BACKGROUND

Field

The present disclosure relates to pharmacy services, and more specifically, to a method and a system for acquiring and using images of preparations of substances. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to acquiring and using images of medication preparations.

Description of the Related Art

A pharmacist's scope of practice in institutions, such as hospitals, or correctional facilities, includes preparing, packaging, compounding, and labeling medication, compounding sterile products, as well as other medication related activities. Many technical functions involving the preparation and distribution of drugs may be performed in the institution by non-pharmacist personnel, usually a pharmacy technician, licensed nurse, pharmacy student, pharmacy intern, nursing student or trainee, or a pharmacy technician student or trainee. When a non-pharmacist (such as a technician) performs such functions, or when a pharmacist performs such functions involving high cost and/or high risk medications, a pharmacist must generally verify their work.

When technical pharmacy functions are performed (whether by a pharmacist, or a non-pharmacist, such as a nurse), a pharmacist typically verifies the work, in part, by comparing it to either a copy of the original medication order, or a medication order previously entered into the patient's medication profile. The pharmacist also supervises the work of the non-pharmacist, and verifies that the medication product has been correctly and accurately prepared, labeled, compounded, and/or packaged. When a non-pharmacist performs technical pharmacy functions involving prepackaging, labeling, bulk compounding, or batch preparation of medications that will serve as stock medication in the pharmacy department, a pharmacist must generally verify the work in much the same manner. The pharmacist must supervise the work of the non-pharmacist to verify that the medication has been correctly and accurately prepared, labeled, compounded, and/or packaged.

Preparation of medications typically involves several steps. Typically, a medication order, such as an order for a prescription drug or stock requisition, is delivered to a technician. The technician prepares the medication based on the specifications of the order, and according to an established protocol. The technician's work in preparing the medication is supervised and approved by a pharmacist.

Direct and personal oversight and approval by a pharmacist for preparation of medications is typically required, for example, under pharmacy laws and regulations of various states. In some cases, however, the pharmacist may not be at the facility where preparation of the medication occurs, or may be in the facility but not in an area enabling physically present direct supervision of the preparation of the medication. In such cases, approval may sometimes be carried out through the transmission or exchange of information such as photographs of the preparation at various stages and/or videoconferencing between the technician and the pharmacist.

Some preparation facilities have a camera that can be used to take photographs of various stages in the preparation of a medication. Image data from the camera may be transmitted (for example, over a computer network) to a remote location where the supervising pharmacist is. At the remote location, the pharmacist may use the photographs to monitor the preparation of the medication and notify the technician of the pharmacist's approval. Many existing cameras, however, are not suitable for a sterile medical environment. For example, many cameras have bases, stands, tripods, platforms, cables, or exterior surfaces of the camera that cannot be effectively sterilized without damaging the camera or related equipment. In addition, positioning the camera and managing the image data produced by the camera may be cumbersome and time-consuming, especially in facilities where multiple preparations are occurring at the same time.

Managing workflow and keeping track of the photographic data may also be difficult for technicians working with an off-site pharmacist, especially when multiple preparations are occurring simultaneously at the same preparation facility, or when one remote pharmacist is overseeing many preparations at more than one preparation facility.

SUMMARY

Systems and methods are described herein for acquiring and using images of preparations, such as medication preparations. According to one embodiment, 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. In some embodiments, the surface and the camera carrier are in a sterile environment. In certain embodiments, the system is mounted in a hood.

According to one embodiment, a system for holding a camera for acquiring images of preparations includes a camera carrier that holds the camera above a preparation surface. A camera case houses the camera and protects the camera during cleaning of the workstation. A wireless device may transmit information between the camera and one or more computer systems.

According to one embodiment, a system for acquiring images of preparations includes a camera and a wireless transmitter. The wireless transmitter sends information from the camera to a computer system. User-operated triggers external to the camera can be used to control one or more functions of the camera (such as taking photos). In some embodiments, external manual triggers are provided on a case that can be wiped down during cleaning of a workstation.

According to one embodiment, a method of acquiring images of preparations includes capturing, with an image capture device, one or more images of at least one stage of a first preparation at a first zone. The image capturing device may be moved to point at a second zone. Images may be captured of at least one stage of a second preparation at the second zone. In some embodiments, a sterile environment is created and maintained in the zones during the making of the preparations.

According to one embodiment, a method of acquiring images of preparations includes placing an identifier code (such as a semacode) with a preparation. Images are captured of at least one stage of the preparation. The identifier code is visible in the images. The identifier code is automatically read from the images. The identifier code in the image is used in the evaluation of the preparation (such as by associating all the images for the preparation with one another based on the identifier code, or prioritizing the preparation over preparations having other identifier codes). In some embodiments, the order of workflow may be based on the identifier codes for different preparations.

According to one embodiment, a method of making a preparation includes placing a preparation identifier code (such as a semacode) with the preparation. In addition, identifier codes (such as a one-dimensional (“1D”) barcode) on the ingredients are also visible in the work area. Images are captured of at least one stage of the preparation. The preparation identifier code and the ingredient identifier codes are visible in the images. The identifier codes are automatically read from the images. The identifier codes in the image are used to verify that the correct ingredients are being used for the preparation. If the correct ingredients are not used, a warning device can warn one or more participants involved in preparing the medication.

