one or more unit dose medications from a unit storage device; loading the one or more unit dose medications onto a transport device; transporting the one or more unit dose medications from the unit storage device to a location proximate the patient; and transferring the one or more unit dose medications from the transport device to a staging area at the location proximate the patient.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
receiving at a unit storage device, a plurality of trays in a vertically stacked arrangement, each comprising a plurality of medications, wherein each of a plurality of locations within each tray is uniquely identified by a controller, and each uniquely identified location within the tray is associated with a medication received within the respective location; accessing a tray of the unit storage device; scanning contents of at least one of the one or more locations of the tray using a robotic retrieval device comprising a scanning device; retrieving a medication from one of the one or more locations of the tray using the robotic retrieval device; and advancing the medication to a staging area with the robotic retrieval device.