AU2011201894B2

AU2011201894B2 - System and method for medical data tracking, analysis and reporting for a healthcare system

Info

Publication number: AU2011201894B2
Application number: AU2011201894A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Bryan Bello; Debra Bello; Barbara G. Browne; Julianne Brushey; Tuan Bui; Manuel De Joya; Alex Dolgovykh; Michele Kland; James P. Martucci; Janet Mullan; Ron Patry; Spencer Pye; Alex Reidiboim; Karen Ward; Pauline Wong
Original assignee: Baxter International Inc
Current assignee: Baxter International Inc
Priority date: 2004-04-12
Filing date: 2011-04-27
Publication date: 2012-06-21
Anticipated expiration: 2025-03-29
Also published as: CA2556841C; AU2005233945B2; NZ550096A; AU2011201894A1; CA2556841A1; EP1763810A2; AU2005233945A1; WO2005101279A3; WO2005101279A2

Abstract

A method for operating a healthcare system within a care-giving facility including a system having a plurality of medical devices each associated with a different patient, a first central computer remote from the medical device, and a multi-purpose user interface separate from the first central computer and the plurality of medical devices, the method comprising the steps of for each of the plurality of medical devices; the first central computer receiving first medical data from the medical device; the first central computer receiving second medical data from the user interface; the first central computer sending third medical data to the user interface; the first central computer sending a communication task to the user interface for providing at least one communication capability for communication between the medical device and the user interface; and the first central computer sending fourth medical data to the medical device, the fourth medical device comprising operating parameters for the medical device.

Description

Regulation 3.2 Revised 2/98 AUSTRALIA Patents Act, 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION TO BE COMPLETED BY THE APPLICANT NAME OF APPLICANT: Baxter International Inc. ACTUAL INVENTORS: Bryan Bello Debra Bello Barbara G Browne Julianne Brushey Tuan Bui Manuel De Joya Alex Dolgovykh Michele Kland James P Martucci Janet Mullan Ron Patry Spencer Pye Alex Reidiboim Karen Ward Pauline Wong ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: Peter Maxwell and Associates Level 6 60 Pitt Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 INVENTION TITLE: SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEDICAL DATA TRACKING, ANALYSIS AND REPORTING FOR A HEALTHCARE SYSTEM DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED APPLICATION NO(S): Divisional of Australian Patent Application No. 2005 233 945 filed on 29 March 2005 The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me: m:\docs\20051257\218779.doc 1o. I SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEDICAL DATA TRACKING, ANALYSIS AND 2 REPORTING FOR A HEALTHCARE SYSTEM 3 DESCRIPTION 4 CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 5 This application claims priority from and expressly incorporates by reference and makes 6 a part hereof, U.S. Patent Application Serial Nos. 10/135,180 filed on April 30, 2002, 7 10/424,553 filed on April 28, 2003 and 10/659,760 filed on September 10, 2003, and U.S. s Provisional Patent Application Serial Nos. 60/488,273 filed on July 18, 2003 and 60/528,106 9 filed on December 8, 2003. This application also claims priority from and expressly 10 incorporates by reference and makes a part hereof, U.S. Patent Application Nos. 10/749,102, 11 10/749,101, 10/748,762, 10/748,749, 10/749,099, 10/748,593, 10/748,589, and 10/748,750, all 12 filed December 30, 2003. 13 This application further expressly incorporates by reference and makes a part hereof the 14 following U.S. Patent Application Serial Nos. 10/040,887, 10/040,908 (published on July 10, 15 2003 under Publication No. US-2003-0130624-Al), 10/059,929 (published on July 31, 2003 16 under Publication No. US-2003-0141981-A1), and the following U.S. Provisional Patent 17 Application Serial Nos. 60/377,027, 60/376,625, 60/376,655, and 60/444,350, and U.S. Patent 18 No. 5,842,841. * - also incorporate the MEMS provisional for the carriage assembly (one 19 application -1417GP941). 20 TECHNICAL FIELD 21 This invention relates generally to healthcare / medication delivery systems and medical 22 information technology systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a remote 23 user interface and system for interfacing with medical devices and systems within a healthcare / 24 medication delivery system and/or medical information technology system. Further, the present 25 invention relates to healthcare systems for monitoring medication delivery and/or vital signs of a 26 patient within a healthcare facility. Even further, the present invention relates to tracking, 27 analysis, and/or reporting of medication delivery data. 28 BACKGROUND 29 Patient care systems typically include computer networks, medical devices for treating a 30 patient, and controls for the medical devices. Although patient care systems have improved 31 through the use of computerized automation systems and methods, patient care systems continue 32 to rely heavily upon manual data management processes for medical devices and controls for 2 I medical devices. For example, nursing stations are typically connected to the computer 2 networks in modern hospitals, but it is unusual for the computer network to extend to a patient's 3 room. Computer networks offer the opportunity for automated data management processing 4 including the operating and monitoring of medical devices and controls for the medical devices s at the point-of-care. Despite advances in the field, automated data management technology has 6 been underutilized for point-of-care applications due to lack of more efficient systems and 7 methods. As dependence on automated technology grows, a need arises in providing a versatile 8 multi-purpose interface for use with components of such systems and/or subsystems. 9 SUMMARY 10 One embodiment is a remote multi-purpose user interface for medical devices and 11 systems within a healthcare / medication delivery system and/or medication information 12 technology system. The multi-purpose user interface has a housing, a processor, a memory, a 13 communications interface for providing communication between the user interface and a 14 medical device / controller and for providing communications between the user interface and a 15 first central computer, and a display for displaying a medical prompt and for displaying medical 16 information received from the first central computer. 17 In one embodiment, the user interface is programmed to display a medical prompt that is 18 an infusion prompt for at least two channels to be controlled by user interface, the medical 19 device or first central computer. 20 In one embodiment, the user interface housing can be removably connected to the 21 medical device. 22 In one embodiment. the medical device is a controller for a medical device. 23 In one embodiment, the user interface can be programmed to control the operation of 24 medical device. 25 In one embodiment, the first central computer can be program-ned to control the 26 operation of the medical device. 27 In one embodiment, the user interface receives a first listener task from the first central 28 computer to listen for medical information from the first central computer. The user interface 29 can also receive a second listener task from the first central computer for the user interface to 30 listen for medical information from the medical device. The user interface can be programmed 31 to receive status information regarding the operation of the medical device, and display the 32 status information on the display. the medical prompt is an infusion prompt displayed on the 3 1 display of the user interface and wherein the infusion prompt comprises an infusion prompt for < 2 at least two channels controlled by the medical device. 3 In one embodiment, the user interface is programmed to display a selection prompt on 4 the display for selecting at least one medical device to associate the user interface with. The 5 medical device can be of a first type and another medical device can be of a second type. The 6 user interface can be further programmed to operate in accordance with a first personality 7 associated with the first type and further programmed to operate in accordance with a second 8 personality associated with the second type. The user interface can also be programmed to 9 receive the identification of a medical device to associate the user interface with manually or lo automatically, as well as the selection and programming of the personality manually or II automatically. 12 Other embodiments, features, aspects, and advantages will become apparent from the 13 following drawings, detailed description, and claims. 14 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 15 The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The 16 components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emiphasis instead being placed upon 17 clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. In the drawings, like reference IS numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 19 FIGURE 1 is a simplified graphical representation of a patient care system. The patient 20 care system includes a pharmacy computer, a central system, and a digital assistant at a 21 treatment location; 22 FIGURE 2 is a block diagram of a computer systern representative of the pharmacy 23 computer. the central system, and/or the digital assistant of FI4GURE 1. The system includes an 24 infusion system or a portion thereof; 25 FIGURE 3 is a simplified graphical representation of portions of the patient care system 26 of FIGURE 1; 27 FIGURE 4 is a block diagram showing functional components of the patient care system 28 of FIGURE 1; 29 FIGURE 5 is an exemplar computer screen for implementing various functions of the 30 patient care system of FIGURE 1; 31 FIGURE 6 is a block diagram showing functional components of the infusion system of 32 FIGURE 2. The functional components include, inter alia, blocks for setting infusion system 4 1 parameters, infusion order creation, infusion order preparation, medication administration, 2 infusion order modifications, and messaging; 3 FIGURE 7 is a block diagram showing functional comp onents for the setting of infusion 4 system parameters of FIGURE 6; 5 FIGURE 8 is a block diagram showing functional components for the infusion order 6 creation of FIGURE 6; 7 FIGURE 9 is a block diagram showing functional components for the infusion order 8 preparation of FIGURE 6; 9 FIGURE 10 is a block diagram showing functional components for the medication 1o administration of FIGURE 6; II FIGURE 11 is a block diagram showing functional components for infusion order 12 documentation, infusion order modifications, and messaging of FIGURE 6; 13 FIGURE 12 is a view of an emergency notification systern, illustrating communication; 14 FIGURE 13 is a view of an emergency notification interface from the perspective of a 15 notifying party, illustrating the preferred notification options made available to the notifying 16 party by the emergency notification system; 17 FIGURE 14 is a view of an emergency notification interface from the perspective of a 18 target party, illustrating the preferred emergency information received by the target party, 19 FIGURE 15 is one embodiment of a flowchart of an alann/alert escalation process; 20 FIGURE 16A is a view of an alarm/alert interface screen; 21 FIGURE 16B is another view of an alarmialert interface screen; 22 FIGURE 17 is another view of an alarm/alert interface screen; 23 FIGURE 18 is a view of an interface screen from the clinician's handheld device; 24 FIGURE 19 is a view of an interface screen of a login process; 25 FIGURE 20 is a view of another interface screen of the login process of FIGURE 19; 26 FIGURE 21 is a view of a unit selection interface screen; 27 FIGURE 22 is a view of a shift selection interface screen; 28 FIGURE 23 is a view of a patient view interface screen; 29 FIGURE 24 is a view of a patient selection interface screen; 30 FIGURE 25 is a view of a patient information menu interface screen; 31 FIGURE 25A is a view of an allergies and height/weight interface screen; 32 FIGURE 25B is a view of a medication history interface screen; 33 FIGURE 25C is a view of a lab results interface screen; 5 I FIGURE 26 is a view of a medication delivery schedule interface screen; 2 FIGURE 26A is another view of an interface screen of the medication delivery schedule 3 process of FIGURE 26; 4 FIGURE 27A is a view of an interface screen of a workflow irafusion stop; 5 FIGURE 27B is another view of an interface screen of a workflow infusion stop; 6 FIGURE 27C is a view of an interface screen of a workflow to resume an infusion; 7 FIGURE 27D is another view of an interface screen of a workflow to resume an s infusion; 9 FIGURE 28 is another view of an interface screen of the medication delivery schedule io process of FIGURE 26; 11 FIGURE 29 is a view of a missed medication interface screen; 12 FIGURE 30 is another view of the interface screen of FIGURE 29; 13 FIGURE 31 is another view of the interface screen of FIGURE 29; 14 FIGURE 32 is a view of a schedule interface screen; 15 FIGURE 33 is a view of a medication interface screen; 16 FIGURE 34 is a view of a scan interface screen; 17 FIGURE 35 is a view of another scan interface screen; 18 FIGURE 36 is a view of a medication administration interface screen; 19 FIGURE 37 is a view of a route verification interface screen; 20 FIG URE 38 is a view of a scan pump channel interface screen; 21 FIGURE 38A is a view of another scan pump channel interface screen; 22 FIGURE 39 is a view of a comparison interface screen; 23 FIGURE 39A is another view of a comparison interface screen; 24 FIGURE 40 is another view of a comparison interface screen; 25 FIGURE 41 is another view of a comparison interface screen; 26 FIGURE 42 is another view of a comparison interface screen; 27 FIGURE 43 is a view of a pump status interface screen; 28 FIGURE 44 is a view of a flow rate history interface screen; 29 FIGURE 45A is a view of a communication loss interface screen; 30 FIGURE 45B is a view of a communication loss interface screen; 31 FIGURE 46 is a view of a low battery interface screen; 32 FIGURE 47 is a view of a hub; 33 FIGURE 48 is a view of a variety of icons utilized in the interface screens; 6 1 FIGURE 49 is a view of a record administration results interface screen; 2 FIGURE 50 is a view of a medication order having a monitoring parameter link; 3 FIGURE 50A is a view of a monitoring parameter entry interface screen; 4 FIGURE 51 is a view of a cycle count interface screen; 5 FIGURE 52 is a flowchart of an order comparison process; 6 FIGURE 53 is a schematic diagram of a flow control system where a micro 7 electromechanical system (MEMS) element is connected to a line set; 8 FIGURE 54 is a simplified block diagram of software components loaded on the first 9 central computer of FIGURE 3; 10 FIGURE 55A - FIGURE 55C is a flowchart of an example administer infusion process; S1I FIGURE 56 is a flowchart of an example channel scanning process; 12 FIGURE 57A - FIGURE 57B is a flowchart of an exarnple change pump channel 13 process; 14 FIGURE 58 is a flowchart of another example channel scanrning process; 15 FIGURE 59 is a flowchart of yet another example channel scanning process; 16 FIGURE 60 is a flowchart of an example stop/discontinue infusion process; 17 FIGURE 61 is a flowchart of an example resume infusion process; 18 FIGURE 62 is a flowchart of an example remove pump process; and, 19 FIGURE 63 - FIGURE 69 is a flowchart of an example authentication process. 20 FIGURE 70 is a system layout for additional embodiments relating to a remote user 21 interface. 22 FIGURE 71 is a diagram of a pump data and monitoring data system of the present 23 invention; 24 FIGURE 72 is a screen shot for an interface device of the system of FIGURE 71; 25 FIGURE 73 is a further screen shot for an interface device of the system of FIGURE 71; 26 FIGURE 74 is a further screen shot for an interface device of the system of FIGURE 71; 27 FIGURE 75 is a further screen shot for an interface device of the system of FIGURE 71; 28 FIGURE 76 is a tabular report showing error near misses by unit for use with at least the 29 embodiments of previous FIGURES; 30 FIGURE 77 is a tabular report showing error near misses for use with at least the 31 embodiments of previous FIGURES; 32 FIGURE 78 is a graphical report showing error near misses by medication for use with 33 at least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 7 1 FIGURE 79 is a tabular report showing error near misses by medication for use with at 2 least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 3 FIGURE 80 is a graphical report showing error near misses by medication for use with 4 at least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 5 FIGURE 81 is a tabular report showing error near misses by medication for use with at 6 least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 7 FIGURE 82 is a tabular report showing scan errors for use with at least the embodiments 8 of previous FIGURES; 9 FIGURE 83 is a view of a selection criteria screen for use with at least the embodiments 10 of previous FIGURES; I1I FIGURE 84 is a graphical report showing wrong time near misses for use with at last 12 the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 13 FIGURE 85 is a tabular report showing wrong time near misses by unit for use with at 4 least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; s FIGURE 86 is a graphical report showing wrong time near misses for use with at least 6 the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 7 FIGURE 87 is a tabular report showing wrong tire near misses for use with at least the 8 embodiments of previous FIGURES; 9 FIGURE 88 is a graphical report showing wrong time near misses by medication for use .0 with at least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; .I FIGURE 89 is a tabular report showing wrong tirne near misses by medication and unit 2 for use vith at least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 23 FIGURE 90 is a graphical report showing wrong time near misses by medication for use 24 with at least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 25 FIGURE 91 is a tabular report showing wrong tixne near misses by medication for use 26 with at least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 27 FIGURE 92 is a first page of a tabular report sh owing wrong time errors with reason 2S codes for use with at least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; Z9 FIGURE 93 is a second page of the tabular report of FIGURE 92 showing wrong time 0 errors with reason codes for use with at least the embodin ents of previous FIGURES; I FIGURE 94 is a tabular report showing an infusion flow rate history for use with at least 2 the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 8 1 FIGURE 95 is a tabular report showing an infusion rate and mode comparison by unit < 2 for use with at least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 3 FIGURE 96 is a tabular report showing an infusion rate and mode comparison for use 4 with at least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 5 FIGURE 97 is a tabular report showing an infusion f1ow rate comparison for use with at 6 least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 7 FIGURE 98 is a tabular report showing an infusion rate comparison by medication and s unit for use with at least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 9 FIGURE 99 is a tabular report showing an infusion rate comparison by medication for 10 use with at least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 11 FIGURE 100 is a tabular report showing an infusion flow rate comparison for use with 12 at least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 13 FIGURE 101 is a graphical report showing infusion flo-w rate comparison results for use 14 with at least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 15 FIGURE 102 is a tabular report showing infusion flovv rate comparisons by patient for 16 use with at least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 17 FIGURE 103 is a graphical report showing alerts relatin.g to dose and rate by unit for use 18 with at least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 19 FIGURE 104 is a tabular report showing alerts by unit for use with at least the 20 embodiments of previous FIGURES; 21 FIGURE 105 is a graphical report showing alerts relating to dose and rate for use with at Z2 least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 23 FIGURE 106 is a tabular report showing alerts for use 'vith at least the embodiments of 24 previous FIGURES; 25 FIGURE 107 is a graphical report showing alerts relating to dose and rate by medication 26 for use with at least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 27 FIGURE 108 is a tabular report showing alerts by medication for use with at least the 28 embodiments of previous FIGURES; 29 FIGURE 109 is a graphical report showing total alarms and alerts by unit for use with at 30 least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 31 FIGURE 110 is a tabular report showing total alarms arid alerts by unit for use with at 32 least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 9 i FIGURE 111 is a graphical report showing total alarms and alerts for use with at least 2 the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 3 FIGURE 112 is a tabular report showing total alarms and alerts for use with at least the 4 embodiments of previous FIGURES; 5 FIGURE 11 3A is a graphical report showing total alarms and alerts for use with at least 6 the embodiments of previous FIGURES: 7 FIGURE 113B is a graphical report slowing total alarms and alerts by condition for use 8 with at least the embodiments of previous FIG1JRES; 9 FIGURE 114 is a tabular report showing total alarms and alerts by condition for use with o at least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; I FIGURE 115A is a graphical report showing an alarm/alert history by code for use with 2 at least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 3 FIGURE 11 5B is a graphical report showing an alarm/alert history by device for use 4 with at least the embodiments of previous FIGIJRES; 15 FIGURE 116 is a table listing codes and alarm descriptions for use with at least the 16 embodiments of previous FIGURES; 17 FIGURE 117 is a tabular report showing an alarm/alert history for use with at least the is embodiments of previous FIGURES; 19 FIGURE 118 is a tabular report showiMg an alarn/alert history by alann condition for !o use with at least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; FIGURE 119A is a graphical report showing an alarm/alert history by response tine for 12 use with at least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 23 FIGURE 119B is a graphical report showing cleared/silenced alarnns and alerts for use 24 with at least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 25 FIGURE 120 is a table listing codes and alann descriptions for use with at least the 26 embodiments of previous FIGURES; 27 FIGURE 121 is a tabular report showing an alarm/alert resolution history by 2S cleared/silenced time for use with at least the eribodiments of previous FIGURES; 29 FIGURE 122A is a graphical report showing an alarm/alert history by device for use 30 with at least the embodiments of previous FlGUJRES; 31 FIGURE 122B is a graphical report showing an alarm/alert history by device for use 32 with at least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 10 1 FIGURE 123 is a tabular report showing an alarm/alert history by unit for use with at '2 least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 3 FIGURE 124 is a graphical report showing an alert/alarm summary by medication for 4 use with at least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 5 FIGURE 125 is a tabular report showing an alert/alarm summary by medication and unit 6 for use with at least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 7 FIGURE 126 is a graphical report showing an alert/alarm summary by medication for 8 use with at least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; 9 FIGURE 127 is a tabular report showing an alert/alarm summary by medication for use 0 with at least the embodiments of previous FIGURES; and, I FIGURE 128 is a screen/report flow chart showing a report hierarchy for use with at 2 least the embodiments of previous FIGURES. 3 DETAILED DESCRIPTION 4 While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is 5 shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a prefened embodiment of the 6 invention. The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of 7 the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiment 8 illustrated. 9 FIGURE I is a graphical representation of a patient care system. In one embodiment, o the patient care system 100 includes a pharmacy computer 104, a central system 108, and a 1 treatment location 106, linked by a network 102. The patient care system 100 also includes an .2 infusion system 210, also referred to as a healthcare system, as shown in FIGURE 2. Infusion 23 system 210 is a medication system preferably implemented as a computer program, and in 24 particular a module or application (i.e., a program or group of programs designed for end users), 25 resident on one or more electronic computing devices within the patient care system 100. As 26 described in detail further herein, the infusion system 210 links clinicians, such as physicians, 22 pharmacists, and nurses, in an interdisciplinary approach to patient care. 2S Overall System 29 Turning to FIGURE 3, the patient care systern 100 can include a plurality of medical 30 devices 120. In one embodiment, the medical device is an infusion pump 120. Further, in 31 another embodiment the medical device is a controller for an infusion pump. For ease of 32 reference, this disclosure will generally identify the raedical device of the system as an infusion 33 pump, however, it is understood that the overall systeri 100 may incorporate any one or more of I11 t a variety of medical devices. Accordingly, as shown in FIGURE 3, a plurality of infusion 2 pumps 120 are connected to a hub or interface 107. As explained in detail further herein, the 3 infusion pumps 120 can be of conventional design wherein each infusion pump 120 is 4 associated with a patient. However, as will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the 5 art, the infusion pumps 120 shown in FIGURE 3 do not have to be associated with the same 6 patient or treatment location even though the infusion pumps are connected to the same hub 107. 7 Moreover, each infusion pump 120 can be a single channel pump or a multiple channel pump, 8 such as a triple channel pump. Typically, the pumps transmit messages containing pump status 9 information on a periodic basis to the hub 107. A separate hub 107 can be used apart from the o medical device 120 in order to centralize communications, for cost efficiencies, and/or to allow I for retrofitting of existing medical devices that do not currently communicate with a central 2 computer system 108 so that each such medical device can communicate with a central 3 computer system 108. 4 Communication Hubs of the Overall System 5 In an embodiment, the serial port or other 1/0 port of the infusion pumps 120 is 6 connected to the hub 107 using a conventional non-wireless transmission medium 105 such as 7 twisted-pair wire, coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, or the like. Preferably, the hub 107 can 8 connect to a plurality of infusion pumps 120 or just a single pump, through a one-way serial 9 communications link 105. The hub 107 provides for receiving signals from the connected 0 pumps and regenerating the received signals. In particular, the received signals from the pumps 1 120 are converted by the hub 107 into a format suitable for transmission onto the system 2 network 102 via wireless communication path or link 128 and cable communication system 110. 23 Typically, the hub 107 sends pump data to the system network 102. The hub 107 may also filter 24 incoming information from the pumps 120 to reject duplicate messages. Additionally, the hub 25 107 allows pump status information to be viewed remotely on a clinician's 116 digital assistant 26 118. Typically, the hub 107 sends pump data whenever the hub 107 is connected to the pump 27 120 and both the hub 107 and the pump 120 are turned on. As explained in detail herein, the 28 hub 107 also provides for allowing comparisons of pharmacy-entered orders to the pump 29 settings. In a preferred embodiment, the hub 107 is connected to the IV pole holding the pumps 30 120, or the hub 107 is incorporated into the infusion pump 120 to create an integrated 31 medical/communications device as identified above. 2 One embodiment of a hub 107 is shown in FIGURE 47. In this embodiment, the hub 3 107 includes pump port indicators 411 for up to 4 pumps, a loss of wireless signal indicator 413.

12 1 a low battery indicator 415, an alert mute key 417, an on/off key and indicator 419, and a 2 charging indicator 421. The pump port indicators 411 provide a status indicator for each of the 3 hub's 107 pump ports. The indicator light shows that the corresponding pump port is properly 4 communicating with the network 102. -When the indicator light is not lit, however, this indicates 5 that the corresponding pump port is not connected to the pump 120 or the port is not 6 communicating from the pump 120 to the network 102. The loss of wireless signal indicator 7 413 indicates that the hub 107 cannot communicate with the network 102 over the wireless link. 8 If a loss of wireless signal occurs, each of the pump port indicators 411 will also turn off, 9 indicating that the hub 107 is not conununicating with the network 102. If a loss of wireless 10 signal occurs, the hub 107 will communicate this event to the system network 102 and the II central computer system 108 and server 109 for eventual transmission to the clinician 116. The 12 alert mute key 417 allows the clinician 116 to temporarily silence all audible alerts from the hub 13 107. Alternate embodiments of the communications hub include a single dedicated wireless 14 module physically within the pump, or a separate module using wireless communications to 15 reach both the pump and server. 16 Additionally, in an alternate embodiment, the hub 107 may be optionally 17 incorporated into the infusion pump 120 to create an integrated medical/communications device. is The combination hub/medical device would still function identically with respect to each other. 19 Access Points of the Overall System 20 As shown in FIGURE 3, a plurality of access points 114 within the healthcare facility 21 provides an interface between the wireless communication paths and the cable communication 22 system. Preferably, when the system network 102 is unavailable, the hub 107 stores the signals 23 received from the pumps 120, and then transmits the converted signals to the system network 24 102 once the system network becomes available. In a preferred embodiment, communication 25 between the hub 107 and the access points 114 is unidirectional from the hub 107 to the access 26 point 114 and ultimately the network 102. As such, in the present embodiment the infusion 27 pumps 120 can transmit data to the network 102; however, the network 102 cannot transmit data 28 to the infusion pumps 120. It is understood, however, that in altemate embodiments also 29 disclosed herein, communication between the hub 107 and the access points 114 is bidirectional. 30 Accordingly, in these embodiments data and other information may be transmitted from the 31 network 102 to the infusion pumps 120. In either case, the information transmitted between the 32 network 102 and the hubs 107 is encoded for security purposes. 33 Central System Servers/ Computers of the Overall System 13 Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 3, the central system 108 can include one or more 2 servers or computers. While this disclosure refers generally to servers 109, 108a, it is 3 understood that these components rnay be non-server computers. Preferably, but not 4 necessarily, the central system 108 ca-n include a first central server or computer 109 and a 5 second central server or computer 108a.. In one embodiment, a separate communication system 6 103 may be provided for communication between the first central server 109 and the second 7 central server 108a. In a preferred embodiment, the separate communication system 103 is an 8 isolated point-to-point cable communication Ethernet network. Because this communication 9 system 103 is an isolated point-to-point system connection, the data communicated between the 10 two servers 109, 108a is typically not encrypted. Typically, the communication system between I I the two servers 109 and 108a allows for bi-directional communication. 12 As explained in detail herein, the first central server or computer 109 has a first database 13 and a first functional feature set associated to data and functions related to the medical device 14 and the user interface. The medical devices 120 and user interface 118 generally communicate 15 directly with the first central computer 109. Further, as explained in detail herein, the second 16 central server or computer I 08a has a second database and a second functional feature set. The 17 first central computer 109 is securely connected to the second computer I 08a, and the medical is devices 120 and user interfaces 118 do not communicate directly with the second central 19 computer 108a. The user interface 118 c an receive data from the second database relating to the to second functional feature set of the second central computer 108a through the first central 1 computer 109. ?2 The second central server 108a, and its software sub-system, typically interface with a 23 pharmacy system to provide information on drugs, patients and to provide the nurses and other 24 clinicians with a typical workflow. The second central server 108a also interfaces with the first 25 central server 109 to provide information on patients, nurses, clinicians, orders and associations 26 between digital assistants 118 and clinicians. Some of the other functions of the second cen-tral 27 server 108a can include patient management, item management, facility management, 28 messaging, reporting/graphing, and various interfaces to other systems. 29 In particular, patient management refers to the general information about each patient 30 that comes into a hospital or facility. This information is maintained along with information 31 specific to each visit, and generally includes demographics, allergies. admission date, discharge 32 date. initial diagnosis, room, bed, etc. Additionally, information about each of the medications 33 which have been prescribed, scheduled, and administered is maintained by the second celitTal 14 I server 108a. Functionality of the patient management function also includes prior adverse 2 reaction checking, drug interaction checking, duplicate therapy checking, dose checking and 3 drug-disease contraindications. 4 Item management refers to the information about each drug that is available in the 5 facility. This information is managed and maintained within the second central server 108a. 6 Such information includes drug name, strength, therapeutic classification, manufacturer, etc. 7 Further, the second central server 108a maintains a perpetual inventory of the item contents of 8 the medication depots and other smart storage locations on a real-time basis. The second central 9 server I 08a assists in providing for updates to be made as the depot is replenished and as doses 10 are administered or disposed. II Facility management refers to the information that describes the overall facility. This 12 information is managed and maintained within the second central server I 08a of the system 210. 13 This information includes: a physical breakdown of the facility into buildings, floors, units, 14 rooms and beds; a list of programs and services that are offered and where they are offered; an 15 identification of storage units where drug and supply items are stored and the locations they are 16 intended to serve. 17 Messaging refers to the functionality of the second central server 10Sa, wherein the 18 second central server 108a provides a communications link between the pharmacists and the 19 clinicians. The second central server 108a allows for standardization of dosage and special 20 administration instructions, and automatically sends notification of missing doses. 21 Reporting and graphing refers to the availability of a number of operational and ?2 management reports which can be run on request or on a scheduled basis by authorized users of 23 the system 210. 24 The second central server I 08a also has various interfaces, such as: an ADT interface, a 25 billing interface, a discrete results interface, a documents results interface, a fommlary interface, 26 a pharmacy orders interface, a PoinI of Care medication management interface and an inventory 27 interface. These interfaces are explained in greater detail infra, however, a brief explanation is 28 provided immediately below. The ADT interface refers to the facilities admission, transfer and 29 discharge system (ADT). This system typically also operates the registration of pre-admitta-nce 30 and outpatients. The discrete results interface refers to an interface with laboratory results. 31 Generally, after the lab results and ancillary orders are entered into an external lab information 32 system, the discrete results interface or lab interface within the HL7 engine transfers this data to 33 the second central server 108a. Once the lab results are saved in the second central server 108a, 15 1 a user can view them from the handheld device 1-18, the Computerized Physician Order Entry 2 (CPOE) system, and the second central computer 108a main application. Lab interfaces are 3 available for at least four interfaces: radiology lab interface, microbiology lab interface, 4 biochemistry lab interface, and pathology lab interface. These interfaces can be configured to 5 operate either on four different ports or on the same port. The document results interface 6 generally refers to the second central server 108a. accepting radiology and pathology reports. 7 The formulary interface generally refers to the second central server 108a being able to accept 8 master file notifications to synchronize an external systems drug file. Changes to a formulary 9 will trigger an outbound transaction from the server I 08a to an external third-party system. The 1o pharmacy orders interface provides for allowing medication orders to be sent to external third 1I party systems. The inventory interface provides for accepting pharmacy inventory changes 12 from external third-party systems. Additionally, cart depot interfaces are available with the 13 present system 100. The second central server 10 Sa stores order and drug file changes in the 14 server database, which then sends this information to any third-party cart interfaces. The third 15 party cart interface within the HL7 engine processes this information into HL7 MFN and RDE 16 messages. The MFN message contains the drug file information and the RDE contains the 17 patient orders information. The HL7 engine then transmits these messages to the third-party iS cart server. The HL7 engine also receives HL7 foTrmatted DFT messages from the third-party 19 cart server. The DFT message contains billing information for medication administration. The 20 HL7 engine processes this information and then sends it to the second central server 108a, 21 which can then pass this information to a billing application. The billing application may then 22 calculate patient charges and invoice the patient. The billing interface refers to an interface with 23 the patient charging software. The billing interface supports the optional use of billing 24 algorithms to calculate charges. The billing interface processes internal transactions, as well as 25 external inbound transactions from third-party systems. The billing interface provides an HL7 26 interface between the second central server 108a and the hospital's third-party financial system. 27 The billed quantity may be sent directly, or patierat charges may be calculated by the billing 28 interface to send to the hospital's third-party financial system. The information is sent in real 29 time via HL7 messages. The Point of Care interface consists of web service communications 30 which integrate information regarding point of care medication management for non-infusion 31 related data. These data are communicated in real-time in order that the user interface can 32 integrate medication management for infusion related and non-infusion related medications.

16 1 Conversely, the first central server 109 has software loaded and configured for sending 2 and receiving data to and from multiple hubs 107, multiple digital assistants or user interfaces 3 118, and with the second central server 108a. As explained in detail below, the first central 4 server 109 may perform several functions, including, but not limited to: comparing prescription 5 parameters as received from server 1 08a to the applicable programmed pump settings received 6 from the hub 107 system; relaying notifications and messages to the digital assistants 118; 7 relaying alarm and alert information received from the hub 107 system to the appropriate digital 8 assistant 118; relaying pharmacy and patient information as communicated from the server 108a 9 to the appropriate digital assistant 118; and compiling pump status and alarm monitoring data 10 and relaying this data to server 108a on a periodic basis. If required, the operations performed ii by the server 109 are compliant with the Health Insurance Portability Act of 1996 (August 21), 12 Public Law 104-191. Typically, the data resident ir the first central computer or server 109 is 13 an intersection with the data resident in the second central computer or server 108a. Server 109 14 contains a subset of the data contained in server 108a that is required to perform its 15 functionality. Server 109 also contains data relating to the system network 102, hubs 107 and 16 infusion pumps 120 that are required to perform its functionality. As explained above, such data 17 is generally that data required for the functions or performance of the digital assistants 118 and 18 medical devices 120. 19 In one embodiment, a cost-effective integration of medical devices 120 or other devices 20 and functionality with the hospital information systems in the first and second central computers 21 109, 108a is provided by isolating a subset of the total data mentioned above, such as patient 22 safety-specific information, and locating such information and functionality in a 23 validated/verified part of the system. In this context, an FDA regulatory context, verified means 24 providing objective evidence that all requirements are tested and validated means providing 25 objective evidence that the product meets customer needs. In the present embodiment, the 26 validated part of the system is located within the first central computer 109. In one 27 embodiment, the subset can include infusion punip generated alarms and/or alerts and/or 28 medical device 120 / infusion pump 120 / controller 120 programming or operating parameter 29 information. This subset is isolated and located in the validated part of the system, within the 30 first central computer 109, and the remaining portio-n of the overall data is maintained in the 31 database in the non-validated portion of the system, within the second central computer 108a. 32 The validated database located at the first central computer 109 and non-validated database 33 located at the second central computer 108a are kept -in sync using Web services replication, as 17 i will be better understood by one of ordinary skill in the art frorra the details provided below. An 2 alternate embodiment may include both the validated and unvalidated portions of the system 3 residing on a single computer and functionally separated by means of a software firewall (e.g., 4 operating system features or other OTS software). As will be described below, the "syncing" 5 may be performed periodically based on time intervals, other predetermined times, and/or as 6 needed when important data, such as patient registration status, changes occur. At intervals, a 7 fresh new copy of the replicated data is sent to the other central computer, and validated first 8 central computer 109 replaces its local copy with the new copy. When critical information 9 changes, the change is propagated immediately to the validated first central computer 109 and 10 processed as a change rather than as a replacement of the existing information. Thus, a portion II or all of the subset located at the database at the first central computer 109 also exists at the 12 second central computer 108a, as will be understood from the details provided herein. This 13 process will be better understood with reference to the details provided below. Thus, by 14 localizing a subset of the database, such as the patient safety-specific data at the first central 15 computer, at least the cost of system development is further optimized, and integration with 16 third-party non-validated systems and the respective data and information therein is made more 17 time and cost effective. 18 In one embodiment, the first central computer 109 can comprise a validated server, such 19 as a Compaq DLG-380 with Windows 2003 Server OS, running Active Directory for user and 20 device authentication, Certificate Authority for issuance of server and client certificates, SQL 21 Server 2000 for temporary data storage, Internet Information Server (US) for application hosting 22 (Web Services and Web pages). The second central computer 108a can comprise a non 23 validated Server, such as an external Hospital Information S ystem (HIS) Server connected 24 through a dedicated Ethernet TCP/IP connection 103 accessing a data replication Web service 25 exposed by the validated server at the other end of the dedicated connection. The second central 26 computer 108a can alternatively comprise software for performing one or more of the various 27 functionalities described in general herein, such as a pharmacy and other systems. Thus, the 28 second central computer can comprise these types of functions and have an interface with other 29 systems, such as an external Hospital Information System (HIS) Server. 30 The first central computer (i.e., server 109) includes a database containing a data storage 31 package or first database. In an embodiment, the first database can be external or internal to the 32 first central computer 109, but preferably is only accessible to users of the application 5412 , as 33 shown in FIGURE 54, loaded on the first central computer. The data tables within the first 18 i database are used within the use cases described further herein. Preferably, the data tables 2 include tables related to medical devices, digital assistants, hubs, patients, clinician, 3 prescriptions, titration, comparison information, alarms. and escalations. M-Toreover, medical 4 device tables can include tables related to pump, pump channel, pump sub-charnel. Also, alarm 5 tables can include tables related to hub alarms, pump alarms, channel alarns, an alarm history 6 log, and the like. 7 In an embodiment, each table can include a key wherein data wi-thin the table is 8 responsive to the key. For example, a key to a table regarding a pump channel information log 9 can be a pump channel log identification wherein, in response to the key, table: data is provided 10 regarding the channel identification, pump rate, dose mode, dose, volume remnaining, primary I I volume infused, and the like. Moreover, the tables can be linked. For instance, a patient table 12 having patient information can be linked to a clinician table which can be linked to a digital 13 assistant table. 14 The patient care system 100 of FIGURE 3 can be divided into a hub s-ubsystem, a first is central computer or server subsystem, a medical device or pump subsystem, a second central 16 computer or server subsystem, and a personal digital assistant (PDA) subsystem. The hub 17 subsystem and the first central computer subsystem are discussed in detail further herein. 18 Turning to the medical device subsystem, this subsystem preferably includes one or more 19 medical devices 120 such as infusion devices for allowing delivery of medication to a patient 20 wherein status and infusion information for each infusion device is transmitted periodically from 21 a communication port associated with each device. 22 Generally, the second central computer subsystem is a server 108a having computer 23 hardware and software for interfacing with a pharmacy system to provide information regarding 24 drugs, patients, and typical nurse workflows. The server 108a can also have various other 25 applications as previously discussed herein, such as an interface to a Hospital Information 26 System (HIS). Preferably, the second central computer interfaces with the first central computer 27 subsystem to provide the first central computer with information regarding patients, nurses, 28 orders, and the association between a personal digital assistant and a nurse or clirlician. 29 In one embodiment, a central computer has at least two environments: a validated 30 environment and a non-validated environment. The validated environment iray have a first 31 operating system with a set of applications and a first database. The first database may have a 32 first functional feature set associated with certain data therein. In one eimbodiment, this 33 functional feature set has functions related to the medical device and the user interface for the 19 i medical device. The medical device and user interface communicate directly and securely with < 2 the validated environment. The non-validated environment may have a second operating system 3 with a set of applications and a second database. The second database may have a second 4 functional feature set associated with certain data therein. Typically, there is a logical 5 separation between the validated environment and the non-validated environment. The user 6 interface can receive data from the non-validation portion of the database relating to the second 7 functional feature through validation portion of the system. In one embodiment, the validation 8 portion is separated from the non-validation portion by a logical separation or fire wall, which 9 may be implemented in software. Various software, such as VMware and Virtual PC, are o examples of emulation software that emulates multiple environments on the same server. In 1 another embodiment, the validation portion may be on the first central compute-r 109, and the 2 non-validation portion may be on the second central computer 108a. In another- embodiment, 3 the central computer comprises a first server and a second separate server. The first and second 4 servers are separated by a fire wall, and the central validation portion of the central computer 5 resides in the first server, and the second non-validation portion of the central computer resides 6 on the second server. 7 Preferably, as explained in detail elsewhere herein, the personal digital assistant s subsystem includes one or more small portable devices 118 that provide clinicians and nurses 9 116 (FIGURE 1) with remote information regarding: their patients; the status of infusions 0 including the relay of alarms and alerts information; and infusion comparison- results. As .I discussed herein, the first central computer is operably connected to one or more personal digital 2 assistants 118 within the PDA subsystem. In an embodiment, the personal digital assistants are 23 WINDOWS CE.NET based and used as a clinician tenninal device. In particular, the personal 24 digital assistant can be operably connected to the first central computer through a secure PKI 25 authenticated wireless LAN (802.1 x) connection, as explained in nore detail herein. 26 The hub subsystem preferably includes components such as one or more hubs 107 for 27 receiving data from the medical devices 120, transmitting the pump data to the first central 28 computer subsystem 109, and detecting conditions that can effect data communicati ons with one 29 or more hubs. 30 As indicated previously, in an embodiment, a hub 107 within the hub subsystem 31 interfaces with up to four infusion devices 120 through a one-way serial communications link 32 105 wherein the infusion devices transmit messages (i.e., packets of data) containing pump 33 status information on a periodic basis to the hub. Alternatively, the packets can be transmitted 20 1 based on user defined criteria such as regular time intervals, event occurrences, a combination of 2 time intervals and event occurrences, or the like. 3 Each hub 107 within the hub subsystem filters incoming information to reject duplicate 4 messages, stores, and then forwards the pump information to the first central computer 5 subsystem utilizing, in an embodiment, a built-in wireless network transceiver. In an 6 embodiment, the pump information is not forwarded unless the data received from the medical 7 device has changed. 8 The transceiver built into a hub 107 routes the outgoing information to a wireless access 9 point 114 which in turn routes it to the first central computer 109 using the wired Ethernet 10 subsystem 110. This outgoing information preferably contains XML encoded data formatted as i i SOAP messages specifically designed to be received by a web services type of software 12 interface. 13 As will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art, the term "XML" refers to 14 a system for organizing and tagging elements of web documents wherein, with XML, 15 customized tags can be created for enabling the definition, transmission, validation, and 16 interpretation of data between applications and between systems or subsystems. Moreover, as 17 used herein, the term "web services" refers to integrating web-based services using XML and 18 SOAP wherein the term "SOAP" is a messaging protocol used to encode the information in web 19 service request messages and response messages before sending them over the network or 20 communication path. 21 The first central computer subsystem preferably consists of a server 109 with a sofnvare 22 application loaded and configured for sending and receiving data to and from multiple hubs 107, 23 multiple digital assistants 118, and the second central computer sub-system comprising server 24 108a. 25 Turning to FIGURE 54, server 109 is preferably a COMPAQ DLG-380 with a 26 MICROSOFT WINDOWS 2003 Server operating system 5414. In one embodiment, software 27 components that are loaded within the memory of the first central computer 109 include a first 28 central computer or server application 5412 within a .NET Framework 5416, an Active 29 Directory Domain Service 5418 for users and device authentication, an SQL Server 5420 (show 30 as a database) for temporary data storage, and Internet Information Server 5422 (IIS) for 31 application hosting. The .NET Framework 5416 is preferably Microsoft NET Framework 1.1 32 or greater vhcrein the .NET Framcwork connects the first central computer application 5412 to 33 the operating system, Intemet Information Server 5422. SQL Database 5420, and Active 21 I Directory Domain Service 5418 components. As will be appreciated by those having ordinary < 2 skill in the art, the Active Directory Domain Service 5418 provides services utilized by the 3 Windows Server Operating System 5414 and the first central computer application 5412 to 4 assist in ensuring that only authentic and authorized hub subsystem, second central computer 5 subsystem and users of the personal digital assistant subsystem have access to the first central 6 computer and thus the first central computer application 5412. 7 In an embodiment, the first central computer (i.e., server 109 of FIGURE 3) performs 8 several functions that include: 1) comparison of the prescription parameters as received from the 9 second central computer subsystem to the applicable programmed pump setting received from to the hub subsystem and/or program the pump; 2) relay of alarm and alert information received ii from the hub subsystem to the appropriate personal digital assistant 118 (FIGURE 3); 3) 12 provision of pump, status and flow rate history information to the appropriate personal digital 13 assistant 118; 4) relay of pharmacy and patient information as conununicated from the second 14 central computer 108a (FIGURE 3) to the appropriate personal digital assistant IIS; and, 5) 15 compilation of pump and alarm monitoring data and relaying of this data to the second central 16 computer I 08a on a periodic basis. 17 The first central computer preferably includes a plurality of external software component 18 interfaces. In an embodiment, three of these interfaces can be classified as "incoming 9 interfaces" that receive incoming HTTP request messages and then issue outgoing HTTP !o response messages. The remaining two interfaces can be classified as "outgoing interfaces" that i either send HTTP request messages or XML formatted response messages as explained below. !2 As used herein, the five software interfaces are referred to as the DatabaseRefreshListener 23 incoming and outgoing interfaces, the RoutePDA incoming and outgoing interfaces, and the 24 PumpDataListener incoming interface. 25 In an embodiment, four of the external software component interfaces are paired to 26 create two distinct bi-directional communication channels between the first central computer 27 109 and the second central computer 108a of FIGURE 3. The first channel includes both the 28 DatabaseRefreshListener incoming and outgoing interfaces paired together. Accordingly, the 29 first channel is referred to herein as "DatabaseRefreshListener," and is utilized by the second 30 central computer 108a for periodic synchronization of data in its database tables with data 31 located in the first central computer's database tables. 32 Using the DatabaseRefreshListener channel, the second central computer 108a updates 33 the first central computer's database tables by sending XML encoded data fornatted as SOAP 22 i messages to the first central computer's web services type of interface. Similarly, the second 2 central computer 108a updates its own database table by sending XML encoded requests for 3 data to the first central computer's web services type of interface which in turn triggers the first 4 central computer 109 to respond with XML encoded data. 5 As indicated above, the incoming interface portion of the DatabaseRefreshListener 6 channel is utilized by the second central computer for updating of database tables located in the 7 first central computer with data from second central computer's database tables. Moreover, the 8 outgoing portion of the DatabaseRefreshListener channel is utilized by the second central 9 computer for updating its own database with data from the first central computer's database 1o tables. 11 Preferably, the DatabaseRefreshListener incoming interface contains several web service 12 methods named "RefreshXXX" where "XXX" corresponds to the type of data being transferred. 13 In an embodiment, these methods receive incoming HTTP request messages containing XML 14 encoded data formatted per the SOAP protocol. The XML encoded data is structure in a form 15 that corresponds to rows in a database table. For example, the method "RefreshUsers" receives 16 data structures consisting of-pairs of user names and user passwords corresponding to rows in a 17 database table that contains user name and user password columns. is As shown in FIGURE 54, the incoming messages are routed via the Internet Information 19 Server and the NET Framework components to the application 5412 loaded on the first central 20 computer (i.e., server 109 of FIGURE 3). The first central computer application 5412 utilizes 21 the Active Directory Domain Service 5418 to verify that the second central computer message is 22 authentic, processes the contents, and then stores the resulting data in the SQL server database 23 component 5420. 24 The application 5412 loaded on the first central computer then responds to the second 25 central computer by issuing an HTTP response method that is routed via the NET Framework 26 component 5416 and internet information server component 5422 to the second central 27 computer. This response message indicates the success or failure of the data transfer and 28 processing. 29 Preferably, the DatabaseRefreshListener incoming interface is asynchronous in nature, 30 thus decoupling the second central computer from the first central computer to the extent 31 practical. This decoupling allows the second central computer to be programmed for continued 32 data processing while waiting for responses and for responding to losses in communication in a 33 manner that is under program control. Moreover, the DatabaseRefreshListener incoming 23 1 interface can also contain a web method for use by the second central computer to periodically 2 signal the first central computer that the second central computer is functioning. 3 In contrast to the DatabaseRefreshListener incoming interface, the 4 DatabaseRefreshListeneT outgoing interface is utilized by the second central computer for 5 updating its own database with data from the first central computer's database tables. To ensure 6 that the data has been captured by the second central computer before permanent removal from 7 the first central computer, DatabaseRefreshListener outgoing interface utilizes a multi-step s approach for data transfer as follows: 1) The second central computer checks for the availability 9 of the data; 2) The second central computer requests that the first central computer send the 1o data; 3) the second central computer confirms that the data has been received; 4) the second 11 central computer confirms that the data has been correctly stored in its database tables. 12 To check for the availability of data, the second central computer First sends to the 13 applicable web method of the DatabaseRefreshListener outgoing interface is an XML encoded 14 request message formatted per the SOAP protocol. Preferably, the specific web method utilized 15 is of the form "BeginGetXXXTo Archive" wherein "XXX" corresponds to the type of data 16 being requested. For example, the method "BeginGetChannelDataToArchive" request the 17 availability of time stamped pump channel records received by the first central computer from 18 the pumps through the hub subsystem. 19 The request message is passed through the Internet Information Server component 5422 20 and .NET Framework component 5416 to the application loaded within the first central 21 computer. The application 5412 loaded within the first central computer decodes the XML 22 contained in the request message to determine what data is being requested by the second 23 central computer. 24 The application 5412 loaded within the first central computer checks for the availability 25 of the requested data in the SQL Server Database 5420. If the data is available, the application 26 prepares an XML encoded response message indicating that data is available. If the data cannot 27 be obtained, the application 5412 prepares an XML encoded response message indicating that 28 data is not available. 29 If the data is not available, the second central computer may retry or proceed with a 30 different transfer consistent with its processing rules. 31 If the data is available, the second central computer initiates the data transfer by sending 32 to the applicable web method of DatabaseRefreshListener outgoing interface a second XML 24 i encoded request message. Preferably, the specific web method utilized is of the form 2 "EndGetXXXToAcrchive" wherein "XXX" is identical to that used above. 3 The application 5412 within the first central computer decodes the XML contained in the 4 request message to determine what data to return to the second central computer and places the 5 data in an appropriate XML encoded response message structured in a form that corresponds to 6 rovvs in a database table consistent with the approach utilized by the corresponding incoming 7 interface. 8 In an embodiment, the data is routed to the second central computer via the .NET 9 Frainework component 5416 and Internet Information Server component 5422. If the data was 10 not correctly received, the second central computer may retry or proceed with a different ii transfer consistent with its processing rules. 12 If the data was received correctly, the second central computer then sends a third request 13 message to the applicable web method of this interface. Preferably, the specific web method 14 utilized is of the form "BeginDeleteArchivcdXXX" where "XXX" is identical to that used 15 above. 16 Upon receipt of this message, the application 5412 loaded within the first central 17 corrputer marks the relevant data in the SQL Server Database component as being sent to the is second central computer for archiving and issues a response message acknowledging that the 19 data has been marked. 20 To signal the success or failure of storing the data in the second central computer 21 database, the second central computer sends a fourth request message to the applicable web 22 method of this interface. The specific web method utilized is of the fonn 23 "EndDeleteArchivedXXX" where "XXX" is identical to that used above. 24 If the second central computer indicates that the transfer was unsuccessful or if sufficient 25 time has elapsed that the first central computer determines that a loss of communication has 26 occurred. then the relevant data is retained in the first central computer database for further 27 transfer as requested by the second central computer. 28 If the second central computer indicates that the transfer was successful, then the 29 archived data is purged from the first central computer database and the application 54 12 loaded 30 within the first central computer issues a response message confirming completion of the final 31 step of this transfer.

25 1 Preferably, the DatabaseRefreshListener outgoing interface is asynchronous in nature, 2 thus decoupling the second central computer database from the first central compuLter to the 3 extent practical. 4 The second bi-directional channel between the first central computer 109 and the second 5 central computer 108a is referred to herein as "RoutePDA" and includes both the RoutePDA 6 incoming and outgoing interfaces paired together. The RoutePDA channel is used b-y the first 7 central computer 109 for routing of HTTP request messages originating from the PDA 8 subsystem to the second central computer 108a, then receiving the correspondixig HTTP 9 response messages from the second central computer, processing if applicable, and then routing 10 back to the originating personal digital assistant II S. 11 In the second channel (i.e., RoutePDA), messages received from or sent to a personal 12 digital assistant 118 are preferably transmitted to and from the first central computer 1 09 via the 13 hospital or healthcare facility's wired Ethernet system 110, a wireless access point 114, an a 14 wireless transceiver built-into each personal digital assistant 118. 15 Preferably, HTTP request messages are forwarded without processing through the first 16 central computer 109 to the second central computer 108a. The second central computer 108a 17 then issues HTTP response messages containing either XML or HTML formatted information. 18 HTML formatted response messages are routed through the first central computer 1.09 to the 19 personal digital assistant 118 without further handling. 20 XML formatted response messages are used by the second central comput-rI 108a to 21 signal to the first central computer 109 that the user 116 (FIGURE 1) has requested a web page 22 that the first central computer 109 creates, such as a prescription comparison results page or a 23 pump-monitoring page. The first central computer 109 examines the XML response. processes 24 as appropriate, and issues an HTML or XML formatted response message to the sending 25 personal digital assistant 118. 26 As indicated previously, the RoutePDA channel is used by the first central corriputer for 27 routing of HTTP request message received from the PDA(s) 118 to the second central computer 28 and then receiving the corresponding HTTP responses returned by the second central computer, 29 processing if applicable, and then routing back to the sending PDA(s). 30 Accordingly, the RoutePDA incoming interface is utilized for communication with the 31 web browser located in the PDA(s) 1 IS. This interface receives incoming HTTIP request 32 messages containing data encoded as name-value pairs consistent with the HTTP "GET" and 33 "POST" protocols. The incoming messages are routed via the Internet Information S erver and 26 1 the NET Framework component to the application 5412 loaded within the first central 2 computer. The application 5412 loaded on the first central computer reroutes the incoming 3 message to the second central computer utilizing the .NET Framework 5416 and the RoutePDA 4 outgoing interface as discussed below. 5 Wklhen an HTTP response is received at the RoutePDA outgoing interface, the application 6 5412 loaded on the first central computer determines whether the response utilizes HTHL or 7 XML formatting. HTML formatted responses are rerouted by the first central computer to the 8 PDA without further handling, via the .NET Framework component 5416 and Internet 9 Information Server component 5422. 10 XML formatted responses, however, are used by the second central computer to signal to iI the first central computer that the user has requested a web page that the first central computer 12 creates, such as a prescription comparison results page or a pump-monitoring page. The first 13 central computer examines the XML response from the second central computer, processes as 14 appropriate. and issues an HTML or XML formatted response to the appropriate PDA(s), via the 15 NET Framework and Internet Information Server components. Preferably, the RoutePDA 16 interface is synchronous in nature due to the inherent synchronous behavior of the web browsers 17 contained in the PDAs. is In contrast to the RoutePDA incoming interface, the RoutePDA outgoing interface is 19 utilized for routing ITTP request messages received by the application 5412 loaded on the first 20 central computer from the personal digital assistant subsystem to the second central computer 21 for processing and then receiving the corresponding HTTP response sent by the second central 22 computer in return. 23 In both the DatabaseRefreshListener channel and the RoutePDA channel, the first central 24 computer 109 sends and receives information from the second central computer 108a through an 25 isolated point-to-point Ethernet sub-system 103 that is preferably dedicated to this use only. 26 As indicated above, in utilizing the DatabaseRefreshListener channel, the first central 27 computer exposes a specialized Web service on the dedicated link 103 that is used by the second 28 central computer to replicate new and updated database information (such as patient 29 information, clinician information, pharmacy information, and the like) periodically and as 30 needed to the first central computer. Also, data is provided from the second central computer to 31 the first central computer. 32 Moreover, in utilizing the RoutePDA channel at the clinician terminal device end, the 33 first central computer 109 exposes a NET IS Server interface serving HTTP-style web pages 27 i and maintaining authenticated web session with the PDA devices 11 S. Stated another way, the 2 clinician terminal device (i.e., personal digital assistant 118) receives authenticated web pages 3 from the first central computer 109. 4 At the first central computer end of the dedicated connection 103 to the second central 5 computer, the first central computer establishes a virtual HTTP session for each PDA device 6 118 connected to the first central computer, and impersonates a Web browser to the second 7 central computer relaying HTTP request from the PDAs as they are being received by the first 8 central computer. Stated another way, the first central computer, through the dedicated 9 connection 103 to the second central computer, relays requests requiring non-validation to the 0 second central computer. I Accordingly, when the information flow between a PDA 118 and the server system 2 requires information originating from the second central computer side or merged information 3 be presented, the second central computer posts an XML SOAP packet to the Web service 4 exposed by the first central computer on the dedicated link 103 and the first central computer 5 uses the XML data to perform a merger operation with the information originating from the first 6 central computer side of the system, converts the result to HTML, and then posts the HTML 7 back to the clinician's PDA device 118. 8 The fifth external software component interface, referred to as PumpDataListener is an 9 incoming interface for communication with the hub subsystem, as explained in more detail o herein. In an embodiment, the PumpDataListener interface does not have a corresponding I outgoing interface because the transfer of pump data is one-way, only, except for 2 communication verification. However, in an alternative embodiment, an outgoing interface can . be provided for transfer of pump command and control data to the medical devices 120. 24 The PumpDataListener incoming interface is utilized for receipt of data from the hub 25 subsystem. Preferably, this interface contains a single web service method referred to as 16 "SendPurrpData." This method receives incoming HTTP request messages containing XML 27 encoded data formatted per the SOAP protocol. The XML encoded data is structured in a 28 hierarchical form such that data from several pumps and several channels per pump at several 29 different times can be combined into a single large message structure. 30 The incoming messages are routed via the Internet Information Server and the .NET I Framework components to the application 5412 loaded within the first central computer 2 application. The first central computer application utilizes the Active Directory Domain Service .3 component to verify that the hub subsystem message is authentic. The first central cornputer 28 j then processes the contents, and stores the resulting data in the SQL Server Database 2 component. Finally, the first central computer application issues an HTTP response message to 3 the sending hub device via the NET Framework and Internet Information Server components. 4 This response messages indicated the success or failure of data transfer and processing. 5 Data packets received by the first central computer (i.e., server 109) from the hubs 107 6 are preferably stored within the first central database of the first central computer. Preferably, if 7 an alarn or alert event is included in the packet, the first central computer can immediately 8 dispatch the event to the appropriate clinician(s) via his or her digital assistant 118, or 9 alternatively, the first central computer can enter the event into the first central computer 10 database and later dispatch the information when requested by the appropriate clinician(s) via II his or her digital assistant. As indicated previously, the first central computer 109 maintains a 12 log of all clinicians that are logged onto his or her digital assistant 118 which is authenticated 13 every time the clinician logs onto the system. 14 Preferably, the PumpDataListener incoming interface is asynchronous in nature, thus 15 decoupling the hub subsystem from the first central computer subsystem to the extent practical. 16 The decoupling allows the hubs 107 within the hub subsystem to be programmed for continued 17 data processing while waiting for responses and for responding to losses in communication in a 18 manner that is under program control. Nonetheless, the PumpDataListener maintains a 19 "heartbeat" to monitor (lack of) continuity of communications between all wireless modules 20 and/or remote pump devices and the central computer. 21 Communication With Clinician Handheld Devices 22 As described in detail further herein, pump status, alerts, alarms, patient information, 23 chart information, comparison information, to-do lists and other data/infornation are provided 24 to clinicians via a personal digital assistant or user interface 118 having a display 118a and, if 25 desired, an audible tone or sound generator (not shown). The digital assistant 118 26 communicates with the central system 108 via the central network 102 and, in particular, 27 wireless communication path or link 126 and cable communication system 110. As stated 28 previously, one or more wireless access points 114 provide an interface, in a conventional 29 manner, between the wireless communication paths and the cable communication system. The 30 digital assistant I18 may receive messages from both servers 109 and 108a. 31 Preferably, communication between the central system 108 and the digital assistant I Is 32 is bidirectional. Moreover, it is desired that the digital assistant 118 include enough memory 33 and processing capability to store and execute a module or application (not shown) for testing 29 1 the integrity of the communication link between the digital assistant and the central system 108 2 or the wireless access point 114. 3 Preferably, but not necessarily, a module or application installed on the digital assistant 4 118 is a script or other computer instructions (i.e., software code) written in a high-level 5 programming language, such as JAVA, that can be executed with or without clinician 6 intervention. The script can be automatically downloaded from the server 108a or 109 to the 7 digital assistant 118, or to the medical device 120, as a receiver function of the system. As an s example, one type of script that may be automatically downloaded from the server to the digital 9 assistant is a script that tests the integrity of the communication link by periodically polling, or o monitoring communication, including notifications and messaging, from the central system 108 1 or the access point 114. In a preferred embodiment, the script running on the digital assistant 2 polls the system 108 approximately every 3 seconds. If a response is not received from the 3 central system 108 or the access point 114, the module or application installed on the digital 4 assistant 118 generates a time-out that results in audible tones and/or a notification on the visual 5 display 11 8a that communication with the central system 108 has been lost. The notification on 6 the visual display 118a can be, for example: the activation of an information pop-up window 7 stating that the communication link is lost, or the changing of an active icon display on the s visual display 1 18a. As used herein, and recognized by those having ordinary skill in the art, a 9 time-out is an output generated by a module or application for indicating that the module or 0 application has waited a certain amount of time for input, but has not received it. Another type 1 of script may poll to determine if an alarm or alert has been triggered. Numerous other scripts 2 may be running simultaneously. One advantage of running scripts that are downloaded from the 23 system to the digital assistant is that there is no need to install custom code on each digital 24 assistant 118. If any event (ie., a message, notification, alarm, alert. etc.) is present, the digital 25 assistant 118 automatically retrieves the event from the server and displays it on an interface 26 screen of the digital assistant 118. Other added advantages of the script approach are 1) the 27 script code can be easily updated at the central server instead of requiring each digital assistant 28 to be updated, 2) the scripts can be verified/validated relatively independently of the digital 29 assistant hardware platform because the functionality is hardware independent, thus changes or 30 upgrades to the digital assistants have minimal effect on script operation. 31 As indicated previously, each clinician preferably has an associated digital assistant 118 32 that, in an embodiment, provides the clinician with a view of a page consisting of an HTML 33 frame set with a dedicated frame for display of events. The dedicated frame can have a JAVA 30 script inserted therein for display of events wherein the script interrogates the first central computer 119 for new events such as pump alarms and alerts directed to the digital assistant 118. If any new events have occurred, then the first central computer provides this information to the digital assistant 118 wherein it is displayed within the dedicated frame for display of such i events. 5 One type of notification provided on the digital assistant 118 indicates to the clinician 7 that data presented by the digital assistant 118 is not current, and access to alerts and alarms is not available. Conversely, the digital assistant 118 can also indicate vhen the digital assistant 1 18 is linked to the central system 108 for providing rea.1-time access to alerts and alarms. > Other notifications that are typically communicated via scripts include, but are not i limited to: pump "silent shut down," overrides of. pump infusion limits, end of infusion, 2 occlusion trend information, low battery, pre-occlusion indicator, over use of bolus, keep vein 3 open alert, stat medication notifications, change orders, lab results, radiology results, updating, 4 change in telemetry data and/or vital signs information, doctors or pharmacy attempting to reach 5 the nurse, patients that are requesting the nurse, loss of communication, messages from other 6 devices, new rate for medical device based on vital information, rate following purge, etc. 7 As stated previously, clinicians within a healthcare facility have access to infusion alerts, s alarms, and messages via the remote wireless device 1 18 (i.e., also referred to as a personal 9 digital assistant (PDA) 118) or other computer devices, wireless or hardwired to the network D 108, such as a tablet computer with a bar code reader operably attached, or a laptop computer I attached to an IV pole and having a bar code reader operably attached to the computer. 2 Preferably, the infusion system 210 provides clinicians and other users with options for z3 automating alert event-driven messages. Moreover, healthcare facility administrators and other 24 users can customize the types of automated messaging to appear, via the remote wireless device, 25 by message type or classification, severity of abnonnality, and time-based reminders. 26 Additionally, the infusion system provides clinicians and other users with the ability to 27 configure audible messages, visual messages, or both. 28 The messaging provided by the infusion system 210 preferably includes a user 29 configurable rules engine, a scheduler, and interfaces to infusion pump systems. Moreover, it is 0 desired that the results-driven messaging provide clinicians with real-time decision support at 1 the point of care via a workstation, electronic tablet, wireless personal digital assistant, or the 2 like.

31 1 Generally, the communication between the infusion pump 120 and the network 102 and, 2 further, from the network 102 and the clinician's digital device 1 IS allows the clinician 116 to: 3 view electronically-compared pharmacy-entered orders to programmed pump settings and/or 4 program the pump, use the system as a method of remotely viewing pump alerts and alarms, 5 view the pump status remotely, view notifications and view the history of the infusion setting 6 changes, among other things. 7 Patient Care System 8 Turning back to FIGURE 1, patient care system 100 preferably includes a computerized 9 physician order-entry module (CPOE), an inpatient pharmacy module, a wireless nurse charting 0 system, and an electronic patient medical record module. In one embodiment, such systems and I modules are applications of the second central server or second central computer 108a. It is 2 desired that patient care system 100 provide a comprehensive patient safety solution for the 3 delivery of medication. Within patient care system 100, software modules are provided to link 4 together existing patient care systems using interfaces such as HL7 interfaces that are known to 5 those having ordinary skill in the art. Preferably, the patient care system 100 operates on a 6 variety of computers and personal digital-assistant products to transmit orders, update patient 7 medical records, and access alerts, alarms, and messages. 8 The computerized physician order-entry module enables physicians to enter medication ? orders, access alerts, alarms, messages, reminders, vital signs and results. A pharmacy module ) checks the prescribed drug against documented patient allergies, and for compatibility with i other drugs and food. The pharmacy module also provides real-time data for inventory management. A nurse medication-charting module provides clinical information that is 3 immediately available at the bedside, thus ensuring verification of medication and dosage at the 4 point-of-care. 5 Patient care system 100 integrates drug delivery products with the information required 6 to assist in ensuring safe and effective delivery of medication. The clinical decision support and 7 accompanying alerts, alarms, warnings, and messaging of the patient care system 100 provide a 8 safety net of support for clinicians as they deliver patient care under increasing time and cost 9 pressures. This information is preferably supplied through a wireless network that supplies data o in a vay that improves clinician workflow, making delivery of care easier. i Overview of the Infusion System 2 The infusion system 210, or healthcare system 210, within the patient care system 100 3 provides computerized prescribing and an electronic medical administration record (eMAR), 32 i among other things. Infusion system 210 puts charting, medication history, inventory tracking, 2 and messaging at the clinician's fingertips. Patient care system 100 combines bar-coding and 3 real-time technology to assist in ensuring that the right patient gets the right medication and the 4 right dosage, at the right time, via the right route. Infusion system 210 provides alerts, alarms, 5 messages, and reminders such as, but not limited to, lab value, out of range, and missed dose. 6 As part of the verification of the right dosage, the system can also provide verification of the 7 settings of an infusion pump. 8 As explained in detail further herein, the infusion system 210 resides, at least in part, on 9 one or more electronic computing devices such as wireless remote personal digital assistants, 10 workstations, physician order-entry modules, electronic tablets, processor controlled infusion 11 pumps, or the like. The infusion system 210 can be configured to display, via one or more of 12 the electronic computing devices, numerous hospital-definable alerts and alarms in varying 13 forms. In an embodiment, time-based alerts are provided to remind clinicians to perform a 14 patient care function such as, but not necessarily limited to, changing an infusion rate. Further, 15 emergency alarms are provided such as, but not necessarily limited to, an infusion being 16 disconnected. Moreover, less urgent messages are provided such as, but not necessarily limited 17 to, the infusion being completed or the line being occluded. In addition, the infusion status can 18 be viewed from anywhere within the healthcare facility via one or more of wireless remote 19 personal digital assistants or other electronic computing devices. 20 As disclosed in greater deta-il infra, the system 210 provides for the escalation of alarms 21 or alerts that are not indicated as corrected within a predetermined period of time. Conditions 22 that can result in the escalation of an alarm or an alert are preferably defined by the health care 23 facility. Likewise, the time before an alarm or alert escalates can also be defined by the health 24 care facility. Accordingly, predefined alarms or alerts that are not corrected by a clinician 25 within a predefned period of time will result in the escalation of the associated alarms or alerts. 26 Thus, the frequency that the clinician is notified by the system of the escalated alarms or alerts is 27 preferably increased, as can be the volume of the audible tones associated therewith. 28 As will be appreciated by those having skill in the art, the infusion system 210 assists in 29 ensuring patient safety by checking the infusion being administered with the patient's order. As 30 explained in detail further herein, a bar-coding scheme is used wherein the infusion bag and the 31 patient ID are scanned. The infusion information is displayed on both an electronic computing 32 device and the pump to assist in ensuring that the right infusion is being administered to the 33 right patient at the right time, and by the right route and at the right rate. In an embodiment, an 33 I alert, audible and visual, appears on the electronic device if the above administration "rights" do 2 not match. Moreover, through a comparison process described in greater detail infra, when the 3 clinician sets the infusion pump rate, an audible and visual alert appears on the electronic 4 computing device if the programmed settings do not match the patient's infusion order. In 5 addition, at any time the clinician can, via the electronic device, check the settings of an infusion 6 pump to confirm if the settings match the infusion order as contained within the central database 7 108b. 8 In an embodiment, the infusion system 210 provides alerts and alarms, via one or more 9 of the electronic computing devices or the like, -vith differing tones or phrases for fast to identification of the severity or urgency of the message. Desirably, conventional infusion pump i i alerts and alarms can be displayed on the clectror:iic computing devices, such as, but not 12 necessarily limited to, a personal digital assistant, to keep the clinicians informed of the status of 13 the infusions for all assigned patients, thereby saving -time in resolving problems and improving 14 workflow safety. 15 All alarms and alerts are preferably retrievable from a central system database for, inter 16 alia, reporting purposes. The retrievable data can assist a healthcare facility in examining and 17 analyzing how many medication errors were avoided through alarms, alerts, and warnings. Is Desirably, the audible alerts and alarms are configured to sound differently according to 19 the severity or urgency associated with the message or issue. Alarms requiring immediate 20 attention sound different from less emergent alerts. Visual text describing the problem is 21 preferably displayed by one or more of the electronic computing devices. In an embodiment, an 22 alert sounds on a personal digital assistant when an infusion is nearing completion or is 23 completed. The personal digital assistant also displays the patient, location, infusion type, and 24 the time remaining before the infusion bag is empty. At all times the clinician can access, via 25 the personal digital assistant, the status of infusiorns and thus react accordingly. In an 26 embodiment, before visiting a patient room, the clinician can view the status of the infusions on 27 the personal digital assistant to determine whether another bag will be needed in the near future. 28 If another infusion bag is needed, the clinician can save time be taking the new bag on the first 29 visit, rather than realizing a new bag is needed after arriving in the patient room. Similarly, the 30 pharmacy can view the status, including time reniainitng, in order to schedule the mixing and 31 delivery of the next infusion bag. 32 If desired, and as will be appreciated by those having skill in the art, other alarms and 33 alerts related to the infusion pump can be made available on the electronic computing devices 34 1 remotely located from the infusion pump. Pertinent information can be displayed on the 2 electronic computing devices, thus saving the nurse time and steps in resolving the problem. As 3 indicated above, when a pump alarms or alerts, the clinician can view patient information, drug 4 order, and alarm or alert message on the personal digital assistant, and gather necessary items 5 before going to the patient room to physically correct the alarm or alert condition. 6 In an embodiment, the infusion system 210 provides configurable time-based alerts for 7 reminding clinicians of scheduled infusion orders. As such, a tapering order to run NS at s 200ml/hr for two hours, then reduce to 50ml/hr, results in the infusion system 210 alerting the 9 nurse two hours after starting the infusion to reduce the rate. Further, late alerts are provided for 10 informing clinicians when scheduled infusions are past the time tolerance set by the facility. 11 Moreover, time-based protocols such as alerts for conducting pain assessments, such as after 12 starting an epidural morphine infusion, are generated. 13 Configurable aspects of the infusion system 210 also include the audible alerts emitted 14 by the electronic computing devices, such as personal digital assistants. Preferably, the audible is alerts can be configurable by the healthcare facility and withir1 specific units of the healthcare 16 facility to satisfy the unique environments within the healthcare facility. 17 As indicated previously, a plurality of visual alerts and messages can be displayed by the is electronic computing devices, such as personal digital assistants, for indicating the importance 19 or urgency of the message. Desirably, color, flashing, and bold text are display-messaging !0 options. Additionally, hyperlinks can be provided when messages are generated. Icons on the N displays can also be utilized and emergency messages can be configured to intempt the !2 handheld electronic device, or the like, to immediately alert the clinician. Further, escalation of 3 alarms/alerts is provided by the system 210. Alarms/alerts and the escalation thereof are 24 detailed infra. 25 As also indicated previously, the infusion system 210 allows a clinician to view all 26 infusions or assigned patients on the electronic computing device, such as a personal digital 27 assistant or the like, thus reducing time spent traveling to and from patient rooms. Moreover, 28 prescription information is displayed on the electronic computing device for verification of the 29 drug amount, diluents, dose, and rate of the infusion. Additionally. real time status of the 30 infusion is viewable for displaying milliliters per hour or the like, duration of the infusion, 31 volume infused, time remaining, and volume yet to be infused- As indicated previously, the 32 status of the infusion and flow rate history can be viewed from anywhere within the healthcare 33 facility via the electronic computing devices.

35 I As described in detail further herein, the infusion system 210 may calculate ordered 2 doses based on patient weight and display the appropriate rate to run the infusion. Messages are 3 generated if the infusion is set to run outside of the ordered dose. Moreover, pediatric dosing is 4 available and configured for pediatric units within the healthcare facility. 5 In an embodiment, the status of primary infusions and secondary infusions, such as 6 piggybacks, are displayed by the infusion system 210 on the electronic computing device, such 7 as a personal digital assistant. The clinician can check the volume left to infuse in a piggyback s at any time and a message is displayed when the piggyback is completed and the primary 9 infusion has resumed. In addition, messages are sent to the pharmacy to replenis11 stocks and 0 infusion orders. I If desired, the infusion system 210 allows for the healthcare facility to de-fine system 2 infusion limits for warning a clinician who programs an infusion to run outside of tlie set range. 3 The warning can be configured to allow clinicians to override the warning or prohibit overrides. 4 As will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art, prohibiting overrides for certain 5 infusions may prevent a patient from inadvertently receiving an overdose. 6 The infusion system 210 can also provide for displaying reference information pertinent 7 to the needs of each specialty unit within the healthcare facility. Drug information is viewable 8 on the electronic device, such as a personal digital assistant, in addition to specialty u-nit policies 9 and procedures. Protocols and standard orders can be configured to provide messages based on 0 patient condition. In an embodiment, for example, heparin infusion protocols are configured to i alert the clinician of a new blood glucose result and to titrate the insulin infusion by a 2 determined number of milliliters based on the sliding scale protocol. z3 Moreover, through configured rules, messages or notifications are sent to the nurse 24 regarding particular infusions as they relate to the patient's condition. In an embodiment, for 25 example, a message is generated when a patient receiving a nephrotoxic infusion has an increase 26 in BUN and Creatinine. Additionally, protocols can be configured to generate messages when 27 certain infusions are titrated. In an embodiment, for example, a message to document a blood 28 pressure can be configured when a clinician titrates a dopamine infusion. Furthermore. 29 hemodynamic monitoring parameters can be linked to infusions to generate messages. 30 As indicated previously, new infusion orders can be configured to provide messages 31 alerting the clinician of a new order. Messages can be configured as audible and visual such as 32 textual, color alerts, flashing hyperlinks, icons, and the like. Stat orders and discontirtue orders 3 can be configured as a high priority message to di fferentiate them from non-urgent messages.

36 1 Preferably, educational messages are generated and configured by the healthcare facility. 2 In an embodiment, for example, an infusion requiring a specific tubing set (e.g., non-PVC) 3 results in the display of a message informing the clinician. In a further embodiment, for 4 example, an infusion requiring central venous access results in the display of a warning not to 5 infuse in the peripheral vein. 6 In an embodiment, scheduling messages are generated and displayed on one or more 7 electronic computing devices to remind users to complete the next task. Alerts to change 8 infusion rates at scheduled times are sent to the electronic computing devices, such as in the 9 case of a tapering infusion. Additionally, protocols with time-based alerts can be configured to such as, for example, blood infusion protocols. II Turning again to FIGURE 1, and as indicated above, patient care system 100 allows 12 medication ordering, dispensing, and administration to take place at the patient's bedside. 13 Physicians can order simple and complex prescriptions, intravenous therapy and total parenteral 14 nutrition therapy (TPN) using a wireless handheld device. Infusion system 210 checks for drug is interactions and other possible errors as well as correct dosage. Infusion system 210 then 16 transmits this data in real-time to the patient care facility or local pharmacy, hospital nursing 17 unit, home care unit, and/or clinic. 18 The clinician can access a medical records database using the handheld device. In an 19 embodiment, the clinician scans the bar-coded medication and the patient's bar-coded bracelet 20 to confirm the presence of the right medication, dosage, and time before administering any 21 drugs. The infusion system 210 updates medical and administrative records, thereby eliminating !2 most, if not all, time-consuming paperwork. Thus, infusion system 210 can reduce costs and 23 improve efficiency while possibly saving lives. Patient care system 100 can include access 24 controlled mobile and stationary medication and supply depots, including electronic patient 25 medical records and computerized prescribing, providing complete preparation and inventory 26 management from the point of care to the pharmacy. 27 As mentioned previously, FIGURE 1 is a graphical representation of patient care system 28 100. The patient care system 100 includes a pharmacy computer 104, a central system 108, and 29 a treatment location 106, linked by a network 102. In an embodiment, the pharmacy computer 30 104 includes a processing unit 104a, a keyboard 104b, a video display 104c, a printer 104d. a 31 bar code reader 104e, and a mouse 104f. Although not shown in FIGURE 1, the patient care 32 system 100 can also include subsystems for hospital administration, nursing stations, a clinical 33 information subsystem, a hospital information subsystem, an Admissions Discharge and 37 j Transfer (ADT) subsystem, a billing subsystem, and/or other subsystems typically included in 2 conventional patient care systems. Such systems are typically interfaced with the second central 3 server 108a. 4 In an embodiment, the central system 108 includes a central servicing computer 108a, a 5 database 108b, a video display 108c, input/output components, and other conventional hardware 6 components known to those having ordinary skill in the art. The network 102 preferably 7 includes a cable communication system 110 portion and a wireless communication system s portion. The cable communication system 110 can be, but is not limited to, an Ethernet cabling 9 system, and a thin net system. 10 In an embodiment, the treatment location 106 can include a treatment bed 106a, an i I infusion pump 120, and medical treatment cart 132. In FIGURE 1, a clinician 116 and a patient [2 112 are shown in the treatment location 106. Medication 124 can be of a type that is 13 administered using an infusion pump 120 or other medical device. Medication 124 can also be 14 of a type that is administered without using a medical device. The medication can be stored in 15 medication storage areas 132a of medical treatment cart 132. The clinician 116 uses a digital 16 assistant 118 in the process of administering medication 124 to the patient 112. 7 In an embodiment, the clinician 116 uses the digital assistant 118 in the course of 18 treating a patient 112 to communicate with the cable communication system 110 of the network 9 102 via a first wireless communication path 126. The infusion pump 120 has the ability to o communicate with the cable communication system 110 via a second wireless communication n path 128. The medication cart 132 also has the ability to communicate via a wireless !2 communication path (not shown in FIGURE 1). A wireless transceiver 114 interfaces with the 23 cable communication system 110. The wireless communication system portion of the network 24 can employ technology such as, but not limited to, known to those having ordinary skill in the 25 art such as IEEE 802.l lb "Wireless Ethernet," a local area network, wireless local area 26 networks, a network having a tree topography. a network having a ring topography, wireless 27 internet point of presence systems, an Ethemet, the Internet, radio communications, infrared. 28 fiber optic, and telephone. Though shown in FIGURE 1 as a wireless communication system, 29 the communication paths can alternatively be hardwired communication paths. 30 In the patient care system 100, a physician can order medication 124 for patient 112. In 31 an embodiment, the order can originate with a clinician 116 at the treatment location 106. The 32 physician and/or clinician 116 can use a computerized physician order entry system (CPOE), the 33 medical cart 132., or a like device, to order the medication 124 for the patient 112. Those having 38 1 ordinary skill in the art are familiar with conventional computerized physician order entry 2 systems. Despite its name, any clinician 116 can use the computerized physician order entry 3 system. If the medication 124 is efficient to administer through infusion pump 120, the infusion 4 order includes information for generating operating parameters for the infusion pump 120. The 5 operating parameters are the information and/or instruction set necessary to program infusion 6 pump 120 to operate in accordance with the infusion order. 7 The infusion order can be entered in a variety of locations including the pharmacy, the 8 nursing center, the nursing floor, and treatment location 106. When the order is entered in the 9 pharmacy, it can be entered in the pharmacy computer 104 via input/output devices such as the o keyboard 104b, the mouse 104f, a touch screen display, the CPOE system and/or the medical I treatment cart 132. The processing unit 104a is able to transform a manually entered order into 2 computer-readable data. Devices such as the CPOE can transform an order into computer 3 readable data prior to introduction to the processing unit 104a. The operating parameters are 4 then printed in a bar code format by the printer 104d on a medication label 124a. The 5 medication label 124a is then affixed to a medication 124 container. Next, the medication 124 6 container is transported to the treatment location 106. The medication 124 can then be 7 administered to the patient 112 in a variety of ways known in the art including orally and 8 through an infusion pump 120. If the medication 124 is administered orally, the clinician 116 9 can communicate via the digital assistant 118 and/or the medical carl 132. The medical cart 132 0 is computerized and generally has a keyboard (not shown), a display 132b, and other .1 input/output devices such as a bar code scanner (not shown). .2 As will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art, the infusion bag can also 23 be premixed, wherein a non-patient specific bar code is attached to the bag identifying the 24 medication 124. Moreover, the infusion bag can be mixed in the pharmacy or on the floor, 25 wherein a patient specific bar code is attached to the bag that identifies the medication 124 and, 26 if desired, when the medication is to be administered to the patient. 27 At the treatment location, the medication 124 can be mounted on the infusion pump 120 28 with an intravenous (IV) line 130 running from the infusion pump 120 to the patient 112. The 29 infusion pump 120 can include a pumping unit 120a, a keypad 120b, a display 120c, an infusion 30 pump ID 120d, and an antenna 120e. Prior art infusion pumps can be provided with a wireless 31 adaptor (not shown) in order to fully implement the system 100. The wireless adaptor can have 32 its own battery if necessary to avoid reducing the battery life of prior art infusion pumps. The 33 wireless adaptor can also use intelligent data management such as, but not limited to, store-and- 39 1 fonvard data management and data compression to minimize power consumption and network 2 traffic. The wireless adaptor can also include the ability to communicate with the digital 3 assistant 118 even when the network 102 is not functioning. 4 In an embodiment, the patient care system 100 can include a variety of identifiers such s as, but not limited to, personnel, equipment, and medication identifiers. In FIGURE 1, the 6 clinician 116 can have a clinician badge 116a identifier, the patient 112 can have a wristband 7 1 12a identifier, the infusion pump 120 can have an infusion pump ID 120d identifier, and the s medication 124 can have a medication label 124a identifier. Clinician badge 116a, wristband 9 1 12a, infusion pump ID 120d, and medication label 124a include information to identify the o personnel, equipment, or medication they are associated with. The identifiers can also have ii additional information. For example, the medication label 124a can include information .2 regarding the intended recipient of the medication 124, operating parameters for infusion pump 13 120, and information regarding the lot number and expiration of medication 124. The 14 information included in the identifiers can be printed, but is preferably in a device readable 15 format such as, but not limited to, an optical-readable device format such as a bar code, a radio 16 frequency (RF) device-readable format such as an RFID, an iButton, a smart card, and a laser 7 readable format. The digital assistant 11 8 can include a display I l8a and have the ability to s read the identifiers, including biometric infonnation such as a fingerprint. 9 The wristband I]2a is typically placed on the patient 112 as the patient 112 enters a !0 medical care facility. The wristband 112a includes a patient identifier. The patient identifier i can include printed information to identify the patient and additional information such as a 12 treating physician's name(s). The patient identifier for patient 112 can include information such 23 as, but not limited to, the patient's name, age, social security number, the patient's blood type, 24 address, allergies, a hospital ID number, and the name of a patient's relative. In an embodiment, 25 the patient identifier can contain a unique reference code or password for the patient, which is 26 also stored in the central database for cross referencing, if needed or desired. 27 System Hardware/Software Architecture of the System 28 FIGURE 2 is a block diagram of a computer 200 representative of the pharmacy 29 computer 104, the central system 108, the CPOE, the digital assistant 118 of FIGURE 1, and/or 30 a computer included in any number of other subsystems that communicate via the network 102 31 such as the medication treatment cart 132. As indicated previously, the computer 200 includes 32 an infusion system 210, or a portion of infusion system 210, for use within the patient care 33 system 100. The infusion system as described in reference to FIGURE 2 is preferably a 40 1 computer program. However, the infusion system can be practiced in whole or in part as a 2 method and system other than as a computer program. 3 A critical concern in the ait is that the right medication is administered to the right 4 patient. Therefore, infusion system 210 includes features to assist in. assuring that the right 5 medication is administered to the right patient in an efficient manner. Infusion system 210 can 6 be implemented in software, firmware, hardware, or a combination thereof In one mode, 7 infusion system 210 is implemented in software, as an executable program, and is executed by 8 one or more special or general purpose digital computer(s), such as a personal computer (PC; 9 IBM-compatible, Apple-compatible, or otherwise), personal digital assistant, workstation, o minicomputer, or mainframe computer. An example of a general-purpose computer that can ii implement the infusion system 210 is shown in FIGURE 2. The infusion system 210 can reside 2 in, or have various portions residing in, any computer such as, but not limited to, pharmacy 3 computer 104, central system 108, medication treatment cart 132, and digital assistant 118. 4 Therefore, the computer 200 of FIGURE 2 is representative of any computer in which the 5 infusion system 210 resides or partially resides. 6 Generally, in terms of hardware architecture, as shown in FIGURE 2, the computer 200 7 includes a processor 202, memory 204, and one or more input and/or output (I/O) devices 206 8 (or peripherals) that are communicatively coupled via a local interface 208. The local interface 9 208 can be, for example, but not limited to, one or more buses or other wired or wireless o connections, as is known in the art. The local interface 208 can have additional elements, which I are omitted for simplicity, such as controllers, buffers (caches), drivers, repeaters, and receivers, 2 to enable communications. Further, the local interface can include address, control, and/or data -3 connections to enable appropriate communications among the other computer components. 24 Processor 202 is a hardware device for executing software, particularly software stored 5 in memory 204. Processor 202 can be any custom made or commercially available processor, a 6 central processing unit (CPU). an auxiliary processor among several processors associated with 7 the computer 200, a semiconductor-based microprocessor (in the form of a microchip or chip 8 set), a macroprocessor, or generally any device for executing software instructions. Examples 9 of suitable commercially available microprocessors are as follows: a PA-RISC series o microprocessor from Hewlett-Packard Company, an 80x86 or Pentium series microprocessor i from Intel Corporation, a PowerPC microprocessor from IBM, a Sparc microprocessor from Sun 2 Microsystems, Inc., or a 68xxx series microprocessor from Motorola Corporation. Processor 41 1 202 can also represent a distributed processing architecture such as, but not limited to, SQL, 2 Smalltalk, APL. KLisp, Snobol, Developer 200, MUMPS/Magic. 3 Memory 204 can include any one or a combination of volatile memory elements (e.g., 4 random access memory (RAM, such as DRAM, SRAM, SDRAM, etc.)) and nonvolatile 5 memory elements (e.g., ROM, hard drive, tape, CDROM, etc.). Moreover, memory 204 can 6 incorporate electronic, magnetic, optical, and/or other types of storage media. Memory 204 can 7 have a distributed architecture where various components are situated remote from one another, 8 but are still accessed by processor 202. 9 The software in memory 204 can include one or more separate programs. The separate 0 programs comprise ordered listings of executable instructions for implementing logical 1 functions. In FIGURE 2, the software in memory 204 includes the infusion system 210 in 2 accordance with the present embodiment and a suitable operating system (0/S) 212. A non 3 exhaustive list of exarnples of suitable commercially available operating systems 212 is as 4 follows: (a) a Windows operating system available from Microsoft Corporation; (b) a Netware 5 operating system available from Novell, Inc.; (c) a Macintosh operating system available from 6 Apple Computer, Inc.; (d) a UNIX operating system, which is available for purchase from many 7 vendors, such as the Hewlett-Packard Company, Sun Microsystems, Inc., and AT&T 8 Corporation; (e) a LINUX operating system, which is freeware that is readily available on the 9 Internet; (1) a real time VxWorks operating system from WindRiver Systems, Inc.; or (g) an 0 appliance-based operating system, such as that implemented in handheld computers or personal I digital assistants (PDAs) (e.g., PalmOS available from Palm Computing, Inc., and Windows CE 2 available from Microsoft Corporation). Operating system 212 essentially controls the execution z3 of other computer programs, such as infusion system 210, and provides scheduling, input-output 24 control, file and data management, memory management, and communication control and 25 related services. 26 Infusion system 2 10 can be a source program, executable program (object code), script, 27 or any other entity comprising a set of instructions to be performed. When a source program, 28 the program is translated via a compiler, assembler, interpreter, or the like, that may or may not 29 be included within the memory 204, so as to operate properly in connection with the O/S 212. 30 Furthermore, the infusion system 210 can be written as (a) an object-oriented programming 31 language, which has classes of data and methods, or (b) a procedural programming language, 32 which has routines, subroutines, and/or functions, for example, but not limited to, C, C+-, 3 Pascal, Basic, Fortran, Cobol, PerI, Java, and Ada. In one embodiment, the system program 210 42 1 is written in C++. In other embodiments, the infusion system 210 is created using Power 2 Builder. The 1/0 devices 206 can include input devices, for example, but not limited to, a 3 keyboard, mouse, scanner, microphone, touch screens, interfaces for various medical devices, 4 bar code readers, stylus, laser readers, radio-frequency device readers, etc. Furthermore, the 1/0 5 devices 206 can also include output devices, for example, but not limited to, a printer, bar code 6 printers, displays, etc. The /O devices 206 can further include devices that communicate as 7 both inputs and outputs, for instance, but not limited to, a modulator/demodulator (modem; for 8 accessing another device, system, or network), a radio frequency (RF) or other transceiver, a 9 telephonic interface, a bridge, a router, etc. 10 If the computer 200 is a PC, workstation, personal digital assistant, or the like, the II software in the memory 204 can further include a basic input output system (BIOS) (not shown 12 in FIGURE 2). The BIOS is a set of essential software routines that initialize and test hardware 13 at startup, start the O/S 212, and support the transfer of data among the hardware devices. The 14 BIOS is stored in ROM so that the BIOS can be executed when the computer 200 is activated, 15 When the computer 200 is in operation, processor 202 is configured to execute software 16 stored within memory 204, to communicate data to and from memory 204, and to generally 17 control operations of the computer 200 pursuant to the software. The infusion system 210 and 18 the O/S 212, in whole or in part, but typically the latter, are read by processor 202, perhaps 19 buffered within the processor 202, and then executed. 20 When the infusion system 210 is implemented in software, as is shown in FIGURE 2, 21 the infusion system 210 program can be stored on any computer-readable medium for use by or 22 in connection with any computer-related system or method. As used herein, a computer-readable 23 medium is an electronic, magnetic, optical, or other physical device or means that can contain or 24 storc a computer program for use by or in connection with a computer related system or method. 25 The infusion system 210 can be embodied in any computer-readablc medium for use by or in 26 connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer-based 27 system, processor-containing system, or other system that can fetch the instructions from the 28 instruction execution system, apparatus, or device and execute the instructions. In the context of 29 this document, a "computer-readable medium" can be any means that can store, communicate, 30 propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution 31 system., apparatus, or device. The computer-readable medium can be, for example, but not 32 limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, 33 apparatus, device, or propagation medium. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of 43 i the computer-readable medium would include the following: an electrical connection 2 (electronic) having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette (magnetic), a random access 3 memory (RAM) (electronic), a read-only memory (ROM) (electronic), an erasable 4 programmable read-only memory (EPROM, EEPROM, or Flash memory) (electronic), an 5 optical fiber (optical), and a portable compact disc read-only memory (CDROM) (optical). 6 Note that the computer-readable medium could even be paper or another suitable medium upon 7 which the program is printed, as the program can be electronically captured via, for instance, 8 optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted or otherwise 9 processed in a suitable manner ifnecessary, and then stored in a computer memory. 10 In another embodiment, where the infusion system 210 is implemented in hardware, the II infusion system 210 can be implemented with any, or a combination of, the following 12 technologies, that are each well known in the art: a discrete logic circuit(s) having logic gates 13 for implementing logic functions upon data signals, an application specific integrated circuit 14 (ASIC) having appropriate combinational logic gates, a programmable gate array(s) (PGA), a 15 field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc. 16 Any process descriptions or blocks in figures, such as FIGURES 3-11, are to be 17 understood as representing modules, segments, or portions of hardware, software, or the like, 18 that can include one or more executable instructions for implementing specific logical functions 19 or steps in the process, and alternate implementations are included within the scope of the 20 embodiments in which functions can be executed out of order from that shown or discussed, 21 including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the functionality 22 involved, as would be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art. 23 Patient Care System Components 24 FIGURE 4 is a first block diagram showing functional components of the patient care 25 system 100 of FIGURE 1. As shown in FIGURE 4, the patient care system 100 can be practiced 26 as a modular system where the modules represent various functions of the patient care system, 27 including the infusion system 210 (FIGURE 2). The flexibility of the patient care system 100 28 and the infusion system can be enhanced when the systems are practiced as modular systems. 29 The modules of the infusion system 210 (FIGURE 2) can be included in various portions of the 30 patient care system 100. In an embodiment, the patient care system functional components can 3 i include, inter alia, a medication management module 302, a prescription generation module 304, 32 a prescription activation module 306, and a prescription authorization module 308.

44 1 The medication management module 302 can coordinate the functions of the other 2 modules in the patient care system 100 that are involved in the administration of medical 3 treatment. The medication management module 302 generally coordinates with other portions 4 of the patient care system 100. The medication management rnodule 302 can include sub 5 modules for operating and/or interfacing with a CPOE, for operating and/or communicating 6 with point-of-care modules, and for operating and/or communicating with medical treatment 7 comparison modules. In FIGURE 4, an admissions, discharge, and transfer (ADT) interface s 310, a billing interface 312, a lab interface 314, and a pharmacy interface 316 are shown. The 9 ADT interface 310 is used to capture information such as the patient's demographics, size, io weight, and allergies. In a preferred embodiment, the ADT system utilizes an HL7 type of i i interface to transfer events that are entered into the hospital's ADT system into the second 12 central server 108a. HL7 is a protocol for formatting, transmitting and receiving data in a 13 healthcare environment. It provides interoperability between healthcare infonnation systems 14 through a messaging standard that enables disparate healthcare applications, such as a variety of is different third-party applications, to exchange key sets of clinical and administrative data. 16 Typically, in the present system 100, the HL7 ADT interface consists of three applications: the 17 HL7 ADT server, the HL7 ADT client, and the HL7 ADT viewer. The pharmacy interface 316 i s imports orders from the pharmacy. The pharmacy interface 316 can be an HL7-type of interface 19 that interfaces with other systems for entering orders, such as a CPOE. This ability reduces the 20 necessity for entering data into the patient care system 100 more than once. The pharmacy 21 interface 316 can be configured to communicate with commercially available third-party 22 systems such as, but not limited to Cemer, HBOC. Pyxis, Meditech, SMS, Phamous, and the 23 like. A web services interface can provide near real-time coordination between Point of Care 24 medication management systems supporting oral medication dosing such as McKesson 25 AdninRx, Pyxis Verif5, etc. and infusion pump related medication :management. Various other 26 interfaces are also known to those having ordinary skill in the art. but are not shown in FIGURE 27 4. 28 The medication management module 302 can have additional features such as the ability 29 to check for adverse reactions due to drug-to-drug incoripatibility, duplicate drug 30 administration, drug allergies, drug dosage limitations, drug frequency limitations, drug duration 31 limitations, and drug disease contraindications. Food and alcohol interactions can also be noted. 32 Drug limitations can include limitations such as, but not limited to, limitations associated with 33 adults, children, infants, newborns, premature births, geriatric adults. age groupings, weight 45 1 groupings, height groupings, and body surface area. In an embodiment, the medication 2 management m.odule 302 prevents the entry of the same prescription for the same patient from 3 two different sources within the patient care system 100. 4 The medication management module 302 can also include the ability to generate reports. 5 The reports include, but are not limited to, end-of-shift, titration information, patient event lists, 6 infusion history, pump performance history, pump location history, and pump maintenance 7 history. The end-of shift report can include the pump channel, start time, end time, primary 8 infusion, piggyback infusion, medication, dose, rate, pump status, volume infused, volume 9 remaining, time remaining, and the last time cleared. The infusion history report includes 10 medications and volume infused. II The medication management module 302 can also include a medical equipment status 12 database. The medical equipment status database includes data indicating the location of a 13 medical device 332 within the patient care system 100. The medical equipment status database 14 can also include data indicating the past performance of a medical device 332. The medical 15 equipment status database can also include data indicating the maintenance schedule and/or 16 history of a medical device 332. 17 Infusion prescriptions or orders are entered in prescription entry 324. Such orders can 18 include prescriptions such as, but not limited to, single dose infusions, intermittent infusions, 19 continuous infusions, sequencing, titrating, and alternating types. Infusion prescriptions can 20 also include total parenteral nutritional admixtures (TPN), chemotherapy continuous infusion, 21 piggybacks, large volume parenterals, and other infusion prescriptions. The patient care system 22 100 can function without end dates for orders. The patient care system 100 uses a continuous 23 schedule generator that looks ahead a predefined time period and generates a schedule for 24 admixture filling for the time period. The predefined time period can be defined at the patient 25 care system 100 level or at subsystem levels such as the clinical discipline level and an 26 organizational level. The predefined time periods can be adjustable by the clinician 116 27 entering the order. The schedule can be automatically extendable as long as the order is active 28 in the patient care system 100. 29 The prescription generation module 304 generates hard prescriptions arid electronic (E 30 copy) prescriptions. Hard prescriptions are generally produced in triplicate in medical facilities. 31 A first hard copy 318 is generally sent to the pharmacy, a second hard copy 320 is generally 32 kept for the patient's records, and a third hard copy 322 is sent to treatment location 106. An 33 electronic prescription is sent to the medication management module 302.

46 1 Prescription generation module 304 can include confirming operating parameters. The 2 operating parameters can be based on information from prescription entry module 324. 3 Prescription generation 304 can occur anywhere in the patient care system 100 such as, but not 4 limited to, the pharmacy, the treatment location 106, and a nursing center. 5 A computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system or the like can be employed to 6 carry out some or all of the functions of the prescription generation module 304. Clinicians 116 7 can enter data in a variety of manners such as, but not limited to, using a tablet wireless 3 computer, personal digital assistant, treatment cart 132, and a workstation. The medication 9 management module 302 can interface with niore than one prescription generation module 304. 0 The medication management module can receive orders from anywhere within the patient care I system 100. 2 The pharmacy computer 104 is able to access the electronic copy from the medication 3 management module 302. The prescription activation module 306 is a computer-assisted 4 system for coordinating the filling and labeling of prescriptions. The filling of the prescription 5 and the creation or location of medication 124 from stock is handled by the prescription 6 activation module 306. bi an embodiment, the filling process results in the creation of the 7 medication label 124a, as opposed to the prescription activation process. 8 The patient care system 100 can bypass the prescription activation module 306. This can 9 occur if the ordering clinician 116, such as the patient's physician, has the authority to D immediately activate an order. If the order is immediately activated, the medication I management module 302 can go directly to filling and, thus, the prescription labeling module 2 326. 23 In block 326, the patient care system 100 prints the medication label 124a. The 4 prescription can be printed remotely and will often be printed by the pharmacy printer 104d. 5 After block 326, the patient care system goes to block 328. In block 328, the medication label 16 124a is attached to the medication 124. The phannacist generally provides a visual verification 17 334 that the medication label 124a matches the first hard copy 318 of the prescription. FIGURE .8 4 shows that a visual verification 334 is also associated with prescription authorization module 9 308. The medication 124 can then be transported from the pharmacy to the treatment location 0 106. A portable medical treatment cart 132 can be used for a portion of the route from the I pharmacy to the treatment location 106. 2 The medication label 124a can include information for preparing the infusion bag. If not 3 generated within patient care system 100, medication label 124a can be provided by a bulk 47 1 medication supplier. If provided by a bulk medication. supplier, the patient care system 100 2 gathers the information from the medication label 124a. In addition, the patient care system 100 3 can add information, such as a patient identifier, to the medication label 124a. 4 The medication labeling module 328 places the medication label 124a on the medication 5 124. This can be accomplished manually. This can also be accomplished using an automatic 6 prescription filling and packaging system (not shown). If an automatic filling and packaging 7 system is used, medication labeling module 328 provides data for coordination of the labeling of 8 the medication 124 to the filling and packaging system. 9 At the treatment location 106, the clinician 116 uses a wireless device 330, such as D digital assistant 118 and/or medical treatment cart 132, to verify and administer medication 124 1 to the patient 112. Wireless device 330 communicates with the medication management module 2 302 via a communication path, such as first communication path 126. 3 Clinician 116 identifies him/herself by scanning badge 116a, identifies the patient 112 4 by scanning wristband 112a, identifies the medication 124 by scanning medication label 124a, 5 and identifies the medical device 332, such as infusion pump 120, by scanning label 120d. 5 Clinician 116 can also identify him/herself by providing a fingerprint and/or password as 7 described above and shown in the login screen 1903 of FIGURE 19. The medical device 332 3 can be a medical device capable of two-way communicati on with the medication management module 302. Alternatively, the medical device 332 can only be capable of providing information to the medication management module 302. 'The infusion system 210 assists the I clinician 116 in administering and verifying the medical treatment. In an alternate embodiment, z the infusion system 210 can include downloading of operating parameters to the medical device 3 332. Clinician 116 can provide a visual verification to confirn the third copy 322 and/or the 4 MAR matches the labeled medication 124. Scanner 338 cain be used to enter machine readable 5 information from the third copy 322 to the wireless device 330 and the medical device 332. 6 The patient care system 100 can make adjustments and modifications to infusion orders. 7 Among other modules that can include the ability to make infusion adjustments are prescription 8 entry 324, prescription activation 306, prescription authorization 308, and prescription 9 modification module 336. Clinician 116 accesses the prescription modification module 336 in 0 order to make adjustments to an order. The clinician 116 can access the prescription I modification module 336 throughout the patient care systern 100. However, one very useful 2 location for clinician 116 to access the prescription modification module 336 is at treatment 3 location 106.

48 1 In prescription authorization module 308, the patient care system 100 determines 2 whether the clinician 116 has the authority to independently modify an infusion order. The 3 clinician 116 can be recognized by the patient care system 100 as having the authority to 4 independently modify certain portions of the order. If the clinician 116 does not have the 5 authority to independently modify the order, a pharmacist or physician can be requested to 6 approve the modification entered by the clinician 116. 7 In one implementation of patient care system 100, an order is entered in pharmacy S computer 104. The order includes a first patient identifier anrd an operating parameter. The 9 pharmacy computer 104 generates a medication label 124a that is affixed to the medication bag 10 or container. The medication 124 is sent to a treatment location 106. At treatment location 106, iI clinician 116 reads the clinician's badge 116a, patient's wristband 112a, and medication label 12 124a with a digital assistant 118. The digital assistant 118 reports, based on a determination 3 made by the central system 108, whether medication label 124a and wristband 112a correspond 14 to the same patient 112. The system 100 then sends the medication identifier to the pharmacy [5 computer 104. The pharmacy computer 104 confirms the medication label 124a, identifies the [6 same patient as the order, and sends the operating parameter to an infusion pump. The operating 17 parameter can be sent directly to the infusion pump 120. The operating parameter is then used [s to program the infusion pump to administer the medication 124 tc the patient 112. l9 FIGURE 5 is an exemplar block diagram of a computer screen 400 that is useful in t0 implementing various functions of the infusion system 210 (FIGURE 2). In addition to other i functions, the computer screen 400 can be used to enter new infusion orders, to modify existing 2 infusion orders, and to stop infusion orders. Computer screen 400 preferably includes a 23 processing area 402, search areas 404, a medication information area 406, a titration/tapering 24 criteria area 408, an instruction and note area 410, and a projected solution ingredient area 412. 25 Infusion medication order types include single dose, intermittent, continuous, sequencing, and 26 alternating. Computer screen 400 can be used with digital assistant 118, pharmacy computer 27 104, infusion pump 120, a CPOE system, and medical treatment cart 132. Computer screen 400 28 is generally designed to have the look-and-feel of clinician accessible computer screens 29 throughout the patient care system 100 of FIGURE 1. The functions of computer screen 400 are 30 partially accomplished with database linkage techniques familiar -to those having ordinary skill 31 in the art such as, but not limited to, hyperlinks, definition boxes, and dropdown menus. 32 The processing area 402 includes the ability to trigger the creation of an infusion order. a 33 save of an infusion order, the modification of an infusion order, and a cancellation of an infusion 49 i order. Clinician 116 can customize the computer screen 400 to provide the clinician's 116 2 preferred order entry procedures. The processing area 402 includes a status indicator for orders. 3 The processing area 402 also includes an area for indicating whether a PRN order ("as required" 4 or "when needed" order) can be placed by clinician 116. The processing area 402 further 5 includes the ability to display and adjust medical device 332 operating parameoters, infusion 6 order route, infusion line, infusion administration site, infusion order start time, infusion 7 medication order type, infusion flow rate tolerance, infusion flow rate, infusion duration and 8 area of preparation (such as pharmacy or a remote site). The processing area 402 can also 9 include an area for linking medical orders to other medical orders, or associated clinical to monitoring, such as, linking a physician's infusion order to another medical order entered by II another clinician 116. The processing area 402 can include a trigger for displaying data in other 12 areas of the computer screen 400 such as, but not limited to, the projected solutions area 412. 13 Search areas 404 allow for searching for medications, solutions and/or additives for 14 infusion orders. Default diluents can be provided for orders. If a default dosage for a 5 medication is defined in the patient care system 100, the default dosage automatically appears 6 with the search result that includes the medication. A search from search area 404 can result in 7 the display of the medication name, the route of administration, the cost, the package size, the 8 dosage form, the generic name, whether the medication is a narcotic, whether the medication is 9 controlled, whether formulary, and whether the medication is manufactured. !0 Medication information area 406 can be used to define infusion order additives and A solutions. Medication information area 406 can include separate additive areas and solution .2 areas. The solution area can include a label, "Solution/Diluents." The patient care system 100 23 may use a medication 124 database, a solutions database, and an additive database to populate 24 the medication information area 406 with medications 124, solutions, and additives. Substances 25 identified in one database may also be identified in other databases. The databases may be 26 linked to provide default values for combinations of the medications 124 and solutioras. 27 Titration/tapering criteria area 408 generally applies to continuous infusion orders. 28 Titration defines certain parameters of an order such as dosage and/or flow rate. Do se and flow 29 rate can be entered as an absolute. Also, mathematical symbols such as, but not limited to, 30 greater than ">," less than "<," and equal "=," can be used alone or in combinati on to enter 31 information in titration/tapering criteria area 408. A calendar can also be used to center data in 32 titration/tapering criteria area 408. Dosage and flow rate can also be entered as an acceptable 33 range. Titration/tapering criteria area 408 can be hidden when non-continuous infusion orders 50 i are entered and/or modified. The titration criteria can include values of various parameters 2 related to patient condition such as, but not limited to, various lab results, vital signs, ability to 3 take fluids orally, fluid input and output, and the like. 4 Instruction and note area 410 includes the ability to save information such as physician 5 notes regarding a patient 112 and/or an infusion order. The instruction and note area 410 can 6 include a display and lookup area for identifying clinicians 116 that are responsible for the 7 patient 112, such as the patient's physician. 8 The projected solutions area 412 displays solution schedules and related ingredients 9 based on the current state of the order being processed for patient 112. The time pe-riod o projected can be a patient care system 100 default. The time period can also be adjustable by i the clinician 116. The projected solutions area 412 can include an adjustable display indicating 2 the time period projected by the patient care system 100. The data displayed in the projected 3 solutions area 412 is generally saved when an order save is triggered in the processing area 4-02. 4 The projected solutions area 412 can include the ability to look back over a period of time while 5 modifying a previously entered order. This allows the clinician 116 to view solutions that rriay 6 have already been prepared according to the unmodified infusion order. 7 Infusion System Components . 8 FIGURE 6 is a block diagram showing functional components of the infusion system 9 210 of FIGURE 2. The functional components include blocks for setting system parameters o 502, infusion order creation 504, infusion order preparation 506, medication administration 512, I infusion order niodi6cations 514, and messaging 520. FIGURE 6 also includes blocks for 2 pharmacy authorization 508, physician authorization 510, stop orders 516, and inventory axnd .3 billing 518. FIGURE 6 presents one description of the infusion system. However, FIGURE 6 24 does not define a required series of processes for implementing the infusion system. One of the 5 benefits of the infusion system is that a clinician 116 can access and enter information from a Z6 large number of locations, both physical and functional, within the patient care system 100. For 7 example, an infusion order can be created by a physician using a CPOE, by a pharmacist usirig S pharmacy computer 106, by a clinician 116 using digital assistant 118, and by a clinician usirig 9 medication treatment cart 132. Moreover, vitals, lab results, and other records of patients can be o checked from a large number of locations within the health care facility including, for instance, I the inpatient pharmacy. Accordingly, a user within the inpatient pharmacy 104 (FIGURE 1) cam 2 view, from a computing device 104c, the wards within the health care facility. Upon selection 3 of a ward by the user, a patient list is provided wherein the user can select a patient and 51 1 associated records for display on the computing device. Alternatively, the user can enter all or 2 part of the patient's name into the computing device, whereby the records associated with the 3 patient are provided by the computing device for selection by the user. Upon selection, the 4 record(s) is displayed. 5 In an embodiment, FIGURE 6 can be viewed as first preparing the patient care system 6 100 for receiving infusion orders - setting system parameters 502; second, creating the infusion 7 order - infusion order creation 504; third, preparing the infusion order - preparation 506; fourth, 8 authorizing the infusion order - pharmacy and physician authorization 508 and 510; fifth, 9 administering the infusion order - medication administration 512; sixth, accounting for and 10 replenishing the inventory used to prepare the infusion order and billing the patient for the 11 infusion order - inventory and billing 518; seventh, modifying the infusion order 12 modifications 514; and eighth, providing messages to various personnel and sub-systems 13 regarding the progress of the infusion order, infusion, messages for assisting in ensuring that the 14 right medication is efficiently prepared and provided to the right patient, in the right dose and at 15 the right time, or the like - messages 520. Modifications 514 can include stopping the order 16 stop order 516 - based on information provided by the transfer interface 310. 17 Setting system parameters 502 includes functional blocks that prepare the infusion 18 system 210 to create and process infusion orders. Setting system parameters 502 includes, but is 19 not limited to, setting tolerances 542, setting defaults 544, building databases 546, defining ?o functions 548, and determining system settings 550. Setting system parameters 502 is further !1 described below in reference to FIGURE 7. ?2 Infusion order creation 504 includes functional blocks used to create infusion orders. 23 Infusion order creation 504 includes functions similar to those described in reference to 24 prescription generation 304 (FIGURE 4). Infusion order creation 504 includes, but is not 25 limited to, entering information 560, calculations 562, checks 564. and overrides 566. Infusion 26 order creation is further described below in reference to FIGURE 8. The result of infusion order 27 creation is an infusion order 702 (FIGURE 8). Infusion order 702 generally includes an infusion 28 schedule 704 (FIGURE 8). 29 Infusion orders can require authorization as described in reference to block 308 30 (FIGURE 4). In FIGURE 6, prescription authorization by the pharmacist and proscription 31 authorization by the physician are considered separately in functional blocks for pharmacy 32 authorization 508 and physician authorization 510. Physician authorization 510 may not be 33 required if the infusion order is initiated by the physician. The infusion order generally requires 52 3 pharmacy authorization 508 and physician authorization 510 if the order is generated by a 2 clinician at the treatment location 106, other than the pharmacist or physician. However, if 3 medication 124 is required immediately, the infusion system 210 allows administering clinicians 4 to bypass prescription authorization 508 and physician authorization 510. In the case of 5 emergency orders or non-emergency orders for routine medications, the infusion system 210 can 6 determine there is no information stored in the patient care system 100 related to the medical 7 treatment the clinician 116 desires to administer to the patient 112. If the infusion system 100 8 recognizes the clinician 116 as having the authority to initiate the desired medical treatment, the 9 system 210 allows for the administration of the medical treatment without going to blocks 508 10 and 510. This authorization is then obtained following administration. 11 Infusion order preparation 506 can be accomplished in a number of locations throughout 12 the medical facility such as, but not limited to, the pharmacy, the nursing center, on the floor, 13 and the treatment location 106. Preparation 506 includes providing instructions for preparing 14 the medication 124 and minimizing the possibility of errors in medication preparation. 15 Medication administration 512 takes place at the treatment location 106. The infusion 16 system 210 is designed to make the administration of the order as efficient and accurate as 17 possible. The infusion system 210 provides the administrating clinician with the tools to 18 administer the right medication to the right patient in the right dose, with the right pump 19 settings, at the right time, and via the right route. Should an alert, alarm, reminder, or other o message be appropriate in assisting the clinician with the administration of the medication, the 2 I medication administration module provides a status information output to the messaging module !2 520. In response to the status information output, the messaging module 520 forwards a related 23 text message, audible indicator enable, or both, to one or more electronic computing devices. 24 As known by those having skill in the art, infusion orders are frequently modified. 25 Infusion system 210 provides modifications 514 to account for infusion order modifications. 26 Modification 514 includes modifications to infusion duration, flow rate. infusion site, and stop 27 orders 516. Modification 514 also includes the functional blocks required to implement infusion 28 order modifications. 29 The infusion system 210 can include patient care system wide 100 defined stop orders 30 516. Changes in patient status may generate messages 520 for appropriate action The infusion 31 system 210 coordinates with the transfer interface 310 to automatically stop orders 516 upon 32 discharge or death.

53 The system 100 includes inventory and billing module 518. Inventory and billing 518 2 allows the financial transactions associated with patient care to proceed with a minimum of 3 human intervention. The completion of medication administration 512 can trigger patient 4 billing through the billing interface 312. The billing interface can include an HL7 interface. If 5 patients are to be charged based on completion of infusion order preparation 506, the inventory 6 and billing system 210 includes a crediting process. The crediting process can be triggered 7 when infusion bags are returned to the pharmacy for disposal or re-entry into the pharmacy 8 inventory management system. 9 The infusion system 210 includes a messages module 520 for comnmunicating with o entities throughout the patient care system 100. In particular, the messages module 520 sends I text messages, audible indication enables, or both, to one or more electronic computing devices 2 within the patient care system 100. The messages are sent in response to a status information 3 output provided by the medication administration module or other infusion system modules 4 within the patient care system 100. The messages relate to the status information output and, as 5 such, provide alerts, alarms, reminders, or other messages appropriate in assisting the clinician 6 with medication administration. 7 For example, when a physician enters a new order, messaging appears in the pharmacy 8 to alert the pharmacists that an infusion order requires authorization. Likewise, when infusion 9 orders are appropriately authorized, the clinician 116 receives messaging on digital assistant I 18 D to alert the clinician 116 that the infusion order should be administered according to the infusion I schedule 704. Overrides 566 may generate messages 520 for the physician and/or the 2 pharmacy. The infusion system 100 can distinguish between system-wide and sub-system 23 overrides in detennining whether it is necessary to generate a message 520. Messaging 520 24 includes messages received and/or sent to the central system, the phannacy, the physician, 25 billing, and inventory. Z6 The system can present clinicians 116 with personal computer display views. The :7 personal computer display provides a view summarizing outstanding clinical problems for the 8 clinician's patients. The clinician 116 can quickly retrieve detailed information for the patients. :9 The system 100 can also produce an email or page to digital assistant 118, or other o communication device, when certain critical patient conditions prevail. I FIGURE 6 also depicts some of the communication paths that occur in patient care 2 system 100. The highlighted communication paths are presented for ease in describing the 3 infusion system 210. Those having ordinary skill in the art recognize that, when patient care 54 i system 100 is practiced on a network, the various functional blocks can communicate with each 2 other via the paths highlighted in FIGURE 6 and via alternate paths that are not shown in 3 FIGURE 6. Setting system parameters 502 includes communicating data related to the system 4 parameters to infusion order creation 504, via path 522, and/or receiving data from infusion 5 order creation 504 and providing data informing infusion order creation 504 of how the received 6 data relates to the system parameters. 7 Infusion orders can be passed directly, via path 524, to infusion preparation 506. 8 Infusion orders can also be passed to pharmacy authorization 508, via path 526 and/or to 9 physician authorization, via path 528, before being sent to preparation 506. Path 530 highlights o the delivery of the medication 124 from the preparation area to the treatment location 106. t Delivery can be accomplished using medication treatment cart 132. Paths 532, 534, 536, and 2 538 highlight that inventory and billing 518 transactions can be tied to a variety of other 3 functions such as, but not limited to, infusion order creation 504, preparation 506, medication 4 administration 512, and modifications 514. Paths 572, 574, and 576 highlight that a larger 5 number of functions and actors involved in patient care system 100 can generate and receive 6 information via messages 520. Path 582 highlights that system defaults 544 can be created 7 and/or modified by the pharmacist. And, path 580 highlights that information, such as infusion 8 orders, is available to a variety of functional units throughout the system 100. 9 FIGURE 7 is a block diagram showing functional components for the setting of system 0 parameters 502 of FIGURE 6. Setting system parameters 502 includes, but is not limited to, I setting tolerances 542, setting defaults 544, building databases 546, defining functions 548, and 2 determining system settings 550. Tolerances 542 include tolerances such as, but not limited to, 23 net medication tolerances 542a, flow rate tolerances 542b, administration time tolerances 542c, 24 administration system duration 542d, medication duration tolerances 542e, and site change 25 tolerances 542f. The infusion system 210 can also include separate tolerances for order entry 26 and modifications from the ordered tolerances. For example, separate tolerances can be 27 identified such as, but not limited to, an administration system duration 542d, an order entry 28 maximum infusion duration override availability setting, and an administration maximum 29 infusion duration override availability setting. 30 A net medication tolerance 542a is a maximum concentration of a medication that is safe 31 to administer to a patient during a given period of time. The infusion system 210 associates the 2 net medication tolerances with medications. Net medication tolerances 542a can be defined in 3 medication identification files in a medication database. During infusion order creation 504, the 55 1 infusion system 210 can determine the flow rate 560e, the number of infusion bags required < 2 562a for a specified period of time, the concentration of the primary ingredient in each infusion 3 bag, the time period over which each infusion bag is to be administered, and the total volume of 4 each infusion bag. Flow rates can be manually entered or adjusted by altering the final 5 concentration or the duration of each infusion bag. In an embodiment, the infusion system 210 6 performs a net concentration check 564a (FIGURE 8) to ensure the maximum concentration of 7 the medication is not exceeded. However, if at any time while a clinician 116 is modifying the 8 flow rate by adjusting the final concentration resulting in the final concentration of a solution 9 exceeding the maximum concentration of the medication, the infusion system 210 sends a 0 message 520 to the administering clinician. The administering clinician can be authorized to I override the net medication tolerance 542a. The infusion system 210 can require the clinician 2 116 to provide a reason for the override. 3 Infusion system 210 can include adjustable flow rate tolerances 542b and flow rate 4 adjustment tolerances for administration. Flow rate tolerances 542b are optionally defined for 5 all organizational levels of the patient care system 100. The tolerances 542b can be for the 6 entire patient care system 100, or for sub-systems of the patient care system 100. For example, 7 different flow rate tolerances 542b can apply to sub-systems such as, but not limited to, 8 neonatal, pediatric, psychiatric, specific nursing units, and for specific patients. The flow rate 9 tolerances 542b can be specified relative to the original ordered flow rate or relative to the o immediately preceding flow rate. The clinician 116 can also specify a flow rate tolerance 1 specific to a particular order. 2 The infusion system 210 can include a pre-defined indication of whether the 23 administering clinician 116 is permitted to override the flow rate tolerance 542b without 24 requiring a new order, This indication can apply to the entire patient care system 100, a sub 25 system, or an individual clinician 116. 26 The maximum infusion duration 542d can be separately definable for the various 27 portions of the patient care system 100. The maximum infusion duration 542d can also be 2S specific to a particular medication 124. A maximum infusion duration override 566 (FIGURE 29 8) can be provided if it is permissible to override the maximum infusion duration 542d at the 30 time of order entry. An administration maximum infusion duration override can be provided to 1 set whether it is permissible to override the maximum infusion duration 542d at the time of 2 administration and which group of users is allowed to do so. If it is permissible to override 56 during order entry and/or administration, the infusion system 210 can define a subset of the clinicians 116 that have the authority to override the maximum infusion duration 542d. Defaults 544 include defaults such as, but not limited to, medication diluents defaults 544a, diluents quantity defaults 544b, dose defaults 544c, and units of measure defaults 544d. Units of measurement (UOM) defaults 544d include the ability to specify the units of measurement that are most suitable for different portions of the patient care system 100. For example, medication can be measured in different units by physicians, administering clinicians, pharmacists, financial personnel, and medication screeners. The physician's UOM is generally a measurable value such as "mmol," "mEq," "ml," and/or "mg," as opposed to "vial" and/or "puff." The physician's UOM is used for tasks such as ordering and entering information 560. The administering clinician's UOM is generally a value that reflects the UOM the medication will be administered in, such as "puff," "tbsp," and "tab." The administering clinician's UOM is used during medication administration 512. The administering clinician's UOM can also appear on documentation such as administration reports, admixture fill and manufacturing work orders. The pharmacy UOM is generally a value that reflects the physical form the medication is dispensed in such as "tab," "vial," inhalatorr," and "jar." The pharmacy UOM is used in preparation 506 and in stocking and dispensing systems. The financial UOM is generally a value used to calculate the financial figures that appear on bills and invoices. The medication screening UOM is generally used when screening the medication. Units of measurement defaults 544d can be specified using a check-box table where checkmarks are placed in a table correlating the various UOMs with the users of the UOMs. The infusion system 210 can use the same UOM for more one function. For example, the 4 physician's UOM can be the same as the pharmacist's UOM. Setting defaults 544 include data 5 necessary to coordinate the various UOMs. For example, UOM defaults 544d can include the 6 multipliers and dividers necessary to create a one-to-one correspondence between the various 7 UOMs. The UOM defaults 544b can be changed to suit the desires of the individual clinicians. 8 However, the one-to-one correspondence should be maintained by the patient care system 100. 9 The infusion system 210 can be designed to maintain a history of medication unit defaults. D The infusion system 210 can also include medication measurement suffixes. The medication measurement suffixes can default during order entry. The medication measurement 2 suffixes can be common units of measuring a medication and can include units related to patient 57 1 characteristics such as body surface area and weight. Medication measurement suffixes can be 2 designated per drug, per order type, per dose, and per UOM. 3 Building database 546 includes building databases and/or portions of a single database 4 such as, but not limited to, preparation area 546a, additive information 546b, solution 546c, pre 5 mix definitions 546d, favorites 546e, timing override reasons 546f, flow rate override reasons 6 546g, translation tables 546h, flow rate description 546i, equipment and routing information 7 546j, and message trigger 546k. 8 Timing override reasons 546f include displayable reasons for modifying the timing of 9 infusion orders. For example, timing override reasons 546f can include a stylus-selectable o reason for digital assistant display 11 8a for administering an infusion order at a time other than I the time specified in the original infusion order. If the clinician 116 administers a medication 2 outside the ordered administration time tolerance 542c, the clinician 116 can be required to 3 choose a reason code for the modification from displayed reasons 1008f (FIGURE 11). 4 Examples of other reason codes include, but are not limited to, PRN administration reason codes 5 and codes for stopping an infusion. 6 Medications 124 and/or infusion orders can have flow rate tolerances, including system 7 flow rate tolerances 542b. The infusion system 210 can include flow rate override reasons table s 546g. Flow rate override reasons 546g are notations that the clinician 116 can choose from, 9 and/or supply, if the clinician 116 needs to change the flow rate beyond the bounds defined by o the flow rate tolerance 542b. The infusion system 210 can include a defined message trigger I 546k indicating whether or not a message should be sent to the patient's physician if a clinician 2 1 16 overrides an order-defined flow rate tolerance. The infusion system 210 can also include 23 defined message triggers 546k indicating whether or not a message should be sent, and to 24 whom, if a clinician 116 overrides a tolerance, such as flow rate tolerances 542b, defined at a 25 level other than the order. The infusion system 210 can include translation tables 546h such as, but not limited to, a 27 flow rate translation table, a varying ingredient translation table, and varying flow rate 28 translation table. Flow rate translation includes translating an infusion order into a flow rate 29 defined by volume/time where the order is originally specified in any way such as, but not 3o limited to, dosage/time with a particular concentration, volume per unit of weight/time, dosage 31 per unit of body surface area/time, and total dosage and duration. 2 Varying ingredient translation includes translating a plurality of flow times of infusion 3 orders with varying ingredients in separate infusion bags into the flow rate for the infusion bag 58 1 currently being administered. Orders with varying ingredients include orders such as, but not 2 limited to, sequencing orders. In sequencing orders, different bags have different ingredients 3 and potentially different flow rates. 4 Varyirig flow rate translation includes translation of infusion orders with varying flow 5 rates into the flow rate for the current solution being infused. Varying flow rate orders include 6 orders such as, but not limited to, bolus/basal, orders, tapering dose orders and alternating dose 7 orders. 8 The infusion system 210 can include predefined infusion flow rates 542b. The 9 predefined infusion flow rates 542b can be associated with flow rate descriptions 546i to permit 10 selection froni a drop-down list as a shortcut from keying in the flow rate. 11 Defined functions 548 include functions such as, but not limited to, preparation area 12 function 548a, bag duration function 548b, verify override requests function 548c, duration to 13 volume function 548d, duration to flow rate function 548e, and flow rate to drip rate function 14 548f. The infusion system 210 can include a duration-to-volume function 548d to determine the 15 amount to be infused per the infusion order. Flow rate to drip rate function 548f uses 16 information about the medical device 330 to convert flow rates to drip rates. 17 Deternined settings 550 include settings such as, but not limited to, override authorities 18 550a, flow rate precision 550b, volume precision 550c, and time precision 550d. The infusion 19 system 210 can, if desired. determine the total volume of infusions and the flow rate(s) of the 20 infusion order. If these numbers are determined, it is desired to round the calculated values to 21 flow rate precisions 550b and volume precisions 550c that are comprehensible to clinicians 116 22 such as the physician, the pharmacist, and the nurse. Flow rate display precision 550b can be set 23 to display the flow rate to a set number of decimal places. Various parts of the patient care 24 system 100 can independently determine the precision for displayed flow rates. For example, 25 the infusion system 210 can display to one decimal place for an adult treatment location, and to 26 three decimal places for a neonatal treatment location. The flow rate precision 550b reflects the 27 service in which the clinician's patient(s) are located. The flow rate(s) of the infusion order can 23 be rounded to a system-defined precision. The precision can be same for all infusion orders or 29 be dependent on the patient's service. 30 Volume display precision 550c can similarly be set to display infusion volumes to a set 31 number of decimal places. Settable time precision 550d can be used to calculate the 32 administration duration period based on flow rate if the infusion is a single dose infusion or an 33 intermittent infusion. The total volume of each infusion bag calculated is rounded according to 59 the volume precision 550c. The administration time is rounded by the infusion system 210 ' according to the set time precision 550d. The time precision 550d can be the same for all 3 infusion orders regardless of the patient's service or may be service-specific. 4 Order Creation 5 FIGURE 8 is a block diagram showing functional components for infusion order 6 creation 504 of FIGURE 6. Infusion order creation 504 includes functional blocks for creating 7 infusion orders. Infusion order creation 504 includes entering information 560, calculations 8 562, checks 564, and overrides 566. Entering information 560 can include functions such as, 9 but not limited to, identifying the order type 560a, identifying the medications 560b, identifying D the dose 560c, identifying the diluent 560d, identifying the flow rate 560e, and identifying the i infusion site 560f. 2 Infusion order creation 504 is linked to infusion bag preparation 506, infusion bag 3 delivery (path 530), medication administration 512, and infusion order modifications 514. 4 Infusion order types 560a include order types such as, but not limited to, single dosing, load s dosing, intermittent dosing, and continuous. Continuous infusions include alternating infusions, 5 sequencing infusions, tapering infusions, and titrating infusions. Upon selection of the first 7 medication 560b in an infusion order, an infusion order type 560a form for the medication may 3 default. The ordering clinician can have the option of selecting a different order type. The dose 560c and unit of measure 544d can also default. The unit of measure 544d can be correlated with the medication and/or the dose 544c. The infusion system 210 can include a default I diluent, or several default diluents, for the medication. One default can be identified as a preferred diluent. A description can be associated with the diluent to assist the ordering 3 clinician to decide which diluent to select. The diluent description can include a reference 4 avoiding use of a particular diluent if a patient is hypertonic. 5 The infusion systcin 210 can also allow additional infusion order subtypes 560a based on 6 the previously mentioned infusion order types. Additional infusion order subtypes 560a can 7 include, but are not limited to, TPN infusion orders, chemotherapy continuous infusion orders, 8 piggyback infusion orders, and large volume parenteral infusion orders. The infusion order 9 subtypes can be accessed fron-1 different parts of the infusion system 210 allowing sorting and o filtering of infusion orders according to the subtypes. A special label format for each infusion 1 order subtype can also be defined to further customize infusion order subtype orders and 2 associated pharmacy workflow.

60 1 When searching for a medication 124 daring infusion order creation 504, the medication 2 124 can be flagged as additive and/or a solution to aid the clinician 116 in creating the infusion 3 order. This designation can be made in a medication identification file. 4 Medication dose 560c can be determined in a number of ways such as, but not limited to, 5 according to body weight, body surface area, ancl entered according to rate. When the flow rate 6 is not entered, the infusion system 210 calculates the flow rate according to the dose and time 7 period specified. The ordering clinician can specify the diluent 560d and its quantity. The 8 pharmacy can provide a default for such parameters - see line 582 (FIGURE 6). A check 564 9 can be performed to ensure the net concentration 564a for the medication 560b and the flow rate 0 564b are appropriate. I The infusion system 210 can identify aind/or calculate flow rates 560e based on the 2 patient's weight, body surface area, and/or a specified frequency and duration of therapy. The 3 ordered flow rate 560e is checked 564b against the flow rate tolerances, such as system flow 4 rate tolerance 542b. The net concentration of the medication 124 can be checked 564a against 5 net concentration tolerances, such as the system net concentration tolerance 542a. 6 In an embodiment, flow rate 560e can also include displaying descriptions of default 7 flow rates to facilitate the entering of orders. Flow rate 560c can reference flow rate 8 descriptions database 546i. 9 Calculations 562 can include calculating the dose based on patient weight and/or height o (possibly provided by ADT interface 310), the drug amount, diluent volume, concentration, or I rate. Calculations 562 can include, but are not limited to, calculating the flow rate, if not 2 specified in the prescription, the bag quantity 562a or number of infusion bags required for a a specified period of time, the time period over which each infusion bag is to be administered, and 4 the total volume of each infusion and infusion bag based on the concentration of the ingredients 5 in the solution. Flow rates, volume to be infused, and/or duration can be modified. If modified, 6 the infusion system 210 automatically calculates dependent quantities, based on calculations, if 7 the maximum dosage for the ingredients in the concentration would be exceeded as identified in 8 the ingredient's medication file, the patient care infusion system 210 alerts the pharmacist 9 and/or clinician 116 and can ask for a reason code For the adjustment. o Calculations 562 can include calculations such as, but not limited to, bag quantity I calculations 562a, translation calculations 562b, duration to volume calculations 562c, and flow 2 rate to drip rate calculations 562d. Checks 564 include a variety of checks that an infusion order 3 can be subject to. The checks include checks such as, but not limited to, a net concentration 61 i check 564a, a flow rate check 564b, an administration time check 564c, a duration check 564d, 2 and an infusion site check 564e. If an infusion order fails a ceck 564, the clinician 116 may be 3 able to override the check. Overrides 568 can include overrides such as, but not limited to, a net 4 concentration override 568a, a flow rate override 568b, an administration time override 568c, a 5 duration override 568d, and an infusion site override 56 8e. Overrides 568 can generate 6 messages 520 for the physician and/or the pharmacy. The infusion system 210 can distinguish 7 between system-wide and subsystem overrides in deterniining whether it is necessary to 8 generate a message 520. 9 Overrides can include an indication of whether clinicians have the authority to override a 10 tolerance. For example, flow rate override 568b can provide an indication of whether the ii clinician entering the infusion order has the authority to override the system flow rate tolerance 12 542b. This indication can apply to the patient care system 100 or a subsystem. Duration 13 override 568d can provide an indication of whether the clinician 116 entering the infusion order 14 has the authority to override the system duration 542d. This indication can apply to the patient 15 care system 100 or a subsystem. Overrides 566 also include displaying of reasons for the 16 override 568f. Reasons for the overrides 568f can be selected by the clinician 116 from drop 17 down menus. 18 The result of the infusion order creation 504 is an infusion order 702. Infusion order 702 19 can include an infusion schedule 704. The infusion system 2.10 can look ahead a period of time 20 and generate the infusion schedule 704 - so long as the infusion order 702 is active - for infusion 21 bag filling for that time period, or longer if specified on dernand. The ordering clinician is not 22 required to specify an end-date for the infusion order. The infusion system 210 can include 23 automatic scheduling of infusion bag delivery based on infusion system 210 defined tolerances 24 542. 25 Order Preparation 26 FIGURE 9 is a block diagram showing functional components for infusion order 27 preparation 506 of FIGURE 6. Infusion preparation 506 includes functional blocks for 28 preparing infusion order 702 (FIGURE 8). Infusion prepa-Tation 506 can include, but is not 29 limited to, determining preparation location 506a, scanning ingredients 506b, bag duration 30 checking 506c, and bar code printing 506d for medication labels 124a. Bar code printing 506d 31 can include the functions described above in reference to print label 326 (FIGURE 4). 32 After infusion orders are entered into the infusion system 210, preparation instructions 33 are routed to a preparation location. The preparation location depends upon the infusion 62 i system's 210 preparation program 506 and the infusion components. The infusion system 210 2 can include adjustable databases, such as preparation area database 546a, that specify where the 3 infusion order is to be prepared. The infusion order can be prepared in the pharmacy or in a 4 remote location, such as on the floor or at the treatment location 106. The clinician 116 is 5 guided through the preparation process, including bar code verification of ingredients, using 6 event management information that can be displayed on digital assistant 118 or another device 7 having a display. 8 The medication label 124a identifies the ingredients and ingredient concentrations. The 9 medication label 124a can be printed in any location. The medication label 124a preferably to includes bar code printing 506d. Bar code printing 506d can include printing a bar code label i 124a for each infusion bag. The label 124a assists in ensuring that the correct medication is 12 administered at the correct times and/or in the correct sequence. Alternating and sequencing 13 infusion orders are particularly vulnerable to sequencing and timing errors. Bar code printing 4 506d can include printing a unique bar code label for every bag in infusion order 702. Bar code [5 printing 506d can also include printing a bar code label 124a that uniquely identifies the 6 combination of ingredients in an infusion bag and the concentration of those ingredients. The 7 bar code for medication 124 can include a prefix, a suffix, and the national drug code (NCD). In [8 an embodiment, the bar code can also include a lot and expiration date. Alternatively, a separate .9 bar code can be provided to include the lot and expiration date. Other embodiments of the bar !0 code, including active or passive RFID tags, magnetic strips, etc. can be used. .1 Medication Administration .2 FIGURE 10 is a block diagram showing functional components for medication 23 administration 512 of FIGURE 6. Medication administration 512 includes functional blocks 24 that are used to administer the medication to patient 112. Medication administration 512 can 25 include reading a medication bar code 512a, reading a patient bar code 512b, running an 26 expiration check 512c, providing titrate notification 512d, providing a flow rate to drip rate 27 display 512e, providing "as needed" infusion initiation 512f, downloading operating parameters 28 512g, and time monitoring 512h. The infusion system 210 can also translate orders that may 29 have more than one flow rate, such as tapering and alternating orders, into the flow rate for the 30 infusion bag currently being administered. The infusion system 210 can also translate orders 31 having infusion bags with different ingredients, such as sequencing orders, into the flow rate for 32 the infusion bag currently being administered.

63 1 Upon administering the medication 124, the clinician 116 scans the medication label 2 124a. The infusion system 210 includes scanning the bar-coded label 124a when initiating the 3 administration of the infusion order, when changing flow rates, changing bags, and/or stopping 4 the infusion order. Infusion system 210 verifies that the infusion bag having the bar-coded label 5 should be administered at that time and is for patient 112. The history of the medication 6 administration, including flow rates and volumes administered, can be captured and maintained. 7 Some infusion orders require hanging of an infusion bag with the intent of only a partial, s specific amount of the infusion bag to be administered. The infusion system 210 allows a 9 clinician 116 to order an amount of an infusion bag to be administered. Most infusioxi pumps o have the ability to define the volume to be administered or the flow rate and time period. Once i this time has elapsed, the infusion pump will automatically prevent further administration. 2 Infusion system 210, as a reminder to the administering clinician, provides a message on the 3 medication label 124a that it is to be partially administered and the appropriate volurrie to be 4 administered. 5 Flow rate to drip rate display 512e uses data generated by flow rate to drip rate functions 6 548f to provide the administering clinician with drip rates for the current infusion bag. During 7 medication administration 512. the clinician 116 can check on the flow rate and other operating 8 parameters using the digital assistant 118. Flow rate modifications 1002b (FIGURE 11) are 9 communicated in real-time. !o The infusion system 210 can include PRN or "as needed" infusion initiation 512f. "As !i needed" infusion initiation 512 causes the creation of a new active order and the preparation of .2 the PRN medication. This option can include prompting the clinician 116 to select a PRN 23 infusion from a list of anticipatory PRN orders placed for the patient and defaulting the 24 requested infusion bags to one. The clinician 116 can have the authority to modify the 25 requested quantity of infusion bags. 26 Downloading of operating parameters 512g can include determining whether the -patient 27 identifier associated with the medical treatment and/or the patient identifier retrieved from the 28 wristband I 12a., is the same as the patient identifier associated with the medical treatment at the 29 central location. The determination often is made by the first computer, for example, th~e first 30 central server 109. If the infusion system 210 determines the various patient identifiers are not 31 the same, the system can generate an alann message 520. If the infusion system 210 determines 32 the various patient identifiers are the same, the infusion system 210 can download the ope-rating 64 j parameters directly to the medical device 332. The infusion system 210 can send the operating 2 parameters to a medical device 332, such as infusion pump 120. 3 One benefit of the system program 210 is that the operating parameters for the medical 4 device 332 do not have to pass through digital assistant 118, or any other computer in the rernote 5 location, prior to the operating parameters being available to program the medical device .332. 6 Bypassing computers at the remote location eliminates a potential source of errors in 7 administering medication 124 to a patient 112. The operating parameters for the medical de-vice 8 332 can be sent "directly" to the medical device 332 assuming the various verifications are 9 achieved. In this context, "directly" means that the operating parameters can be sent to the o medical device without passing through the digital assistant 118, or any other computer in the I remote location. 2 In another embodiment, the infusion system 210 can include an additional block (~not 3 shown) where the central computer accepts a second medication identifier. The clinician 116 at 4 the remote location can enter the second medication identifier. The second medication identifier 5 can be a revised first medication identifier. For example, the second medication identifier can 6 be part of the prescription or electronic physician order entry that is the source for the first 7 patient ID and the operating parameters. The infusion system 210 can then confirm the first a-nd 8 second medication IDs are equivalent prior to sending the operating parameters to the medical 9 device. The second medication ID can be replaced by a revised first medication ID between the o time the prescription is entered and the time the medication 124 arrives at the treatment location 1 106. The infusion system 210 will then sound an alann if the second medication identifier is not 2 equivalent to the first medication identifier that was included in the medication label 124a. In a 23 further embodiment, the infusion system 210 can include an additional block (not shown) where 24 the operating parameter is used to program the medical device 332. 25 Various blocks of the infusion system 210, such as block 512, can include displaying 26 treatment information on the digital assistant 118. This can include displaying information that 27 mirrors the information on display 120c of infusion pump 120. The information on display 120c 8 of infusion pump 120 can be supplemented with information about the patient 112, the patient 9 location, and the infusion order. This information can include information regarding multiple o channels of infusion pump 120. The displayed information can include information such as, bIt I not limited to, personality, prompt line, status line, operating icons and pump head display.. 2 Operating icons include falling drop, stop sign, flow check piggyback, and delay start. The 3 pump head display includes information such as the drug label and. the infusion rate. Those: 65 having ordinary skill in the art are familiar with the displayed information and operating icons described above. The infusion system 210 time monitoring 512h calculates the time remaining for an order to be completed and the volume of an infusion order that remains to be administered. When the clinician 116 uses the infusion system 210 to administer the infusion order, to make flow rate changes, and to check on the status of an infusion, the infusion system 210 calculates time and volume remaining to be administered and indicates if the calculation indicates a partial bag will be used. For example, on the last bag of an order that is to be stopped before the full volume is administered, and/or on a bag within an order that must be changed before the full volume is administered, the clinician 116 is alerted on digital assistant 118 and/or cart 132. The alert can include a message such as, "Please only administer 150 ml." Time monitoring 512h includes tracking any modifications made to the flow rate using bar code scanning. The pharmacy is alerted in real time to adjust the preparation 506 of the next required infusion bag according to the modification. Monitoring of preparation 506 and medication administration 512 allows for a just-in-time delivery of medication 124. Just-in-time delivery reduces wastage attributed to discontinued or changed infusion orders. Monitoring also ensures patient 112 safety. For titrate PRN orders, the clinician 116 is automatically notified of required flow rate changes if the titration conditions in the order indicate that the flow rate must be changed. The infusion system 210 includes defined functions for calculating a conversion of flow rates to drip rates 548f. The infusion system 210 defined values can be adjustable. The infusion system 210 can include automatic translation of flow rate to drip rate 548f to assist the clinician 116 during 3 administration of the treatment. 4 Order Documentation and Modification 5 FIGURF I1I is a block diagram showing functional components for infusion order 6 documentation 1012, and the infusion order modifications 514 and messaging 520 of FIGURE 7 6. Modifications 514 include functional blocks used to modify existing infusion orders. 8 Modification 514 can also be viewed as creating new orders to replace existing infusion orders. 9 Modification 514 can include modification changes 1002, generally all ordering options for new 0 orders 1004 are available, rechecks 1006, recheck overrides 1008, and new flow rate to new drip I rate display 1010. Infusion order modifications often lead to documentation 1012 and 2 messaging 520. Modifications 514 include the functions described in reference to prescription 3 modification module 336 (FIGURE 4). However, modifications 514 are also accessible from 66 i other portions of the patient care system 100 such as, but not limited to, prescription entry 324, 2 prescription activation 306, and prescription authorization 308. 3 Modifications 514 include modifying the duration 1002a, modifying the flow rate 1002b, 4 using a new infusion site 1002c, identifying reasons for modifications 1002d, identifying the 5 volume of an infusion bag 1002e, and processing stop orders 1002f. Clinicians 116 can also 6 change an infusion rate without an order if the patient 112 is complaining of discomfort or to 7 facilitate fluid balance, such as when the patient 112 is vomiting. 8 Modification changes 1002 include identifying a new duration 1002a, identifying a new 9 flow rate 1002b, identifying a new infusion site 1002c, identifying a reason for a modification 10 1002d, identifying the volume remaining in the infusion bag 1002e, and stop orders 516. The i i ordering options available during initial infusion order creation 504 are generally available for 12 modifying the infusion order. Ordering options available during initial infusion order creation 13 504 include those shown in FIGURE S. Rechecks 1006 and recheck oven-ides 1008 are 14 analogous to checks 564 and ovenides 566 that are described in reference to FIGURE 8. New 15 flow rate to new drip rate display 1010 assists the clinician and minimizes the possibility of 16 errors during medication administration 512. The modified infusion order can lead to a 17 modified infusion schedule. is Flow rates are frequently modified at the treatment location 106 for reasons such as to 19 catch-up without changing the schedule for preparation when the infusion has been 20 inadvertently stopped for a short time period. Such modifications may not require new infusion 21 schedule 704 to be communicated to the pharmacy. In other cases, the new schedule 704 should 22 be communicated to the pharmacy or other preparation staff. Flow rate modifications 1002b 23 trigger infusion order scheduling changes and/or messages 520 for appropriate clinicians 116. 24 When a clinician 116 enters a flow rate modification 1002b into the infusion system 210 25 at treatment location 106, the clinician 116 can also elect to have the infusion schedule 704 26 recalculated and sent to the phannacy. The clinician 116 has the option of requesting new 27 medication labels 124a to be printed by bar code printing 506d module. The new medication 28 labels 124a include data reflecting the new information for any of the previously prepared 29 infusion bags. 30 The infusion system 210 and/or the clinician 116 can request a modification to the 31 infusion site 1002c. The site can be selected from a list of anatomical representations on a 32 computer screen. The clinician 116 can be required to identify a reason for the modification 33 1002d. Reasons stored in databases such as, but not limited to, override reasons for timing 546f 67 1 and override reasons for flow rate 546g, can be displayed for easy identification by the clinician 2 116. There can be a separate hard-coded reason for physician-ordered modifications. For 3 physician ordered modifications, the clinician 116 can be requested to identify the physician. 4 Prior to implementing the modification, the volume remaining in the current infusion 5 bag is identified 1002e. The clinician 116 can be offered the option of accepting a volume 6 calculated from a displayed value of pre-modification flow rate and/or volume. 7 If desired, the current infusion can be stopped 1002f. If stopping the order is not 8 required, for example the same infusion bag can be used with a new flow rate and/or a new 9 medication added, the old flow rate can be identified and compared to the modified flow rate. 10 Any infusion bags that were previously prepared can be checked for expiration based on i i the new infusion schedule 704. When an infusion order is resumed following either a temporary 12 stop or a hold order, the expiration check can be done regarding expiration of solutions that have 13 already been prepared. 14 The new infusion schedule 704 is used to control the preparation 506 in the pharmacy or 15 other preparation site. A system default 544 can be set for whether or not any prepared bags 16 should be credited to the patient 112 through the billing interface 312, and whether or not they 17 should be credited to inventory. 18 Infusion order changes 1002 include all ordering options available 1004 for new orders. 19 The naodified flow rate can be rechecked 1006 for rules and tolerances such as, but not limited 20 to, net concentration 1006a, flow rate 1006b, administration time 1006c, duration 1006e, and 21 infusion site 1006f. Overrides 1008 can be available for modifications that are outside of 22 tolerances. The infusion system 210 can display reasons 1008f for overrides and for 23 administering medications at times other than that specified in the original order. The clinician 24 116 can be required to identify a reason for the modification. 25 The infusion system 210 can offer the clinician 116 a display indicating the modified 26 drip rate associated with the modified flow rate 1012. The displayed information can be 27 calculated by the flow rate to drip rate 548f defined function. The infusion system 210 can also 2S he provided with descriptions of typical infusion tubing used within the infusion system 210 for 29 use in calculating drip rates. 30 A modification results in the infusion system 210 validating the expiration of the 31 infusion bag and providing a message to the clinician 116 if the infusion bag expires prior to the 32 completion of the order. The message can request that the clinician 116 contact the pharmacy. 33 The validation of the expiration of the infusion bag for solutions such as, but not limited to, 68 premixed solutions and solutions manufactured outside of the infusion system 210, may include ' parsing the scan code. 3 Flow rate override 1008b can provide an indication of whether the clinician 116 modifying the infusion order has the authority to override the ordered limit without requiring 5 approval for a new infusion order. This indication can apply to the patient care system 100 or a subsystem. Documentation 1012 captures infusion order information in real-time. Documentation includes documenting multiple infusions being administered at the same time and infusion modifications such as, but not limited to, duration changes 1012a, flow rate changes 1012b, volume changes 1012c, and infusion site changes 1012d. The infusion system 210 can assist the clinician 116 in capturing all changes in flow rate as the changes are occurring. The clinician 116 can change the flow rate as called for in the order, such as to decrease a morphine infusion flow rate from 4 ml to 2 ml. Though the infusion I system 210 may recognize the change as a new order, the infusion system 210 may be 5 configured to avoid duplication so that the modified order does not result in the generation of a 5 new bag. Documentation 1012 includes the ability to document changes such as, but not limited to, an infusion that is stopped temporarily, discontinued, and/or restarted. The clinician 116 may stop infusion for a variety of reasons, such as the infusion site having been compromised, the infusion has been dislodged, and/or the infusion may be heparin/saline locked to facilitate the movement of patient 112. The infusion can be resumed when a new site/infusion has been reestablished. However the length of time this may take is variable and is generally recorded by 3 the infusion system 210. 4 Government regulations often require tracking of every step in the process of infusion 5 administration. Infusion system 210 allows the administering clinician 116 to document flow 6 rate modifications on a digital assistant 118, or other computer device, by scanning the 7 medication label 124a and adjusting the flow rate 1002a based on a tolerance, such as a S tolerance created by set tolerance 542. A flow rate modification 1002b corresponds in real time 9 with the associated pharmacy's infusion schedule 704 to ensure just-in-time inventory 0 management of infusion bags to the patient treatment area 106. Documentation 1012 may allow I order backdating under some circumstances. 2 The infusion system 210 includes the ability to document the infusion site 1012d and 3 multiple infusions 1012e for multiple infusion sites. In many situations, a patient 112 can have 69 I multiple medications 124 and "y-ed" infusions so that the some infusions are running into one 2 site and other infusions are infusing into another site. For example, morphine infusion, 3 antibiotics and normal saline infused into the right arm (site 1) and TPN and 2/3 & 1/3 running 4 into a double lumen CVL (site 2). The infusion system 210 allows clinician 116 to document 5 which site the various fluids are infusing through. In treatment locations 106, such as intensive 6 care units, many more than two infusions may be running into one line or one lumen. Clinicians 7 116 are able to indicate which lumen of a CVL the infusion or medication is running into. S The infusion system 210 includes the ability to document the site location 1012d for 9 infusions and any site location changes. Infusion sites are frequently changed due to occlusions o or policy. Therefore, clinicians 116 must document a change in the site location if an infusion I becomes dislodged and was subsequently restarted. 2 The infusion system provides for centralized device configuration. Operating 3 parameters for medical devices, such as infusion pump 120, often include defaults and/or 4 tolerances. The defaults and/or tolerances can reside in the infusion system 210, for example 5 flow rate tolerance 542b, and/or in a memory associated with the device 332. For example, 6 infusion pumps 120 can include a database having a table of medications having associated flow 7 rate tolerances. If the clinician 116 enters a flow rate that is beyond the associated flow rate 8 tolerance, the clinician 116 is warned and then can be allowed to proceed, or prohibited from 9 proceeding. Devices 332 such as heart rate monitors can also have configurable tolerances for 0 alerts. In addition to alerts, many other characteristics can typically be configured for devices 1 332 such as: network name, IP address, polling frequency, and colors. The infusion system 210 -2 includes configuring medical devices 332 individually or in groups from one or more central 23 computers. 24 System configuration parameters can he defined for a first type of medical device. The 25 system configuration parameters are sent and accepted by the first type of device unless the 26 particular first type of device has more specific configuration parameters that apply to that 27 particular first type of device. For example, a first plurality of a first type medical device can be 28 located at general care treatment locations. A second plurality of the first type of medical 29 device can be located at an intensive care treatment location. The general care treatment 30 location may not have specific configuration parameters while the intensive care treatment 31 location does have specific treatment parameters. System configuration parameters will apply 32 to all of the first type of medical devices throughout the infusion system 210, i.e. the devices in 70 the general care treatment locations, unless specific configuration parameters apply, e.g. the 2 intensive care treatment location. 3 For each type of device, specific configuration parameters that apply to all devices of 4 that type across a particular grouping of the devices override the system configuration 5 parameters if a particular device belongs to the group having such a definition, unless the 6 specific configuration parameters are overridden at an even more specific level within the 7 infusion system 210. The groups might be defined as a clinical service, a nursing unit, and/or a s combination of service and nursing unit. 9 For each type of device, the user can define sets of configuration parameters that apply a to all devices of that type being used for operations with specified ranges of attributes that i override any other definition. In a hospital, the operations might consist of infusion orders and 2 the attributes might include patient weight, drug, patient disease state, and patient acuity. 3 Devices can be identified as part of a general group, a specific group, and/or be i associated with a particular patient by including the device address in a table in a database. 5 General or specific configuration parameters can then be sent to the device according to the S identification of the device. The specific configuration parameters can then be read back to the 7 infusion system 210 and compared to the originally sent configuration parameters to verify the 3 original configuration parameters were correctly received by the device 332. If the configuration parameters were not correctly received, the infusion system 210 can provide a message 520 identifying the discrepancies or the communication failure. The infusion system 210 can detect changes to configuration parameters made at the device, rather than through a central computer, and send a message and/or alert 520. The 3 infusion system 210 can also poll the devices to verify their configuration parameters. If system 4 and/or specific configuration parameters change, the changes can be propagated to all devices 5 332 identified in the system as belonging to the group according to the groupings identified in 6 the infusion system 210. 7 Throughout this document and the related claims, "central location" and "remote 8 location" are relative terms to each other. A "remote location" is any location where a patient is 9 receiving treatment through a controlled medical device, such as a patient treatment location 106 o where patient 112 is receiving treatment through an infusion pump 120. "Central location" is I any location, other than the remote location, where parameters for operating the medical device 2 are accessible such as, but not limited to, the location of the pharmacy computer 104 and the 71 I central system 108. In a typical arrangement, several remote locations, such as treatment 2 location 106, are in communication with a central location. 3 While the present disclosure has focused on the use of infusion pumps 120 within the 4 system 210, it is understood that other medical devices may be used within the system 210 5 without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, various types of 6 medical devices include, but are not limited to, infusion pumps, ventilators, dialysis machines, 7 etc. An additional type of medical device is a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) s component. MEMS is a technology used to create small or tiny devices which can be less than a 9 millimeter in size, though they can also be larger as well. MEMS devices are typically o fabricated from glass wafers or silicon, but the technology has grown far beyond its origins of I the semiconductor industry. Each MEMS device is an integrated micro-system on a chip that 2 can incorporate moving mechanical parts in addition to optical, fluidic, electrical, chemical and 3 biomedical elements. Resulting MEMS devices or elements are responsive to many types of 4 input, including pressure, vibration, chemical, light, and acceleration. The MEMS components 5 can be a number of different elements including various types of pumps, a flow valve, a flow 6 sensor, tubing, a pressure sensor or combinations of elements. These MEMS devices are 7 smaller than conventional machines used for sensing, communication and actuation. As a result, 8 it is possible to use them in places where mechanical devices could not traditionally be used. 9 MIEMS devices also work at a higher rate and consume less power than conventional devices. o Additionally, MEMS technology has advanced to the stage that MEMS devices can be I manufactured at a cost making it feasible to treat the devices as disposable or one-time use 2 devices. MEMS devices are typically etched in silicon. It is further understood that MEMS ?3 may also describe other types of micro electromechanical system devices such as devices that 4 are micro-molded in plastic. Thus, MEMS devices may include devices etched in silicon, 5 molded in plastic or otherwise fabricated on a small scale. It should be understood that the 6 MEMS element or pump can take a variety of different forms. For example, the MEMS element 7 or pump can include be a disposable element such as a disposable peristaltic pump, volumetric 8 pump, ambulatory pump, syringe pump or other type of disposable pump. The MEMS element 9 can also be a micro-molded pump or element, or otherwise fabricated on a small scale. The o IEMS element can also be a piezoelectrically actuated plastic element or pump. In certain I embodiments, a flow sensor could be embedded into a pocket in the flow path of the disposable 2 pump itself. It is also understood that the MEMS devices of the present invention application 72 i can be manufactured using Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) technology wherein 2 electronics are etched on the same chip as the MIEMS fluid structures. 3 Accordingly, as explained in further detail below, one use of a MEMS component is as 4 an in-line MEMS pump 5314, shown schematically in FIGURE 53. The MEMS pump 5314 is 5 capable of pumping fluid contained in the IV bag 5320 through the tube 5312, out through the 6 access device 5324, and into a patient. The MEMS component has a MEMS local electronics 7 element attached thereto, and the MEMS electronics element connects with an external, durable 8 MEMS controller, which can communicate with the present system 210 as does the present 9 infusion pump 120 described herein. In one embodiment of a MENIS pump 5314, the MEMS .0 electronics element 5332 is embedded therein and can preferably store MEMS parametric i operational information. The MEMS controller, with its electronics and power source, may be 2 physically or wirelessly connected to the MEMS electronics element. In one embodiment, the 3 parametric operational information may be loaded from the detachable MEMS controller 5338. 4 Preferably, the pump element 5314 generates the fluid flow through a tube 5312 based on 5 information stored locally within the MEMS electronics 5332. This information is preferably 6 downloaded from a wired but detachable MEMS controller 5338. Further, the MEMS 7 components may communicate with the system 210 via wireless communication. Additionally, 8 the MEldS controller may provide a transfer of infonnation to and from the system 210 to fully 9 automate the control and interrogation of the MVEMS components in the present system 210 o through a wireless or wircd communication path. I The use of MEMS or other emerging economical fabrication techniques provides an 2 opportunity to add a MEMS element to a disposable line-set that provides additional 3 functionality such as pumping, valving, and sensing. Sorne or all of the supporting local 24 electronics could be included in a disposable portion of a line-set as well. For example, it may 25 be preferable to include a memory chip that contains calibration information for a pump, 6 pressure sensor and/or flow sensor, valve, or a combination of disposable elements. 7 Disposability is desirable as it removes the need for costly sterilization of the components of the 8 system between each subsequent application. 9 Pop-Up Windows 0 In an embodiment, the system can automatically provide clinicians with information I associated 'with one or more medications via pop-up windows. Preferably, a medication table is 2 entered into the central database 108b. The medication table can include the generic name of 3 one or more medications, and any trade names associated therewith. Linked to each medication 73 1 within the medication table arc respective messages for display via pop-up windows. The 2 messages can be defined by the health care facility, or predefined by the system provider. 3 Preferably, the messages associated with each medication pertain to: 1) hazards associated with 4 the medication, such as in handling or exposure thereto; 2) bow the medication is to be 5 administered by a clinician; 3) physician reference information about medication; 4) the 6 appropriate pump channel for infusing the drug; and, 5) warnings about infusion set procedures 7 such as opening a roller clamp for a piggyback infusion. 8 The pop-up windows are displayed when a medication is selected or entered into a 9 computing device such as: when the medication is being ordered by a physician via the CPOE; 10 when the medication is being processed by the pharmacy or the like; and when the medication is II being administered to a patient by a clinician. In an embodiment, when the selection or entry of 12 a medication has been made on a computing device at a remote location, the database within-the 13 central system 108 is accessed wherein at least one of the pop-up window messages associated 14 with the medication is provided to the remote computing device for display to the clinician. 15 Preferably, at least one of the pop-up window messages associated with a medication is 16 provided for display upon the initiation of a specific step in the medication order, process, and 17 administration procedure. For instance, upon entry of a medication order into a computing 18 device such as the CPOE, a pop-up window is displayed with a message regarding physician 19 reference information about the medication and, in an embodiment, another pop-up window can 20 be di splayed regarding hazards associated with the medication. Then, upon processing of the 21 order by a pharmacy or the like, one or more pop-up windows are displayed on a computing 22 device within the pharmacy 104 for providing general information about the medication, and 23 possible hazards associated therewith. Next, when the order is being administered by a 24 clinician, one or more pop-up windows are displayed on a computing device associated with the 25 clinician (i.e., handheld II8) for providing information about administration of the medication, 26 and, in an embodiment, possible hazards associated with the medication such as how the 27 medication is to be handled. 2S Preferably, the pop-up windows displayed on a computing device are specific to the step 29 in the medication order, process, and administration procedure that is being carried out by a 30 clinician. For instance, the pop-up window containing physician reference information is 31 preferably not displayed to the nurse, via handheld device 118. Nevertheless, in an 32 embodiment, the user or hospital can define when, and if, a pop-up window should be displayed 33 when a medication is selected or entered into a specific computing device.

74 It is also preferred tha-t the pharmacy define when, and if, a pop-up window is to be displayed. For instance, pop-up windows are preferably not displayed for common. medications. Instead, pop-up windows are preferably displayed for medications wherein the pharmacy or healthcare facility believes that the additional information within the pop-up window will assist in the ordering, preparing, or administration of the medication. 5 Administering A Medication 7 A method of administering a medication 124 with the infusion system 210 is described below. The method includes the ability to modify the infusion order. The modifications include modifications to the flow rate, the infusion site, temporary stops to the infusion, restarting the infusion, and hanging a new medication 124 container. The method includes: scanning a bar code associated with the patient 512b; scanning a bar code associated with the medication 512a; if the infusion is an admixture, validating the expiration 512c; selecting a reason for the modification 1002d; and recording the remaining volume of the infusion bag or accepting the value calculated from the previous volume and flow rate 1002e. The validation of the expiration 512c of the infusion bag can include the use of an admixture table and/or a bar code. The reason for the modification may come from a defined table 546g. The reason for the modification may also include a hard-coded value for physician-ordered changes. When the hard-coded value is selected, the clinician 116 is prompted to select the physician from a list of physicians. The attending physician can be the default in the list of physicians. There may be a quick select feature to halt the administration of the medication 124, for example, stop order 1002f. If the quick select is not chosen, the following processes can be included: recording the flow rate and/or accepting the previous value for the flow rate - the previous value is displayed on the digital assistant display 11 8a, the infusion pump display 120c, 4 and/or the medical cart 132; conrparing the previous flow rate to the ordered flow rate - this 5 comparison can be accomplished by using infusion system 210 or subsystem rules and 6 tolerances; displaying appropriate messages; conversions between flow rates and drip rates can 7 be displayed 1012 - the conversions can be calculated based on infusion system 210 defined 8 drip-rate conversion tables 54Sf. The infusion system 210 typically uses descriptions based on 9 the tubing used to make it easy for the clinician 116 to select the correct drip rate conversion. ) Changing the flow rate triggers the infusion system 210 to validate the expiration of the t infusion bag(s) based on scheduled flow rate. If the solution expires before or during the administration, a message is sent to the clinician 116, such as "This solution will expire during 3 the scheduled administration period. Please contact the pharmacy." If it is a premixed infusion 75 I bag and/or a customized infusion bag, the expiration is validated by parsing the scan code, if '9 possible. The previous infusion site is accepted or a new infusion site location is selected from a 3 list or a graphical anatomical representation. Then the schedule 704 is recalculated to implement pharmacy restocking. Infusion system 210 can include biometrics for identifying patients and 5 clinicians 116. Prior to allowing a clinician 116 to access the infusion system 210, the infusion system 210 accesses information related to the identity of the clinician 116. The infusion system 210 3 can identify the clinician 116 by using a device, such as a bar code reader, to read the clinicians' badge 116a. The system can also use biometrics to positively identify the clinician 116, to assure the clinician is an authorized user of the system, and to determine whether the clinician 116 has authority to access portions of thbe infusion system 210. The infusion system 210 can require a combination of the clinician badge 116a, or other key, and a verified biometric match in order to grant the clinician 116 access to the infusion system 210. The system can also be configured to terminate access to the infusion system 210 when the clinician badge 116a is removed from the vicinity of the device used to read the clinician badge I 16a, or other key. Biometrics is the technology and science of statistically analyzing measured biological data. One field of biometrics is that of determining uiique physical characteristics, such as fingerprints. Biometrics makes it possible to identify individuals to digital systems, such as infusion system 210. A digital persona is created that makes transactions and interactions more convenient and secure. Biometric features for identification include features such as, but not limited to, fingerprint, face, iris and retina scanning, and voice identification. Biometric devices include a scanning or reading device, software to convert the scanned information into a digital 3 format, and a memory to store the biometric information for comparison with a stored record. 4 Software identifies specific matched points of data that have been processed with an algorithm 5 and compares the data. Unlike passwords, PIN codes, and smartcards, the infusion system 210 6 biometrics cannot be lost, forgotten, or stolen. 7 The biometric scanner can be associated with the device for reading the clinician's badge 8 116a. For example, the biometric scanner can be a thumb print reader on the handle of a bar 9 code reader. In other embodiments, the biometric scanner and an electronic key reader can be located on the porlable medicine cart and/or the medical device. When the clinician 116 places the electronic key within a specified distance of the medical device, a processor will know the specific individual electronic biometric identtification file it should expect. The infusion system 210 preferably prompts the clinician 116 to scan his biometric information. The biometric 76 1 information is entered into the infusion system 210 with some type of biometric reading or 2 scanning device. A one-to-one comparison is made between the scanned biometric information 3 and the previously stored specific individual electronic biometric identification file. This one-to 4 one identity comparison is more efficient than comparing one-to-many identity files because it 5 does not require searching an entire clinician database for a match. Instead, only one specific 6 comparison is made. If there is a match, then the cliniciar1 116 is granted access to the medical 7 device 332. If there is no match, the clinician 116 is denied access. 8 Additionally, in another embodiment, the medical device does not have a controller. For 9 example, the medical device may be a pumping unit that does not have a controller, but rather 10 merely accepts control signals from a separate controller. -In one embodiment, the controller for II such a medical device can be the first central computer 109. Accordingly, the first central 12 computer 109 may send control signals directly to the medical device for controlling the medical 13 device. 14 En another embodiment, after the infusion system 210 grants access to the clinician 116, 15 the infusion system 210 terminates that access when the electronic key is removed from the 16 biometric scanner, or the vicinity of the biometric scanner. The vicinity within which the 17 electronic key must be kept can be predetermined and/or rnay be a variable and programmable 18 infusion system 210 parameter. 19 In one embodiment, the infusion system 210 includes an encrypted digital fingerprint 20 template, a clinician's name, a login name, and a password. One technology for implementing 21 the clinician identifier includes "IBUTTON 400" technology from Dallas Semiconductor 22 technology. The infusion system 210 can be activated when the clinician places a finger on a 23 fingerprint scanner. If the infusion system 210 finds a match, the infusion system 210 can 24 request the clinician 116 login to the infusion system 210. If the infusion system 210 does not 25 find a biometric match, the system does not allow the clinician 116 to access the infusion system 26 210. 27 In another embodiment, the database storing bionetric information can be kept in the 2S central system 108, the pharmacy computer 104, and/or the treatment location 106. At the 29 treatment location 106, the database can be maintained in the portable cart 132. the digital 30 assistant 118, and/or the medical device 332. Such distributed databases allow access to remote 31 devices even if the network 102 is unable to communicate between the various locations. When 32 network 102 communication is reestablished, the remote and central databases can be 77 synchronized with any information modified at the other location so that both infusion system 210 databases are properly updated. 3 The infusion system 210 provides a closed loop infusion therapy management system. The closed loop begins with a clinician 116 order. Among other methods, the clinician 116 can 3 enter the order through digital assistant 118 and/or medical treatment cart 1 32. The order is then available in real-time for pharmacy authorization 508 and physician authorization 510. The order is available in real-time as an electronic medication administration record (elAR). The eMAR is available to the clinician 116 for infusion administration. The infusion system 210 automatically documents medication administration 512 and modifications 514 such as flow rate changes 1002b. Through the process of medication administration 512, the infusion system 210 simultaneously adjusts infusion system 210 and/or subsystem inventory and billing 518. The infusion system 210 also provides event management and decision support data. The infusion system 210 is device independent, meaning that it can be run on workstations, wireless tablets, i and handheld digital assistants 118. The infusion system 210 generally runs in real time, however, batch processing and or messaging can be used to coordinate various stages of the infusion system 210 processes. The closed loop infusion therapy management system includes infusion order entry 560, order preparation 506, and the availability of the status of the infusion. Infusion order entry 560 can be through a number of means such as, but not limited to, the prescription entry module 324, the prescription modification module 336, and the pharmacy interface 316. Computer screen 400 can be employed in entering the infusion order. The status of the infusion provides patient 112 specific usage of infusions and alerts the pharmacy of the need for additional infusion bags. 3 Clinician Interaction With The Infusion System 4 Further, the infusion system 210 can use a login system to determine if the clinician 116 5 has access to the infusion system 210. One example of an interface screen of' a login system for 6 an infusion system 210 is shown in the login screen 1903 of FIGURE 19. In that interface 7 screen, the clinician 116 enters both a user name and a password, and clicks on the "Login" key. S The system 210 conducts a check to confirm that the user name and password are valid for the 9 system 210. If either the user name or the password is not valid, the system 2 10 will inform the o clinician 116 that the login failed in the login screen 2005 shown at FIGURE 20. The clinician I 116 will then have the opportunity to reenter the user name and password to correct any errors. 2 If the user name and password are valid, the clinician 116 will have access to the system 210. 3 Additionally, if the clinician 116 is logged in to a digital assistant 118, but does not use it for a 78 1 period of time, a security feature of the system 210 prevents the digital assistant I 18 from being 2 uscd further until the clinician 116 logs back in. 3 The charge clinician may also login to the system 210. As explained in detail herein, the 4 charge clinician is generally a supervisor or some person whom the clinicians report to. 5 Additionally, the charge clinician may be a person who assists in workflow for the clinicians, or 6 who assists in monitoring alarm or alert conditions. Typically, the charge clinician maintains a 7 supervisory or responsibility role over at least one unit. Thus, the charge cliniciacr must login, 8 with a login and password as explained above, and then select the units to be associated with the 9 charge clinician. 10 After the clinician 116 has completed the login process shown in FIGURE 19, and has II been granted access to the system 210, the clinician 116 may perform several administrative 12 functions. One such administrative function is to select a unit. As shown in the unit selection 13 interface screen 2105 of FIGURE 21, the clinician 16 may select a unit from a drop down menu 14 2107. In the example illustrated in FIGURE 21, the clinician has selected "Neurology ICU" as 15 the unit. After the clinician 116 has selected the appropriate unit from the drop down menu 16 2107, the climician 116 can depress the arrow key 4809 to enter the selected unit. 17 Another administrative function that the clinician may execute is to select the clinician's 18 shift. As shown in select shift screen interface 2211 of FIGURE 22, the clinician 116 may 19 select either a standard shift or a customized shift. Several standard shifts which may be 20 selected are provided in the drop down menu 2107 for that entry. If, however, the clinician 116 21 selects the customized shift, the clinician is requested to enter the start time and the end time for 22 the customized shift. The clinician 116 may also enter a manual shift in the provided area 2255 23 and then tap the enter key 4809. 24 A view patient interface screen 2313 is shown in FIGURE 23. In that screen 2313, after 25 the shift has been selected, the clinician 116 may view the patients associated with the clinician 26 116. The clinician 116 may also view the tasks associated with the clinician 116. Accordingly, 27 a "to-do" list may be provided based on the patients, the clinician's tasks or both. Different 28 levels of shading and/or coloring may be utilized to differentiate between the level of urgent 29 care required for a specific patient. Additionally. various icons may be used in con-nection with 30 the patients to provide the clinician 116 a quick understanding of the care required by a patient. 31 The patient view interface screen 2313 of FIGURE 23 also provides the clinician 3 16 with the 32 ability to add more patients at button 2315. When the clinician 116 selects the "Add More 33 Patients" key 2315, the clinician may be provided with a list of additional patients.

79 1 The clinician 116 may also be provided with a patient selection interface screen 2417 as 2 shown in FIGURE 24. At this screen 2417, the clinician 116 may select patients to be added to 3 the clinician's shift. The patients may be from the unit associated with the clinician, or the 4 clinician may select to add patients from different units. The clinician 116 may also select the s amount of time with which they will be associated with that patient. Further, the clinician 116 6 may also find more patients at key 2419. It is also understood that the clinician 116 may also 7 remove patients from a shift at any time. 8 The system 210 also provides messages to the clinicians 116 that are specific to the 9 patients assigned to the clinician's shift. Typical messages may include items such as order o profile changes and missed medication administrations. A patient information menu interface screen 2521, shown in FIGURE 25, is also 2 available on the present system. The patient information menu screen 2521 provides a mini 3 patient chart for the selected patient. The patient menu screen 2521 also provides the clinician 4 116 the ability to link to items relating to the patient, such as: administer medications/infusions, 5 stop infusion, resume infusion, titrate infusion, flow rate history, pump status, and remove 6 patient from shift. The patient menu screen 2521 also has tabs for: Allergies and Ht/Wt, 7 Medication History, and Lab Results. An example of an Allergies & Ht/Wt interface screen 8 2521a is provided in FIGURE 25A. Typically this screen 2521a is displayed when the mini 9 chart is first opened. It displays information about the patient's drug and general allergies, and 0 the last recorded height and weight of the patient. An example of a Medication History I interface screen 252lb is provided in FIGURE 25B. Typically, this screen 2521b provides the 2 clinician with a medication history of the patient within the selected look back period. The look z3 back period may be adjusted by the clinician. Finally, an example of the lab results interface 24 screen 2521c is provided in FIGURE 25C. Lab results are made available in the system 210 25 through a lab interface. All available results are shown, and displayed in reverse chronological 26 order. 7 An infusion schedule interface screen 2623 for a patient is shown in FIGURE 26. This 8 screen 2623 illustrates an infusion schedule for the selected patient. By clicking one of the 9 identified orders, such as order 2625 for Morphine Sulfate on the infusion schedule screen 2623, o the system 210 will link to the medication order interface screen 2627 shown in FIGURE 26A. I Medication order screen 2627 provides a detail of order 2625 for the specified order (i.e., 2 Morphine Sulfate). As part of the detailed order 2625, the therapy parameters 2629 are 3 provided, as well as any warnings 2631 and the ability to link to additional information 2633.

80 1 FIGURE 28 illustrates a patient profile infusion schedule interface screen 2835 wherein 2 one of the scheduled infusions was missed. As shown in screen 2835, a "missed medication" 3 icon 4S37 is shown next to the schedule Morphine Sulfate infusion order 2839. By clicking on 4 the "missed medication" icon 4837, the system 210 links the clinician 116 to a missed 5 medication interface screen 2941 as shown in FIGURE 29. The missed medication screen 2941 6 requests the clinician 116 to enter, or select in the drop down menu, a reason 2943 for missing 7 the medication. The missed medication interface screen 2941 also inquires of the clinician 116 s whether the medication schedule for the order 2839 should be adjusted. To adjust the 9 medication schedule, the clinician 116 would select box 2945 on interface screen 2941. When D the clinician 116 clicks on the drop down menu to enter select a reason 2943 for missing the i medication, the drop down menu will expand as shown on interface screen 3047 of FIGURE 30. 2 Typically, if the medication is no longer needed, the clinician will select the "Not Required" 3 reason 3045. When the clinician 116 selects the "Not Required" reason 3045 for missing the 4 medication, the system 210 removes the missed medication icon 4837 and inserts the "Not 5 Required" icon 4857 as shown in the infusion schedule screen 3135 of FIGURE 31. 6 When the clinician 116 is ready to provide a medication therapy or order for a patient, 7 the clinician 116 will select the order 3225 in the schedule interface screen 3235, and then scroll s down to the "Get Items" key 3249 as shown in FIGURE 32. After the clinician 116 selects the 9 "Get Items" key 3249, in screen 3249 of FIGURE 32, the system 210 displays a medication D interface screen 3351 as shown in FIGURE 33. In the medication screen 3351, the clinician 116 I has the ability to scan the medication selected from the medication depot as shown at the "Scan 2 Depot" icon 3353, or to skip the scan depot block by selecting the "Skip Scan Depot" key 3355. 23 When the clinician 116 scans an item, such as by scanning a bar code on the item, the item 24 information is displayed on the clinician's PDA 118. An example of a scan screen 3465 is Z5 shown in FIGURE 34. When, for example, the clinician 116 scans a medication, the 26 prescription 3467 is displayed in the scan screen 3465. If, however, the scanned item does not 7 match the order for the patient, a scan error screen 3569, such as shown in FIGURE 35 will be 8 displayed on the clinician's PDA 118. As shown on interface screen 3569, when a scanning 9 error is detected the clinician 116 will be provided with an identification of the item to request 0 or search for as shown on screen 3569. If a bar code cannot be scanned, for example due to a I smeared or damaged bar code label, the data requested by the scan can be entered manually. 2 If the selected medication is in the same therapeutic class as another medication that was 3 recently administered to the patient, the clinician's digital assistant 118 displays a warning 81 1 message. Similarly, if the item has already been retrieved by another clinician, the digital 2 assistant 118 displays a message indicating such occurrence. 3 If the order to be retrieved is a mix-on-floor infusion, the individual ingredients are 4 identified on the digital assistant 118 and are to be retrieved by the clinician 116. After the 5 items are retrieved, the system 210 generates a bag ID and prompts the clinician 116 to print a 6 label 124a. At this point the clinician 116 also mixes the ingredients. After the clinician 116 7 prints out the label, the label is added to the bag and it can be scanned by the digital assistant 8 118. 9 Certain orders may be either on-call or on-hold. These orders are displayed on the o patient profile screen, such as interface screen 2835 of FIGURE 28. Orders that are either on i call or on-hold are available for viewing only, and not for retrieval. These orders are 2 subsequently activated as appropriate. 3 The scenario may also arise where the clinician 116 has an item, including a medication 4 item, that is not being used for a patient. Referring to interface screen 3657 in FIGURE 36, the 5 clinician 116 has the ability to identify the reason for not administering a medication, such as: 6 not being required due to a monitoring result, the patient being unavailable, or the medication 7 being refused. If the patient is not already identified in the screen 3657, the clinician 116 can 8 select 3661 the patient by scanning the patient or entering the patient's name. Additionally, the 9 clinician 116 can select to return the medical item to the medication depot by keying the .o "Waste/Retum" selection key 3663. For certain narcotics and controlled medications, two 1 signatures (i.e., a second authorization signature typically in the form of a login and password) 22 may be required both to initially obtain the medication, and to return the medication to the 23 depot. 24 The interface screen 3657 of FIGUJRE 36 also provides the clinician 116 with the ability 25 to scan the patient ID to identify the patient. If the wrong patient is scanned, or if the patient ID 26 does not scan properly, the system 210 displays a message that the scan is invalid. Further, if 27 the clinician 116 is unable to administer the medication, the clinician will typically have to enter 28 a reason 3659 for not administering the medication as shown in screen 3657 of FIGURE 36. 29 Some reasons for not administering the medication are: the medication is not required due to a 30 monitoring result, the patient is unavailable, or the medication is refused by the patient. 31 After the clinician 116 has already verified the patient and the item or medication, a 32 route verification interface screen 3771 is displayed. As shown in FIGURE 37, one example of 33 a route verification screen 3771 assists the clinician 116 in verifying the route 3773, line 3775 82 i and site 3777. The medication therapy 3778 may also be provided in the route verification 2 screen 3771. After the clinician enters the route 3773, line 3775 and site 3777, the clinician 116 3 can select the compare button 4817 and the system 210 will verify that the entered data is 4 correct. 5 Next, the clinician 116 can select the pump channel mode as shown in the interface 6 screen 3881 of FIGURE 38. In the pump channel mode interface screen 3881, the therapy 3882 7 is shown and the clinician 116 has the option to designate the therapy 3882 as a primary therapy 8 3884 or a piggyback therapy 3883. Each channel of the pump has the ability to operate a 9 primary therapy in addition to a piggyback therapy. After the pump channel mode has been 10 selected, the clinician can conduct a pump channel scan. FIGURE 38A illustrates a pump i channel scan interface screen 3885. In the pump scan screen 3885., the clinician 116 scans the 2 medical device, such as by scanning a bar code corresponding to the pump channel 121 and then 3 clicking on the arrow key 4809. 4 After the clinician 116 has: (a) scanned the patient, such as on interface screen 2313 of 5 FIGURE 23, (b) scanned the medication, such as on interface screen 3465 of FIGURE 34, and 6 (c) scanned the pump channel, such as on interface screen 3885 of FIGURE 38A, the clinician 7 116 can program the infusion pump and conduct a comparison of the programmed infusion 8 pump parameters or settings to the parameters of the pharmacy order. 9 Comparison of Device Settings and Orders 0 A exemplar flowchart of a comparison process 5200 is provided in FIGURE 52. This i process may also apply to programming the infusion settings remotely from the server. 2 Referring to FIGURE 52, the comparison process 5200 is initiated at block 5202 after the 3 clinician 116 has scanned the patient ID 112a, medication container or bag ID 124a, and the 24 pump channel 121, as identified above. By scanning the patient, medication bag and pump 25 channel, an association of the relevant baseline data is provided such that the system 210, and 26 more specifically server 109, can conduct further analysis and comparison of this and additional 27 data. First. however, the first central server 109 conducts a check at block 5204 to ensure that 28 the scanned or entered data for the patient, medication bag and pump channel results in a valid 29 association. If the three data items do not result in a valid association, the system 210 displays 0 an error message at block 5206 and requests that the clinician 116 re-scan or re-enter the codes 1 for each of the patient ID, bag [D and pump channel ID at block 5202. If the three data items .2 result in a valid association at block 5204, the server 109 will also conduct a sequence, as 83 1 explained below, to determine if the identified pump channel 121 is in the server's 109 database, 2 and if it is available for use. 3 After the pump channel ID has been scanned into the system 210, the first central server 4 109 conducts a check at block 5208 to determine if the selected pump channel 121 is valid. 5 Various reasons for an invalid pump channel determination is that: the pump channel does not 6 exist in the system, the selected pump channel is already in operation, etc. If the check of the 7 pump channel 121 results in an invalid result, an error message is displayed and the clinician is 8 alerted that an invalid channel has been selected. Until the clinician 116 rescans the pump 9 channel and a valid channel is recognized at block 5208, the comparison process 5200 is 10 precluded and the system cannot conduct the comparison as identified in block 5214. If, 11 however, the check results confirm that the selected channel 121 is a valid channel, the system 12 progresses to block 5212 to establish the appropriate links, as explained below. 13 At some time during the comparison process 5200, the second central server 108a 14 creates an XML message containing data relating to the patient ID and order ID. As shown in i5 the flowchart for the comparison process 5200, the XML data may be created and transferred to 16 the first central server 109, as identified at block 5210, at any point prior to block 5212. If 17 however, the XML data received by the first central server 109 from the second central server 18 108a is invalid or incomplete, the comparison process is precluded and the system does not 19 allow the comparison process to proceed as shown in block 5214. Conversely, if the XML data 20 relating to the patient ID and order ID is complete and valid, after the first central server 109 21 receives the XML data from the second central server 108a, the comparison process 5200 22 progresses to block 5212. 23 At block 5212 the first central server 109 attempts to establish a link or association 24 between the patient ID, the order ID and the pump channel 121. If the first central server 109 is 25 not able to establish a link between the identified data at block 5212, the comparison process 26 5200 is precluded and the system 210 does not allow the process to proceed as shown in block 27 5214. Further, the system 210 displays an error message that some data is missing or 28 inaccurate, and the system cannot conduct a comparison. If the first central server 109 properly 29 establishes a link between the identified data at block 5212, the system 210 proceeds to block 30 5216 wherein the clinician 116 is requested to press the compare button 4817 on the digital 31 assistant 118. An example of the sequence of screens occurring at block 5216 is identified 32 below.

84 i After the appropriate links have been established by the first central computer 109, the 2 system 210 progresses to one of the comparison interface screens, such as comparison interface 3 screen 3986 of FIGURE 39. In this comparison interface screen 3986, the system 210 provides 4 instructions to the clinician 116 to program the infusion pump prior to conducting any 5 comparisons. Comparison may be made to ensure that the pharmacy parameters for the 6 medication and the pump settings are in agreement. In a preferred embodiment, in the 7 comparison process 5200 as identified herein, the system 210 conducts a rate comparison. The 8 system may, however, conduct a single comparison or simultaneous multiple comparisons of 9 any infusion parameter such as rate, volume, dose, etc. 10 If the infusion is a primary infusion, the instructions are provided to click the "Compare" 11 button 4817 on the comparison interface screen 3986 and then to wait for instructions prior to 12 starting the pump channel. If the infusion is a piggyback infusion, the instructions are provided 13 to press the start key on the pump 120 and then to click the "Compare" button 4817. In a 14 piggyback infusion, if the clinician 116 presses the compare button 4817 at block 5216 prior to 15 pressing the start key on the pump, the interface screen 4287 as shown in FIGURE 42 will 16 typically be displayed providing the clinician with error instructions. 17 Initially, prior to conducting a comparison the system 210 polls the server 109 to ensure 18 that the communication link between the pump 120, server 109 and digital assistant 118 is still 19 active. If the communication link is active the comparison process 5200 proceeds. If the 2o communication link is lost, the comparison process is not able to proceed. ?1 Accordingly, after the clinician 116 has pressed the compare button 4817, the system ?2 210 proceeds to block 5218 as shown in FIGURE 52. At block 5218 the system 210 determines 23 if the channel 121 is ready. For example, if the infusion has been identified as a primary 24 infusion but the channel is already running, the system will default to block 5214 and display an 25 error message that the system cannot conduct a comparison. Further, if the infusion has been 26 identified as a piggyback infusion, and the start key on the pump has not been pressed, the 27 system will default to interface screen 4287 of FIGURE 42 to inform the clinician 116 to press 28 the start key on the pump before pressing the compare button 4817. 29 The comparison process 5200 also checks the pump 120 to determine if the settings or 30 operational parameters programmed into the pump 120 contains fresh data at block 5220. As an 31 example, the system may require that the pump data have been programmed into the pump 32 within a certain time limit (i.e., 5 minutes) prior to requesting the comparison. Such a time limit 33 for determining if the data is fresh data can be set by the healthcare facility. If the data is not 85 fresh data, the system will revert to block 5214 and display an error message that the data is 2 stale. The system 210 will then request that the pump 120 be reprogrammed for the comparison 3 process can proceed. If the data is determined to be fresh data at block 5220, the system 210 4 will execute the comparison at block 5222. The actual comparison of data is generally 5 conducted at the first central server 109. As previously explained, the comparison is to 6 determine if the parameters programmed into the pump conform with the physician's order. 7 Additionally, or alternatively, the pump settings can be remotely programmed by the remote s controller or server. 9 After the comparison is conducted at block 5222, the system 210 determines if there is a D match or mismatch at block 5224 and returns the results to the clinician 116 via the digital I assistant. 2 An example of a resultant comparison interface screen 3987 where the comparison 3 results in a match is shown in FIGURE 39A, and identified at block 5226 in FIGURE 52. In 4 this instance, if the pharmacy prescription parameters and the programmed pump channel 5 settings match, the clinician 116 is instructed to start the infusion pump 120. 5 An example of a resultant comparison interface screen where the comparison of the 7 pharmacy prescription parameters and the programmed pump settings do not match at block 3 5224, is depicted in the mismatch comparison interface screen 4087 of FIGURE 40 with the a mismatch icon 4825 shown. If this result occurs the system 210 will require the clinician 116 to > either accept the mismatch, as identified at block 5228, or reprogram the infusion pump at block 1 5230 and conduct another comparison at block 5216. Typically, the parameters wherein the z mismatch occurred will be displayed in the mismatch screen 4087. If the mismatch is accepted, 3 it will be recorded in the system database 109 at block 5232. Further, if a mismatch is accepted 4 at block 5228, the server 108a will navigate the clinician to the appropriate screen. 5 FIGURE 41 displays an example of a comparison interface screen 4187 whereby the 6 system 210 is not able to conduct a comparison because some of the data is not available. 7 Specifically, in the example of FIGURE 41, the pump rate settings have not been entered into 8 the system 210. Thus, the system 210 cannot conduct the comparison until additional data, such 9 as the rate in this example, has been entered. Typically, the system 210 is not able to conduct a o comparison if: an infusion is already running, the system cannot receive updated pump 1 information, there is a system communication error, or there is missing data either from the 2 programmed channel information or the pharmacy prescription information. Finally, the 3 comparison screen 4287 of FIGURE 42 displays another scenario whereby the system 210 86 1 cannot conduct the comparison until further steps are taken as indicated. Typically, this 2 interface screen 4287 is provided when the infusion is a piggyback infusion, and the clinician 3 has pressed the compare button 4817 in interface screen 3986 of FIGURE 39, instead of 4 pressing the start key on the infusion pump 120 prior to pressing the compare button 4817, as 5 indicated in the instructions of interface screen 3986 of FIGURE 39. 6 After the infusion pump has initiated a therapy, the clinician 116 is able to view on 7 his/her digital assistant 118 the status of the pump in a pump status interface screen 4391 as 8 shovn in FIGURE 43. The pump status display 4391 displays a list of all currently active 9 infusions for a given patient. Typically, one of five icons will be displayed in conjunction with 10 an infusion in this screen: infusion running indicator 4807, infusion standby indicator 4810, 11 infusion stopped indicator 4811, an unknown icon, and a delay icon. The pump status display 12 4391 does not update in real-time while a current screen is being displayed; however, by tapping 13 the refresh button 4819, the most current real-time pump status screen will be displayed. 14 As shown in FIGURE 44, the clinician 116 is also able to view a flow rate history 15 interface screen 4493. The clinician 116 can navigate directly to the flow rate history screen 16 4493 by clicking on the flow rate history link on the patient menu interface screen 2521 shown 17 in FIGURE 25. The flow rate history shows the history of programmed flow rate history t8 changes for a current infusion on a given channel. Generally, the patient information associated 19 with the channel is displayed, as well as the current prescription information for that channel. 20 Further, after the clinician 116 has logged in on the digital device 118, selected the shift and 21 selected the patients, the clinician 116 can perform a variety of tasks on the digital device 118, 22 including but not limited to: recording an administered infusion, recording a stopped or resumed 23 infusion, recording a discontinued infusion, viewing pump flow rate history as described above, 24 viewing pump infusion status as described above, responding to pump alarms and alerts as 25 described below, viewing messages/notifications and responding to messages/notifications. 26 Specifically, with respect to recording an administered infusion, after the clinician 116 has 27 scanned the item bar code, the patient bar code, and the pump channel bar code, the clinician is 28 able to compare the programmed pump settings to the pharmacy-entered order as explained in 29 detail above. Typically, the clinician 116 will then administer the infusion using the punp 120 30 and record the infusion using the digital device 11 8. 31 To start an infusion, the clinician 116 typically scans the patient's wristband bar code 32 112a and scans the infusion bag bar code label 124a. When prompted by the digital device I 18, 33 the clinician 116 enters and compares the line, site and route for the infusion as shown in 87 1 interface screen 3771 of FIGURE 37. Next, in screen 3881 of FIGURE 38, the clinician 116 2 selects a primary or piggyback infusion 3883, and scans the purnp channel. The clinician 116 3 then programs the pumps as directed by the physician order. When the pump 120 is 4 programmed, the clinician 116 selects to conduct a pharmacy order and pump comparison 5 check, as shown in FIGURES 39-42. If the programmed pump settings match the pharmacy 6 entered order, an interface screen such as screen 4287 will indicate a match, and the clinician 7 116 can tap the OK button 4805 to accept the match. Finally, the clinician 116 will press the 8 start key on the pump 120. The digital assistant 118 will then display the record administration 9 results interface screen 4937 in FIGURE 49, and the clinician 116 can enter the appropriate 10 result from the choices in the drop-down list. These steps can be repeated for additional patients 11 and/or additional pumps or channels. 12 Before administering a medication, the clinician 116 rnay be prompted to enter a 13 monitoring parameter, e.g., a heart rate before administering dioxin, or a pain assessment before 14 administering morphine. When a monitoring parameter is associated with a medication, each 15 administration of the medication displayed on the digital assistant 118 has a link to an interface 16 screen where the clinician 116 may enter a value. An example of such an order having a link 17 5001 to the entry of a monitoring parameter is shown in the order displayed in FIGURE 50. 18 After the monitoring parameter link 5001 is selected, a monitoring parameter entry interface 19 screen 5003, as shown in FIGURE 50A is displayed. There, the clinician 116 may enter into the 20 system 210 the requested information. 21 Additionally, the system 210 may request the clinician 116 to monitor a cycle count, 22 typically when retrieving narcotic or controlled medications from the medication depot. As an 23 example, when the depot drawer opens to provide the narcotic or controlled medication, the 24 digital assistant 118 may display a cycle count interface screen 5101 as shown in FIGURE 51. 25 This interface screen 5101 prompts the clinician to count the units of medication currently in the 26 bin or storage area, and then to enter this data in the field provided. The system 210 then 27 compares this quantity to the expected count. If the cycle count does not match, the digital 28 assistant 118 displays a message indicating the mismatch, and then displays the cycle count 29 screen 5101 again. If the cycle count does not match again, the system 210 will record the 30 discrepancy and appropriate measures may be taken. 31 As circumstances require, a clinician may stop a running infusion before it has finished. 32 This ma-y be done either with or without a discontinue order in the system to stop the infusion. 33 Infusion.s that have been stopped may be resumed as circumstances require, such as titrating an 88 i order. When the discontinued infusion 4813 and running infusion icons 4807 are both displayed <2 on the digital assistant 118, the clinician 116 is instructed to navigate on the digital assistant 118 3 to display a list of all running infusions for the patient. An example of such a discontinue 4 infusion interface screen 2727a is provided in FIGURE 27A. In FIGURE 27A the discontinued 5 infusion order will be highlighted and indicated as being a discontinued infusion order. The 6 clinician 116 will then scan the bar code on the solution container for the discontinued infusion, 7 and then scan the patient's ID. Next, interface screen 2727b is provided on the clinician's 8 digital assistant 118 as shown in FIGURE 27B. In interface screen 2727b the clinician can enter 9 the time the infusion has been stopped, as well as the reason for stopping the infusion. The o clinician 116 can then physically stop the infusion pump 120 by depressing the stop button on I the infusion pump 120. 2 A resume infusion interface screen 2727c is provided in FIGURE 27C. Infusions that 3 are recorded as stopped, without an order to discontinue, may be resumed. To resume an 4 infusion the clinician 116 must initially navigate to the appropriate interface screen on the 5 digital assistant 118. By tapping on the stopped infusion icon 4811 in the patient menu, a list of 6 all infusions currently stopped for the patient will be displayed as shown in interface screen 7 2727c of FIGURE 27C. A prompt is provided for the clinician to select the infusion to be 8 resumed. The clinician 116 then scans the bar code on the solution container for the infusion to 9 be resumed. The system 210 compares the scanned ID to those for the infusions currently 9 stopped for the patient. After the system 210 compares the ID with those that are currently I stopped for the patient, the digital assistant 118 prompts the clinician I 16 to scan the patient's 2 ID. The system 210 then confirms that the scanned ID matches the patient's ID. and the system 3 210 will display on the digital assistant 118 the description of the scanned infusion and prompt 24 the clinician 116 to select a facility-defined reason for resuming the infusion, as shown in 5 interface 2727d of FIGURE 27D. Once the reason is selected, the clinician 116 can restart the 26 infusion at the pump 120 and then tap the arrow 4809 to continue. The system 210 records the :7 infusion as having been resumed. 8 As shown in the various screen shots/interfaces for the digital assistant 118, a variety of 9 icons are utilized to assist the clinician 116. Many of these icons are shown in FIGURE 48. o The patient list button 4801 is a key that, when tapped, allows the clinician 116 to navigate 1 directly to the patient list screen, such as the patient list screen 2313 shown in FIGURE 23. The 2 back button 4803 is a key that, when tapped, returns the screen on the digital assistant 118 to the 3 previous screen. The OK button 4805 is tapped to acknowledge data shown on the digital 89 device 118. When the OK button 4805 is tapped the next screen is usually displayed. The e infusion inning indicator button 4807 indicates that a programmed infusion is now running for the selected pump 120 and channel. The infusion standby indicator 4810 indicates that a programmed infusion has been put on standby for the selected patient, pump 120 and channel. The infusion stopped indicator 4811 indicates that the programmed infusion has been stopped for the selected patient, pump 120 and channel. The infusion discontinue order indicator 4813 indicates that a pharmacy-entered order will discontinue an infusion for the selected patient, pump 120 and channel. The physician's notes indicator 4815 indicates the presence of physician's notes for the selected patient, pump 120 and channel. The clinician 116 can tap the notes indicator 4815 to view the notes. The compare button 4817 is provided in various screens, and when tapped has the system 210 perform a comparison of the scanned item with the pharmacy-entered order, as well as additional comparisons. The refresh button 4819 is tapped to update arnd show the latest data on the screen. The exit button 4821 allows the clinician to exit the current screen, and return to the previously displayed screen. The enter button 4809 is also the OK button and is tapped to acknowledge and enter either data selected from choices within a drop-down list, or data manually entered in a field. The comparison match indicator 4823 indicates that programmed pump settings match pharmacy-entered order information. The comparison mismatch indicator 4825 indicates that programmed pump settings do not match pharmacy-entered order information. The cannot compare indicator 4827 indicates that the system cannot compare the programmed pump settings to the pharrnacy-entered order information. The pump alarm/alert indicator 4872 indicates that an alarm or alert condition is occurring. Vhen the alarm/alert indicator 4872 is tapped, an expanded pump alarm and alert 3 screen is displayed. On the alarm and alert screen, a red alarm/alert icon 4872 indicates an 4 alarm condition, and a yellow alarm/alert icon 4872 indicates an alert condition. The alarm/alert 5 silence button 4874 is tapped to temporarily silence the audible alert on the digital device I IS. 6 The loss of communication indicator 4833 indicates that the pump 120 and/or the hub 107 is not 7 properly coniununicating with the system 210. A message accompanying this indication 8 describes the steps to take to resolve the problem. The wireless module low battery alert 9 indicator 4835 indicates that the hub 107 is presently running on a backup battery that has less o than 30 minutes of battery power remaining. The above disclosure relating to the setup and use of the digital assistant I18 has been 2 discussed with respect to a clinician 116 performing these functions. It is understood, however, 90 1 that these tasks may be perforrned by any hospital administrative or staff individual, whether or 2 not that individual is a clinician 116. 3 Emergency Notification Process 4 Referring to FIGURE 12, there is shown a preferred embodiment of a-n emergency 5 notification system 1200. A notifying party 1210 is in communication with a communication 6 network 1220. One of skill in the art will appreciate the variety of communication networks are 7 operable including, but not limited to, an Ethernet network, a coaxial cable network, a wireless 8 local area network, and a wireless wide area network. Additionally, a variety of communication 9 network protocols are operable, but not limited to, Transfer Control Protocol / Internet Protocol 10 ("TCP/IP"), Wireless Application Protocol ("WAP"), and User Datagram Protocol ("UDP"). 11 Additionally, the communication network 1220 is operable as a part of a larger communication 12 network; for example, the communication network 1220 may be a wireless communication 13 network in communication with a wired communication network existing in, for example, a 14 hospital. 15 In conimunication with. the communication network 1220 is a notifying party 1210. The 16 notifying party 1210 may be a hospital clinician, for example, a nurse, doctor, hospital 17 administrator, or security officer. The notifying party 1210 may also be a patient. Additionally, iS the notifying party 1210 may be an automated process, for example, a computer program or a 19 medical device. The automated process acting as a notifying party 1210 may be programmed to 20 broadcast an emergency notification across the communication network 1220 upon the 21 fulfillment of a certain condition or an event. For example, the automated process may be 22 programmed to broadcast an emergency notification upon the sensing of a patient condition. 23 The emergency notification is received by one or more target parties 1230. Target 24 parties 1230 may be clinicians, for example, doctors and nurses. The target parties 1230 may 25 also be an emergency response officer or security officer, or an environmental hazard team. The 26 target party 1230 may be any individual in communication with the communication network 27 1220. The present embodiment provides the notifying party 1210 with the option of sending the 23 emergency notification only to a certain target party 1230 or target parties 1230, or to all target 29 parties 1230; the embodiment allows for the notifying party 1210 to choose which target parties 30 1230 receive the emergency notification. 31 The target parties 1230 and notifying party 1210 are in communication with the 32 communication network 1220. One skilled in the art will appreciate the variety of modes of 33 communication 1240 which may provide for the notifying party 1210 and target parties 1230 to 91 i be in communication with the communication network 1220. For example, the mode of <2 communication 1240 may be a wired connection, for example, a personal computer or 3 programmable controller. The rmode of communication 1240 may also be a wireless network 4 connection enabled through a handheld computer or a cellular phone. 5 Referring now to FIGURE 13, there is shown a notification interface 1300 from the 6 perspective of the notifying party 1210. One skilled in the art will appreciate the variety of 7 interfaces which will enable the notifying party 1210 to broadcast an emergency notification via 8 the communication network 1220. The notification interface may be a website connected to an 9 intranet or the Internet. The notification interface may also be activated by a cellular phone or D other telephone, or by an electronic email. In one embodiment, the notification interface 1300 is i a handheld computer of the type found widely commercially available. Examples include the 2 Palm devices manufactured by PalmOne, Inc., the Visor devices manufactured by PalrnOne, 3 Inc., the Jomada devices manufactured by Hewlett Packard, Inc., the Axim devices 4 manufactured by Dell, Inc., the Clie devices manufactured by Sony, Inc., and the PocketPC 5 devices manufactured by Toshiba, Inc., Compaq and Symbol. 6 In one embodiment, the notification interface 1300 comprises a menu 1330 listing one or 7 more options 1340. For example, one notification option 1340 may allow the notifying party 8 1210 to select a specific clinician or type of clinician to be the target party 1230 of the 9 emergency notification. Another notification option 1340 may allow the notifying party 1210 to o choose to cancel the emergency notification, in the event that the emergency notification was I sent erroneously. Additional notification options 1340 may include entries for patient 2 identification information, patient location, the type of the emergency, and the expected lime for 23 response. 24 Referring now to FIGURE 14, there is shown one embodiment of a receiving interface 25 1400 from the perspective of the target party 1230. Similar to the notification interface 1300, 26 the receiving interface 1400 may be operable on a variety of different platforms and remain 27 practicable under the principles of the present invention. In one embodiment illustrated in 28 FIGURE 13, the receiving interface 1400 is a handheld computer. The interface 1400 includes a 29 screen 1420 for displaying configurable information 2350. The information 2350 may include o emergency notification information such as patient identification, location of the emergency, the i type of the emergency, and tle expected time for a response. 2 Both the notification interface 1300 and the receiving interface 1400 are optionally 3 configured with a hotkey 1350, 1460. With respect to the notification interface 1300, the hotkey 92 1 1350 may be configured to send an emergency notification containing information obtained 2 automatically from the notification interface 1300 itself. For example, pressing the hockey 1350 3 on the notification interface 1300 may be configured to automatically send an emergency 4 notification containing the information. 5 Messaging & Notifications, Including Alarm/Alert Notifications 6 The system provides for transmitting notifications and messages. Notifications may 7 include, but are not limited to: patient status lists, alarms, alerts, infusion schedules, orders, 8 overrides, warnings, therapy parameters, links to additional information, missed medications, 9 route verifications, comparisons, flow rate information, physician notes, loss of communication, 10 low battery, administration results, etc. The system also provides for displaying these and 11 additional notifications. One way in which a notification is displayed is on the digital assistants 12 118. Notifications may be provided to any one of numerous clinicians and/or charge clinicians. 13 As explained above, one type of notification is an alarm/alert notification. In the present 14 system, notifications may be escalated. A specific alarm/alert escalation process is shown in 15 FIGURE 15. Typically, a notification process is provided to transmit notifications to any 16 number of clinicians 116. The identified alarm/alert escalation process 1500 of FIGURE 15 17 provides for notifying a series of clinicians via a clinician device 118 when an alarm or alcrt is 18 active on a medical device such as an infusion pump 120. In a preferred embodiment, the 19 clinician's device is a personal digital assistant ("PDA") 118, such as shown in FIGURES 1 and 20 3, typically having a display 11 8a and an audible tone or sound generator 11 Sc. For illustrative 21 purposes only, the clinician's device will hereinafter be identified in this detailed description as 22 a digital assistant 118. Further, the alarm/alert escalation process 1500 provides an escalation 23 process when the clinician fails to respond to the alarm/alert notification on the digital assistant 24 118. When an escalation process is started, a notification is provided to another or second 25 clinician's digital assistant 118 as specified in the escalation procedure. While the alarm/alert 26 notification is sent to the digital assistants 118, it is understood that typically the pump alarrns 27 and alerts can only be resolved at the purnp. As explained herein, silencing of the alarm or alert 28 at the digital assistant 118, such as in block 1580 of FIGURE 15, may or may not affect the 29 pump. 30 The alarm/alert escalation process 1500 commences at block 1505 when at least one or 31 both of an alarm or an alert condition is triggered at the medical device 120. In a preferred 32 embodiment, shown in FIGURE 3, following the triggering of an alarm or an alert at the 33 medical device 120, a signal containing data relating to the alarm or alert condition is generated 93 i and sent at block 1510 from the medical device 120, to the server 109. In a wireless 2 environment, either a medical device 120 having a wireless transmitter is provided or a medical 3 device 120 connected to a wireless hub 107 is provided. In the latter example, shown in 4 FIGURE 3, the hub 107 receives signals from the medical devices 120 and converts the signals 5 into a format suitable for transmission onto the systern network 102 via wireless communication 6 path or link 128. Further, if the hub 107 recognizes that the alarm, alert or other notification is a 7 duplicate, it may discard the duplicate notification. The transmitted signal is received by a 8 wireless access point 114 within the healthcare environment. The wireless access points 114 9 provide an interface between the wireless communication paths (i.e., wireless path 128) and 10 cable communication paths such as cable communication path 110 shown in FIGURE 3. 11 After the server 109 receives the data relating to the alarm or alert condition, sent at 12 block 1510, the server 109 conducts a precondition check at block 1515. The precondition 13 check 3030 may include: associating the alarm or alert condition at the medical device 120 with 14 a specific patient; associating the patient with a prirnary clinician, also referred to as a first 15 clinician (this association may be conducted at the central system servicing unit 108a); and, 16 associating the first clinician with that clinician's digital assistant 118. The server 109 uses the 17 information gained in its precondition check at block- 1515 to establish a relationship between is the medical device 120 (and in one embodiment the specific channel 121 of the infusion pump 19 120) the patient, the primary or first clinician and the first clinician's digital assistant 118. It is 20 understood that there is a many to many relationship between patients 112 and clinicians 116. 21 Accordingly, numerous first clinicians, numerous second clinicians, and numerous n-level 22 clinicians may be associated with a specific patient. Further, n-level escalations are also 23 possible within this system. 24 Typically, the server 108a has stored therein the patient to clinician many-to-many 25 associations, and the patient to unit associations. The server 108a transmits these associations to 26 server 109, and the server 109 stores these associations. Similarly, the server I 08a sends the 27 charge clinician to unit associations to the server 109 for storage. 28 Following the precondition check at block 1515, the server 109 determines the 29 appropriate channel 121 to patient 112 to clinician 116 mapping. Once the mapping is 30 complete, the server 109 determines if the first clinician's digital assistant 118 is active at block 31 1520. If the first clinician's digital assistant 118 is active, then the server 109 generates a signal 32 representative of the alarm or alert condition that exist. The signal includes data such as the 33 patient's name, patient's location, room identification, bed identification, alarm or alert type.

94 1 condition description, time, date, clinician ider.tification and/or prescription. In the preferred 2 embodiment, the signal is transmitted from the server 109 to the wireless access point 114. The 3 wireless access point 114 then transmits the signal relating to the alarm or alert condition via a 4 wireless communication transmission to the clinician's digital assistant 118 at block 1525. 5 The signal relating to the alarm or alert condition may also be transmitted at block 1525 6 to a charge clinician, a secondary first clinician, or a secondary clinician. Such a signal may be 7 transmitted via a wireless or wired communication. Further, the charge clinician may be 8 utilizing a digital assistant 118, a desktop conirputer, or some other electronic device. The 9 charge clinician is generally a supervisor or some person to whom the clinicians report. 10 Additionally, the charge clinician may be a person who assists in workflow for the clinicians, or 11 who assists in monitoring alarm or alert conditions. 12 The signal is received by the clinician's digital assistant I 18, and subsequently displayed 13 at block 1530 in FIGURE 15. This block provides for indicating the alarm or alert condition on 14 the clinician's digital assistant 118. The indication on the clinician's digital assistant may be 15 visual, audible, or both visual and audible. Further, the visual indication may include one or 16 more of text, icons, symbols, etc. Similarly, as explained above, the audible indication may 17 include a variety of audible tones at a variety of decibel levels. The visual and audible is indicators are configurable by the hospital. FIGUJRE 16A discloses an exemplar screen shot of 19 an alarm/alert interface list screen 1662a on the clinician's digital assistant I 18. The alarm/aleft 20 list interface 1662a contains a list of patients that are currently associated to active channel 21 alarm/alerts. As shown in FIGURE 16A, this clinician's digital assistant 118 currently has three 22 active alarm/alert indications. There is an alarmn condition for patient one 1664, an alarm 23 condition for patient two 1666, and an alert condition for patient three 1668. Each patient name 24 and corresponding alarm/alert icon is a hyperlink to the appropriate pump alarm details interface 25 screen, as shown in FIGURE 17. In one embodiment, the list of patients is filtered to only 26 include the patients that are currently associated to the clinician 116 logged into the digital 27 assistant 118 displaying this interface screen. This clinician-to-patient association can be as a 28 primary clinician or as a temporary coverage clinician. A secondary clinician can also be 29 accessed through the escalation process. The alarm/alert list interface 1662 is typically accessed 30 by clicking on an alarm/alert icon 4872 displayed on the clinician's 116 digital assistant 118 31 during normal clinician workflow. 32 As explained above. when the alarm or alert condition is indicated on the clinician's 33 digital assistant at block 1530. this indication may be provided visually, audibly or both. When 95 1 an audible indication is provided at the clinician's digital assistant 118, the alarm icon 4872 2 appears on the display I1Sa of the clinician's digital assistant I1S. If an audible indication is 3 provided, the clinician may have the ability to mute the audible indication even though the 4 clinician has not responded to the alarm or alert condition. If the clinician does silence the 5 alarm, the server 109 will initiate a silence timer. The visual indication will remain even though 6 the audible indication has been muted. As shown in FIGURE 16A, if an alarm/alert would be 7 providing an audible indication at the clinician's digital assistant 118 but for the muting by the 8 clinician, a muted alarm/alert icon 4874 is provided. Further, upon escalation of the alarm/alert 9 condition, if the clinician does not respond to the alarm within the timer limit, the muting of the io audible indication may be disengaged. An alternate embodiment of the audible indication may I I be a vibration alert. 12 Further, it is understood that multiple alarm/alert conditions may occur simultaneously 13 or in overlapping periods. Accordingly, simultaneous or overla-pping signals containing data 14 relating to the specific alarm or alert condition are generated and sent at block 1510 from the is medical device 120, to the server 109. The alarm/alert signals iay originate from the same or 16 different medical devices 120. Further, the alarm/alert signals may relate to the same or 17 different patients. Each of the alarm/alert signals, however, a.re individually routed in the is alarm/alert escalation process 1500 as herein described for an individual alarm/alert condition. 19 As shown in FIGURE 16A, a specific clinician may have numerous alarm/alert indications on 20 his/her digital assistant 118. Another example of an alami/alert screen is shown on interface 21 screen 1662b of FIGURE 16B. As is typical in the present systern, the line referenced as 1676 22 in interface screen 1662b of FIGURE 16B indicates the end of a list, and specifically the 23 alarm/alert indication list for a specific clinician in this interface. 24 FIGURE 17 illustrates a detailed patient alarm/alert interface 1765 after the clinician has 25 selected to view one of the alarm/alert indications for the patierit hyperlink on the clinician's 26 digital assistant 118 from the interface list 1662a of FIGURE 16A. Here, the clinician has 27 selected the alarm indication for patient one 1664. The alann/ale-rt detail screen 1765 provides 28 the clinician with a message detailing the reason for the alarm/alert. The clinician can click on 29 the refresh button 4819 to update the current information displayed on the screen 1765. As 30 shown on interface 1867 of FIGURE 18, multiple alarms or alerts 1878. 1882 may exist for the 31 same patient. This alarm/alert interface 1867 provides a list of all active pump alarm/alerts that 32 are currently associated to a given patient. These active pump alarm/alerts can be from multiple 96 i channels 121 and/or pumps 120, and even spread across multiple hubs 107. This interface 2 screen 1867 is accessed by specifying a given patient on the pump alarm list screen 1662. 3 After the signal is sent to the clinician's digital assistant at block 1525, and received by 4 the primary clinician's digital assistant 118 at block 1530, a timer is initiated at block 1535 at 5 the server 109. The timer has a timer limit. A typical escalation timer limit is approximately 2 6 minutes; however, this limit is configurable by the hospital. At block 1540, the system 7 determines if a response is provided to the alert or alarm within the tinier limit. If the timer limit 8 is reached without acknowledgment from the primary clinician's digital assistant 118, the 9 process proceeds to block 1545. At block 1545, the system makes the further inquiry as to [o whether an acknowledgment or response to the alarm/alert condition has been made at the ii medical device 120. If no response has been made at either the primary clinician's digital 2 assistant 118, the medical device 120, or by the charge clinician, then at block 1545 the .3 alarm/alert process is escalated. 4 If at any time a loss of communication occurs after an alarm/alert condition is triggered, 5 but prior to the acknowledgment of the alarm/alert condition, the alarm/alert condition will 6 reassert once the loss of communication has been fixed. Similarly, if a-n alarm./alert condition is 7 triggered after a loss of communication, the alarm/alert condition will reassert once the 8 communication has been re-established. 9 When an alarm is escalated, the server 109 conducts another pre condition check at block .O 1550. This precondition check 1550 may include: associating the patient with a secondary I clinician (this association may be conducted at the central system servicing unit 108a); and, .2 associating the second clinician with that clinician's digital assistant I 18, also referred to as the 3 second clinician's device or second clinician's digital assistant 118. The server 109 uses the 24 information gained in its precondition check at block 1550 to establish a relationship between 25 the medical device 120, the patient, the secondary clinician and the second clinician's digital 26 assistant I18. 27 Following the second precondition check at block 1550, the server 109 may also 28 determine if the second clinician's digital assistant 118 is active. If the second clinician's digital 29 assistant 118 is active, then the server 109 generates an escalated signal representative of the 30 alarm or alert condition that exists. The escalated signal similarly includes data such as the 31 patient's name, patient's location, room identification, bed identification, alarm or alert type, 32 condition description, time, date, clinician identification and/or prescription. In (he preferred 33 embodiment, the escalated signal is transmitted from the server 109 to the wireless access point 97 1 114. The wireless access point 114 then transmits the escalated signal relating to the alarm or '2 alert condition via a wireless communication transmission to the second clinician's digital 3 assistant 118 at block 1555. 4 The escalated signal relating to the alarm or alert condition may also be transmitted at 5 block 1555 to a charge clinician. Such an escalated signal may be via a 'wireless or wired 6 communication. Further, the charge clinician may be utilizing a digital assistant, a desktop 7 computer, or some other electronic device. As explained above, the charge clinician is generally s a supervisor or some person to whom the clinicians report, or a person who assists in workflow 9 for the clinicians, or who assists in monitoring alarm or alert conditions. 0 The escalated signal is received by the second clinician's digital assistant 118, and 1 subsequently displayed at block 1560 in FIGURE 15. This block provides f4or indicating the 2 alarm or alert condition on the second clinician's digital assistant 118. The indication on the 3 second clinician's device may be visual, audible, or both visual and audible. Further, the visual 4 indication may include one or more of text, icons, symbols, etc. Similarly, as explained above, 5 the audible indication may include a variety of audible tones. It is understood, however, that the 6 original signal, see block 1525. sent to the first clinician is still maintained at the first clinician's 7 digital assistant, as shown in block 1530 of FIGURE 15. The signal at the first clinician's 8 digital assistant 118 may be elevated (i.e., it may be shown in a larger size or font, it may be 9 flashing, the volume of the audible alert may be louder, etc.). 0 After the secondary signal is sent to the clinician's digital assistant at block 1555 and I received by the secondary clinician's digital assistant 118 at block 1560, there are at least two 2 individuals (the first clinician and/or the charge clinician) and at least two devices that have the 23 alarm/alert conditions active. Accordingly, any of these clinicians may respond to the 24 alam/alert condition as shown in blocks 1540 and 1565. The escalated alarm process will 25 continue, at block 1570, until the alarm/alert condition is cleared either at one of the clinician's 26 digital assistant 118, the charge clinician's computer or device, or at the medical device 120. 27 Referring back to block 1520, if the server 109 determines that the prirnary clinician's 28 digital assistant 118 is not active, and if at block 1545 the server 109 determines that the 29 alarm/alert condition still exists, the server 109 will proceed to block 1550 as discussed above to 30 determine the appropriate secondary or charge clinician to send the alarm/alert signal. 31 Additionally, it is understood that block 1520 may occur at any time during the alarm/alert 2 escalation process 1500. One reason for a clinician's digital assistant 118 being inactive could 3 be a loss of a signal from the server 109. As shown in the communication loss iraterface screen 98 i 4501 of FIGURES 45A and 45B, when the signal is lost the digital assistant I18 will provide the 2 clinician 116 with a screen 4501, and/or an audible/vibratory indication, indicating a lost signal. 3 The communication loss screen 4501 also informs the clinician 116 as to which patients the 4 signal has been lost. At screen 4501 the system 210 also provides the clinician 116 with trouble 5 shooting tips to regain a signal. When a hub 107 or digital assistant 118 is outside of the 6 wireless range, pump alarms and alerts cannot be received at the digital assistant 118. 7 Other reasons for the digital assistant 118 being inactive could be the loss of battery 8 power at the digital assistant 118, a loss of battery power at the wireless hub 107, or the digital 9 assistant losing a signal with the access point 114. The system 210 does provide the clinician 10 116 with a low battery screen. As shown in interface screen 4603 of FIGURE 46, one type of 11 low battery screen is a screen to alert the clinician that a low battery situation exists c>n a 12 wireless hub 107 connected to a patient's infusion pump. When a low battery screen is 13 provided, the screen contains a list of patients for which infusions are associated with -that 14 specific hub 107. The list of patients is generally filtered to include only the patients that are 15 currently associated to the clinician logged into the digital assistant 118 displaying the screen 16 4603, and also all patients that share the same infusion pump 120/hub 107 with the logged-in 17 clinician. This clinician-to-patient association can be as a first clinician or as a secondary 18 clinician through the escalation process. It is understood that other reasons for the clinician's 19 digital assistant 118 being inactive are possible. Nevertheless, if at any time the clinician's 20 digital assistant 118 becomes inactive, the process 1500 may proceed to block 1550 such that 21 the signal may be sent to a secondary clinician and/or to the charge clinician. Further, as 22 explained above with respect to a time-out feature and other features of this disclosure, if a 23 communication signal is lost from either the server 109 or the medical device 120, a signal 1st 24 message may be provided on the digital assistant 118 as shown in FIGURES 45A and 45B. 25 At any time during the alarm/alert process, the primary clinician may respond to the 26 alarm/alert signal. If the primary clinician responded to the alarm/alert signal at block 1540, the 27 escalated process will be avoided. If, however, an escalated process has been initiated at blck 28 1550, either the primary physician or the secondary clinician may respond to the alarm/alert 29 signal at block 1565. Similarly, the alanm/alert condition may be resolved at the medical device 30 120, or by the charge clinician at any time, either before or during an alarm/alert escalation 31 process. After the alarm/alert condition has been resolved, either at block 1540, block 1565, at 32 the medical device 120 or by the charge clinician, the audible alarm at the medical device 120 33 and at the clinician's digital assistant 18 will be terminated at block 1540.

99 1 The server 109 records all alarm/alert conditions as an event at block 1585. Recording 2 the event may include: recording information on the alarm/alert condition; recordin g the 3 clinician who responded to the alarm/alert condition; recording the initial time of the alanrJalert 4 condition (see block 1505); and, recording the time when the alann/alert condition was rectified. s Additionally, at block 1590, the server 109 will reset the timer and update a medical device 6 alarm list. The alarm/alert condition may also be recorded in the pump's event history. 7 Example Use Cases 8 FIGURE 55A - FIGURE 62 are flowcharts of example operations that ma-y be 9 performed using the system described herein. Example operations include administering a. new t0 infusion, scanning a pump channel, changing the channel a pump is assignect to, II stopping/discontinuing an infusion, resuming an infusion, and removing a pump. In general, 2 each of these operations receives inputs from an electronic device, such as a digital assistant 3 118, which includes information indicating the operation to be performed, information 14 identifying which patient 112 is to be affected (e.g., patient ID), and information identifEying 5 which medication 124 for that patient 112 is to be affected (e.g., Rx ID). This information is 6 then sent to the first central server 109, which confirms that channel identification information [7 matches the infusion order information and confirms that the correct infusion operation 18 occurred. 19 Administer Infusion Process 0 FIGURE 55A illustrates an example of an administer infusion process 5500. Portiorns of !I the administer infusion process 5500 are an alternate embodiment of the comparison procedure !2 5200 outlined above. The administer infusion process 5500 may be used to start a new infusion. 23 In general, the administer infusion process 5500 receives inputs from an electronic device, such 24 as a digital assistant 118, which includes information indicating an administer infusion process 25 is to be performed, information identifying which patient 112 is to be affected (e.g., patient ID), 26 and information identifying which medication 124 for that patient 112 is to be started (e.g., Rx 27 ID). The process 5500 then sends this information to the first central server 109, which 28 confirms that channel identification information matches the infusion order information and 29 confirms that the correct infusion is started. 30 More specifically, the example administer infusion process 5500 begins vllcn the second 31 central server 108a causes the digital assistant I IS to display a list of patients at block 5502. An 32 example of a digital assistant display 118a showing a list of patients is illustrated in FIGUTRE 33 24. The list of patients is preferably limited to patients associated with the user (e.g., a clinician 100 1 116) who is logged into that digital assistant 118 at the time. Once the user selects a patient 2 112, information identifying the selection and/or the patient 112 is transmitted from the digital 3 assistant 118 back to the second central server 108a. Communication between the digital 4 assistant 118 and the second central server 108a may be via any suitable communication channel 5 such as the wireless/wired network 102 described above. The second central server 108a then 6 causes the digital assistant 118 to display a list of actions at block 5504. An example of a digital 7 assistant display I 18a showing a list of actions is illustrated in FIGURE 25. The list of actions 8 is preferably limited to actions associated with the selected patient 112. For example, an 9 "administer infusion" action would only be available if at least one infusion was currently 10 associated with the selected patient 112. [1 When the user selects the "administer infusion" action from the list of actions, 12 information identifying the action selected is sent to the second central server 108a. In [3 response, the second central server 108a causes the digital assistant 118 to display a screen 14 prompting the user to select a medication 124 to be infused from a list of medications displayed 15 on the digital assistant 118 at block 5506. An example of a digital assistant display 118a L6 showing a list of medications is illustrated in FIGURE 26. The list of medications is preferably 17 retrieved from the second central server 108a database based on actual orders for this patient 8 112. Of course, the list may have any number of items including no infusions to administer or 9 one infusion to administer. Data indicative of the selected medication 124 is then sent to the w second central server 108a. M Next, the second central server 108a causes the digital assistant 118 to display a screen !2 prompting the user to scan a machine-readable identifier associated with the patient 112 at block 23 5508. An example of a digital assistant display I1 8a prompting the user to scan a machine 24 readable identifier associated with the patient 112 is illustrated in FIGURE 36. The user may 25 use the scanner of the digital assistant 118 to scan a barcode label on the patient's wristband 26 1 12a. Alternatively, the user may manually enter the patient identifier into the digital assistant 27 118. The patient identifier is then sent to the second central server 108a for verification at block 2S 5510. The second central server 108a then attempts to lookup the patient identifier in a 29 database. If the patient identifier (e.g., wristband ID) does not exist as a valid patient identifier 30 in the database, the second central server 108a causes the digital assistant 118 to display an 31 invalid patient notification at block 5512. Once the user acknowledges the invalid patient 32 notification (or the notification times out), the digital assistant 118 re-displays the screen 101 I prompting the user to scan a machine-readable identifier associated with the patient 112 at block 2 5508. 3 If the patient identifier (e.g., wristband ID) does exist as a valid patient identifier in the 4 database at block 5510, the second central server 1 08a causes the digital assistant 118 to display 5 a screen prompting the user to scan a machine-readable identifier associated with the medication 6 124 to be administered at block 5514. An example of a digital assistant display 1 18a prompting 7 the user to scan a machine-readable identifier associated with the medication 124 is illustrated in 8 FIGURE 34. The user may use the scanner of the digital assistant 118 to scan the medication 9 label 124a on a bag of medication 124 (e.g., a barcode on an infusion bag). Alternatively, the .0 user may manually enter the medication identifier into the digital assistant 118. The medication [1 identifier is then sent to the second central server 108a for verification at block 5516. The 12 second central server 108a attempts to lookup the medication identifier in the database. If the 13 medication identifier (e.g., bag ID) does not exist as a valid medication identifier in the 4 database, the second central server 108a causes the digital assistant 1 IS to display an invalid .5 item notification at block 5518. Once the user acknowledges the invalid item notification (or 16 the notification times out), the digital assistant 118 re-displays the screen prompting the user to 17 scan a machine-readable identifier associated with the medication 124 to be resumed at block [8 5514. 19 Once a valid medication identifier is obtained, the second central server 108a uses the !O medication identifier to look up a patient identifier in the database. The patient identifier from n the database is then compared to the scanned (or manually cntcred) patient idcntificr to 2 determine if the scanned (or manually entered) medication 124 belongs to the scanned (or 23 manually entered) patient 112 at block 5520. If the two patient identifiers do not match, the 24 second central server 108a causes the digital assistant 118 to display the invalid item notification 25 at block 5518. 26 If the two patient identifiers do match (i.e., this patient 112 goes with this medication 27 124), the second central server 108a causes the digital assistant 118 to display a screen 28 prompting the user to enter a route, a line, and a site at block 5522. An example of a digital 29 assistant display II 8a prompting the user to enter a route, a line, and a site is illustrated in 30 FIGURE 37. Data indicative of the route, line, and site is then sent to the second central server 31 108a for verification at block 5524. If a route mismatch occurs, the second central server 108a 32 causes the digital assistant 118 to display a route mismatch notification at block 5526. An 33 example of a digital assistant display I ISa with a mismatch notification is illustrated in FIGURE 102 I 40. Once the user acknowledges the route mismatch notification (or the notification times out), 2 the digital assistant I18 re-displays the screen prompting the user to enter a route, a line, and a 3 site at block 5522. If a route mismatch does not occur, the second central server 108a causes the 4 digital assistant 118 to display a screen asking the user to select between a manual prescription 5 comparison and an automatic prescription comparison at block 5528. If a manual prescription 6 comparison is selected at block 5530, the second central server I 08a causes the digital assistant 7 118 to display an indication of the parameters to be manually verified by the user at block 5532. 8 Subsequently, the second central server 108a determines if there are more items (e.g., 9 medications) to administer for this patient 112 at block 5534. For example, the infusion order 10 selected in block 5506 may require a primary infusion and a piggyback infusion. If there are 11 more items (e.g., medications) to administer for this patient 112, the second central server 108a 12 causes the digital assistant 118 to display the screen prompting the user to scan a machine 13 readable identifier associated with the medication 124 to be administered at block 5514. An 14 example of a digital assistant display 118a prompting the user to scan a machine-readable 15 identifier associated with the medication 124 is illustrated in FIGURE 34. If there are no more 16 items (e.g., medications) to administer for this patient 112, the second central server 108a causes 17 the digital assistant 118 to display a screen showing the administration results at block 5536. An 18 example of a digital assistant display I1Sa showing the administration results is illustrated in 19 FIGURE 57. 20 The administration results are also passed to the first central server 109. For example, 21 the administration results may be passed to the first central server 109 as form variables (as if 22 submitted from a web page). The first central server 109 then checks all of the administration 23 results for any failures at block 5538. If there are no failures, the first central server 109 24 commits all of the new channel-patient-medication relationships to the first central server 109 25 database at block 5540. The first central server 109 then returns control to the second central 26 server I 08a by navigating to a predefined URL associated with the second central server 108a at 27 block 5542. If there are one or more failures, the first central server 109 discards channel 28 patient-medication relationships associated with the failures and commits channel-patient 29 medication relationships associated with the successes to the first central server 109 database at 30 block 5544. The failures may be associated with the second central server 108a and/or the first 31 central server 109. Accordingly, the first central server 109 preferably communicates failures 32 associated with the first central server 109 (e.g., an integrity failure) back to the second central 103 i server 108a when the first central server 109 returns control to the second central server 108a by 2 navigating to a predefined URL associated with the second central server I 08a at block 5546. 3 Returning to block 5530, if an automatic prescription comparison is selected, the second 4 central server 108a transmits a "prescription comparison" XML document to the first central 5 server 109 at block 5531. The "prescription comparison" XML document includes the patient 6 identifier (e.g., wristband ID), the medication identifier (e.g., bag ID), a completion URL, and a 7 cancellation URL. The completion URL is a network address used if a prescription match is 8 found. The cancellation URL is a network address used if a prescription match is not found. 9 Once the first central server 109 receives the "prescription comparison" XML document, to the first central server 109 determines if the "prescription comparison" XIML document is valid II at block 5548. For example, the first central server 109 may check if any data normally [2 expected in a "prescription comparison" XML document is missing from the received [3 "prescription comparison" XML document. If the first central server 109 determines that the 14 "prescription comparison" XML document is not valid, the first central server 109 causes the L5 digital assistant 118 to display an error message indicating to the user that the "prescription 16 comparison" action could not be executed at block 5550. This display may include a reason [7 such as which data was missing from the "prescription comparison" XML document. After the Is user presses an "OK" button to acknowledge the error message, the first central server 109 19 returns a cancellation code to the second central server 108a via the cancellation URL at block o 5552. H1 If the first central server 109 determines that the "prescription comparison" XML 12 document is valid, the first central server 109 initiates a channel scanning process 5554. 23 Generally, the channel scanning process 5554 prompts the user to scan a machine-readable 24 identifier associated with the "new" pump channel (e.g., pump channel 103a) and determines if 25 the scanned channel is available (e.g., not assigned to any patient 112; assigned to the current 26 patient 112, but not in use; assigned to another patient 112 and overwritten; etc.). If the scanned 27 channel is not available, the "administer infusion" action is cancelled. In such an event, the first 28 central server 109 returns a cancel code to the second central server 108a via the cancellation 29 URL. if the scanned channel is available, a new channel-patient-medication relationship is 30 created. The channel scanning process 5554 is described in more detail below with reference to 31 FIGURE 56. 32 If the channel scanning process 5554 determines that the scanned channel is valid and 33 available, the first central server 109 causes the digital assistant I IS to display a screen 104 1 prompting the user to program the pump channel at block 5556. Preferably, the digital assistant 2 display 1 ISa includes a "Compare" button and a "Cancel" button. If the user presses the 3 "Cancel" button, the first central server 109 discards the new channel-patient-medication 4 relationship at block 5558 and returns the cancellation code to the second central server 108a via 5 the cancellation URL at block 5552. If the user presses the "Compare" button, the first central 6 server 109 determines if communication with the pump channel is operating properly at block 7 5560. For example, the first central server 109 may determine that communication with the 8 pump channel is not operating properly if status information has not been received from the 9 channel within a predefined time period. 0 If communication with the pump channel is not operating properly, the first central i server 109 causes the digital assistant 118 to display a screen indicating that a prescription 2 comparison cannot be performed due to a loss of communication with the pump channel at 3 block 5562. Again, the digital assistant display 118a preferably includes a "Compare" button 4 and a "Cancel" button. If the user presses the "Cancel" button, the first central server 109 5 discards the new channel-patient-medication relationship at block 5558 and returns the 6 cancellation code to the second central server 108a via the cancellation URL at block 5552. If 7 the user presses the "Compare" button, the first central server 109 rechecks if communication 8 with the pump channel is operating properly at block 5560. 9 If communication with the pump channel is operating properly, the first central server 0 109 determines if any data associated with this channel is missing at block 5564. For example, I the first central server 109 may determine that data associated with this channel is missing if 2 status information received from the channel is missing an expected sequence number. If 3 channel data is missing, the first central server 109 causes the digital assistant 118 to display a 24 screen indicating that a prescription comparison cannot be performed due to missing channel 25 data at block 5564. Again, the digital assistant display I18a preferably includes a "Compare" 6 button and a "Cancel" button. If the user presses the "Cancel" button, the first central server 7 109 discards the new channel-patient-medication relationship at block 5558 and returns the :8 cancellation code to the second central server 108a via the cancellation URL at block 5552. If .9 the user presses the "Compare" button, the first central server 109 rechecks if communication o with the pump channel is operating properly at block 5560. 1 If no channel data is missing, the first central server 109 determines if the channel is 2 already running at block 5568. For example, the first central server 109 may determine if the 3 pump channel is running by reading status information received from the channel. If the 105 i channel is already running, the first central server 109 causes the digital assistant 118 to display 2 a screen indicating that a prescription comparison cannot be performed because the channel is 3 already running at block 5570. An example of a digital assistant display 118a indicating that a 4 prescription comparison cannot be performed is illustrated in FIGURE 42. The digital assistant 5 display 1 Sa may also indicate that the user should press a certain key on the pump 120 (e.g., 6 start). Again, the digital assistant display 11 8a preferably includes a "Compare" button and a 7 "Cancel" button. If the user presses the "Cancel" button, the first central server 109 discards the 8 new channel-patient-medication relationship at block 5558 and returns the cancellation code to 9 the second central server 108a via the cancellation URL at block 5552. If the user presses the 0 "Compare" button, the first central server 109 rechecks if communication with the pump I channel is operating properly at block 5572. 2 If communication with the pump channel is not operating properly, the first central 3 server 109 causes the digital assistant 118 to display a screen indicating that a prescription 4 comparison cannot be performed due to a loss of communication with the pump channel at 5 block 5574. Again, the digital assistant display I 18a preferably includes a "Compare" button 6 and a "Cancel" button. If the user presses the "Cancel" button, the first central server 109 7 discards the new channel-patient-medication relationship at block 5558 and returns the 8 cancellation code to the second central server 108a via the cancellation URL at block 5552. If 9 the user presses the "Compare" button, the first central server 109 rechecks if communication 0 with the pump channel is operating properly at block 5574. If communication with the pump I channel is operating properly, the first central server 109 performs the requested prescription 2 comparison at block 5576. 23 Returning to block 5568, if the channel is not running, the first central server 109 24 determines if the pump channel is setup to send rate information at block 5578. If the pump 25 channel is not setup to send rate infonnation, the first central server 109 causes the digital ?6 assistant 11 S to display a screen indicating that a prescription comparison cannot be performed 7 because the channel is not sending rate information at block 5580. An example of a digital 2S assistant display 1 18a indicating that a prescription comparison cannot be performed is 9 illustrated in FIGURE 41. The digital assistant display l18a may also indicate that the user 0 should press a certain key on the pump 120 (e.g., rate). Again, the digital assistant display 118a I preferably includes a "Compare" button and a "Cancel" button. If the user presses the "Cancel" 2 button, the first central server 109 discards the new channel-patient-medication relationship at 3 block 5558 and returns the cancellation code to the second central server 108a via the 106 i cancellation URL at block 5552. If the user presses the "Compare" button, the first central 2 server 109 rechecks if communication with the pump channel is operating properly at block 3 5572. If the pump channel is setup to send rate information, the first central server 109 4 performs the requested prescription comparison at block 5576. 5 As part of the prescription comparison, the first central server 109 uses the channel 6 identifier obtained by the channel scanning process 5554 and the patient identifier transmitted 7 by the second central server 108a to look up a medication identifier in the database (or two 8 medication identifiers if a primary medication 124 and a piggyback medication 124 are both 9 associated with this channel). The medication identifier(s) from the database are then compared 10 to the scanned (or manually entered) medication identifier at block 5582. If one of the 11 medication identifier(s) from the database does not match the scanned (or manually entered) 12 medication identifier, the first central server 109 causes the digital assistant 118 to display an 13 invalid medication notification at block 5584. For example, the digital assistant 118 may 14 display a message that the scanned medication 124 is not associated with the scanned channel [s and indicate the actual medication 124 assigned to the scanned channel (both primary and 16 piggyback if applicable). Again, the digital assistant display 118a preferably includes a 7 "Compare" button and a "Cancel" button. If the user presses the "Cancel" button, the first 8 central server 109 discards the new channel-patient-medication relationship at block 5558 and 9 returns the cancellation code to the second central server 108a via the cancellation URL at block .0 5552. If the user presses the "Compare" button, the first central server 109 rechecks if .I communication with the pump channel is operating properly at block 5572. 2 As an additional part of the prescription comparison, the first central server 109 uses the 3 channel identifier obtained by the channel scanning process 5554 and the patient identifier 24 transmitted by the second central server 108a to look up a medication rate in the database. The 25 medication rate from the database is then compared to the actual rate received from the pump 26 channel at block 5584. If medication rate from the database does not match the actual rate 27 received from the pump channel, the first central server 109 causes the digital assistant 118 to B8 display a rate mismatch notification at block 5586. An example of a digital assistant display 9 11 Sa with a mismatch notification is illustrated in FIGURE 40. For example, the digital 0 assistant 118 may display a message that the rate of the channel should be adjusted and indicate I the correct value. Again, the digital assistant display 118a preferably includes a "Compare" 2 button and a "Cancel" button. If the user presses the "Cancel" button, the first central server 3 109 discards the new channel-patient-medication relationship at block 5558 and returns the 107 1 cancellation code to the second central server 108a via the cancellation URL at block 5552. If 2 the user presses the "Compare" button, the first central server 109 rechecks if communication 3 with the pump channel is operating properly at block 5572. 4 In addition, the digital assistant display 118a may include an "Accept Mismatch" button. 5 If the user presses the "Accept Mismatch" button, the first central server 109 returns a mismatch 6 code and the mismatching rates to the second central server 108a via the completion URL at 7 block 5588. If medication rate from the database does match the actual rate received from the 8 pump channel at block 5584, the first central server 109 causes the digital assistant 118 to 9 display a match notification at block 5590. An example of a digital assistant display I 18a with a 10 match notification is illustrated in FIGURE 39. Once the user accepts the match notification 11 message, the first central server 109 retums a match code and the matching rate to the second 12 central server IOSa via the completion URL at block 5588. 13 Channel Scanning Process (for administer infusion process) 14 FIGURE 56 illustrates an example of the channel scanning process 5554 used above 15 with reference to FIGURE 55. Generally, the channel scanning process 5554 prompts the user 16 to scan a machine-readable identifier associated with a pump channel and determines if the 17 scanned channel is available (e.g., assigned to the current patient 112, but not in use). If the IS scanned channel is not available, the "administer infusion" action is cancelled. In such an event, 19 the first central server 109 returns a cancel code to the second central server 108a via the 20 cancellation URL. If the scanned channel is available. a new channel-patient-medication 21 relationship is created. 22 More specifically, the example channel scanning process 5554 begins when the first 23 central server 109 causes the digital assistant 118 to display a screen prompting the user to select 24 a subchannel (e.g., primary or piggyback) and scan a machine-readable identifier associated 25 with the channel at block 5602. An example of a digital assistant display 1 l8a prompting the 26 user to scan a machine-readable identifier associated with the channel is illustrated in FIGURE 27 38. For example, the user may use the scanner of the digital assistant 118 to scan a barcode 28 label associated with the channel. Alternatively, the user may manually enter the channel 29 identifier into the digital assistant 118. In addition, the user may choose to skip the scanning 30 process which causes a return to the second central server 108a via the completion URL or he 31 may choose to cancel the scan which causes a return to the second central server 108a via the 32 cancellation URL.

108 I The channel identifier is then sent to the first central server 109 for verification at block 2 5604. The first central server 109 then attempts to lookup the channel identifier in the database. 3 If the channel identifier does not exist as a valid channel identifier in the database (e.g., not 4 properly formatted, not configured in the first central server 109, etc.), the first central server 5 109 causes the digital assistant 118 to display an invalid channel notification at block 5606. For 6 example, the digital assistant 118 may display a rnessage that the channel is not configured in 7 the first central server 109 and include buttons allowing the user to rescan the channel identifier s or cancel out of the operation. If the user chooses to cancel the operation, the first central server 9 109 preferably sends a cancel code to the second central server 108a via the cancellation URL at 10 block 5608. 11 Once a valid channel identifier is obtained, the first central server 109 uses the channel 12 identifier to look up a patient identifier in the database. The first central server 109 then 13 compares the patient identifier from the database to the scanned (or manually entered) patient 14 identifier at block 5610. If a valid patient identifier is present in the database, but the two 15 patient identifiers do not match (i.e., the channel is assigned to a different patient 112), the first 16 central server 109 checks the database to see if the channel is running (in either primary and/or 17 piggyback mode) at block 5612. is If the channel is running, the first central server 109 causes the digital assistant 118 to 19 display a "cannot overwrite" error message indicating that a different patient 112 is associated 20 with the scanned channel and that the channel is currently running at block 5614. The error 21 message may also include data indicative of the patient 112 that is associated with the scanned 22 channel (e.g., patient's name), the primary medication 124, and/or the piggyback medication 23 124. Preferably, the user is given the option to cancel or rescan. If the user chooses to cancel 24 the operation, the first central server 109 sends a cancel code to the second central server 108a 25 via the cancellation URL at block 5608. If the user chooses to rescan, the first central server 26 109 causes the digital assistant 118 to display the screen prompting the user to select a 27 subchannel (e.g., primary or piggyback) and scan a machine-readable identifier associated with 28 the channel at block 5602. 29 If the channel is not running, the first central server 109 causes the digital assistant 118 30 to display a "continue overwrite" warning message indicating that a different patient 112 is 31 associated with the scanned channel, but the channel is not currently running at block 5616. 32 Preferably. the warning message indicates that continuing will overwrite existing data (e.g., 33 remove the association with the other patient 112). The warning message may also include data 109 1 indicative of the patient 112 that is associated with the scanned channel (e.g., patient's name), 2 the prirnary medication 124, and/or the piggyback medication 124. Preferably, the user is given 3 the option to cancel, rescan, or continue. If the user chooses to cancel the operation, the first 4 central server 109 sends a cancel code to the second central server 108a via the cancellation 5 URL at block 560S. If the user chooses to rescan, the first central server 109 causes the digital 6 assistant 118 to display the screen prompting the user to select a subchannel (e.g., primary or 7 piggyback) and scan a machine-readable identifier associated with the channel at block 5602. 8 An exarnple of a digital assistant display 11 8a prompting the user to scan a machine-readable 9 identifier associated with the channel is illustrated in FIGJRE 38. If the user chooses to 10 continue, the first central server 109 creates a new channel-patient-medication relationship and i i stores the new channel-patient-medication relationship in the current "web session" at block 12 5618. If this new channel-patient-medication relationship is ultimately kept., the first central 13 server 109 commits the new channel-patient-medication relationship to the first central server 14 109 database block 5540 of FIGURE 55 as described in detail above. 15 If a valid patient identifier is present in the database, and the two patient identifiers do 16 match (i.e., the channel is assigned to this patient 112) at block 5620, the first central server 109 17 checks the database to see if the subchannel is empty at block 5622. In other words, the first 18 central server 109 checks that there is no primary infusion associated with this channel if the 19 primary subchannel was selected in block 5602 and checks that there is no piggyback infusion 20 associated with this channel if the piggyback subchannel was selected in block 5602. If the 21 subchannel is empty, the first central server 109 creates a new channel-patient-medication Z2 relationship and stores the new channel-patient-medication relationship in the current "web 23 session" at block 5618. If the subchannel is not empty, the first central server 109 checks the 24 database to see if the subchannel is running (in either primary and/or piggyback mode) at block 25 5624. 26 If the subchannel is running, the first central server 109 causes the digital assistant I 18 to 27 display a "cannot overwrite" error message indicating that this patient 112 is already associated 28 with the scanned channel and that the selected subchannel is currently running at block 5626. 29 The error message may also include data indicative of the patient 112 (e.g., patient's name), the 30 primary medication 124, and/or the piggyback medication 124. Preferably, the user is given the 31 option to cancel or rescan. If the user chooses to cancel the operation, the first central server 32 109 sends a cancel code to the second central server 108a via the cancellation URL at block 33 5608. If the user chooses to rescan. the first central server 109 causes the digital assistant 118 to 110 1 display the screen prompting the user to select a subchannel (e.g., primary or piggyback) and 2 scan a macliine-readable identifier associated with the channel at block 5602. 3 If th.e subchannel is not running, the first central server 109 causes the digital assistant 4 118 to display a "continue" message indicating that this patient 112 is associated with the 5 scanned channel, but the selected subchannel is not currently running at block 5628. The 6 message may also include data indicative of the patient 112 (e.g., patient's name), the primary 7 medication 124, and/or the piggyback medication 124. Preferably, the user is given the option 8 to cancel, rescan, or continue. If the user chooses to cancel the operation, the first central server 9 109 sends a cancel code to the second central server 108a via the cancellation URL at block 10 5608. If the user chooses to rescan, the first central server 109 causes the digital assistant 118 to 11 display the screen prompting the user to select a subchannel (e.g.. primary or piggyback) and 12 scan a machine-readable identifier associated with the channel at block 5602. If the user 13 chooses to continue, the first central server 109 creates a new channel-patient-medication 14 relationship and stores the new channel-patient-medication relationship in the current "web 15 session" at block 5618. When the user presses continue again, the first central server 109 16 returns control to the current action (e.g., administer infusion). 17 Change Purnp Channel Process 18 FIGURE 57A illustrates an example of a change pump channel process 5700. The 19 change pump channel process 5700 may be used (e.g., by a nurse) to change an infusion from 20 one pump channel to another pump channel without losing the channel-patient-medication 21 relationship in the database. In general, the change pump channel process 5700 receives inputs 22 from an electronic device, such as a digital assistant 118, which includes information indicating 23 a change parnp channel process is to be performed, information identifying which patient 112 is 24 to be affected (e.g., patient ID), and information identifying which medication 124 for that 25 patient 112 is to be affected (e.g., Rx ID). The process 5700 then sends this information to the 26 first central server 109, which confirms that channel identification information matches the 27 change punp channel order information. 28 More specifically, the example change pump channel process 5700 begins when the 29 second central server 108a causes the digital assistant 118 to display a list of patients for 30 selection at block 5702. An example of a digital assistant display 118a showing a list of patients 31 is illustrated in FIGURE 24. The list of patients is preferably limited to patients associated with 32 the user (e.g., a clinician 116) who is logged into that digital assistant 118 at the time. Once the 33 user selects a patient 112, information identifying the selection and/or the patient 112 is 111 1 transmitted from the digital assistant 118 back to the second central server 108a. 2 Communication between the digital assistant 118 and the second central server 108a rnay be via 3 any suitable communication channel such as the wireless/wired network 102 described above. 4 The second central server 108a then causes the digital assistant 118 to display a list of actions at 5 block 5704. An example of a digital assistant display 18a showing a list of actions is 6 illustrated in FIGURE 25. The list of actions is preferably limited to actions associated with the 7 selected patient 112. For example, a "change pump channel" action would only be available if 8 an infusion associated with this patient 112 was currently listed in the second central server 9 108a database. 10 When the user selects the "change pump channel" action from the list of actions, 11 information identifying the action selected is sent to the second central server 108a. In 12 response, the second central server 108a causes the digital assistant 118 to display a screen 13 prompting the user to scan a machin.e-readable identifier associated with the medication 124 to 14 be affected by this "change pump channel" action at block 5706. An example of a digital 15 assistant display 1 Sa prompting the: user to scan a machine-readable identifier associated with 16 the medication 124 is illustrated in FIGURE 34. The user may use the scanner of the digital 17 assistant 118 to scan the medication label 124a on a bag of medication 124 (e.g., a barcode on 18 an infusion bag). Alternatively, the user may manually enter the medication identifier into the 19 digital assistant 118. 20 The medication identifier is then sent to the second central server 108a for verification at 21 block 5708. The second central server 108a attempts to lookup the medication identifier in the 22 database. If the medication identifier (e.g., bag ID) does not exist as a valid medication 23 identifier in the database, the second central server 108a causes the digital assistant 118 to 24 display an invalid item notification a.t block 5710. Once the user acknowledges the invalid item 25 notification (or the notification tires out), the digital assistant 118 re-displays the screen 26 prompting the user to scan a machine-readable identifier associated with the medication 124 to 27 be affected by this "change pump channel" action at block 5706. 28 If the medication identifier (e.g., bag ID) does exist as a valid medication identifier in the 29 database at block 5708, the second central server 108a transmits a "change pump channel" XML 30 document to the first central server 109. The "change pump channel" XML document includes 31 the patient identifier (e.g., selected from list in block 5702, the medication identifier (e.g., bag 32 ID), a completion URL, and a cancellation URL. The completion URL is a network address 112 used if the "change pump channel" action is attempted. The cancellation URL is a network 2 address used if the "change pump channel" action fails. 3 Once the first central server 109 receives the "change purnp channel" XML document, 4 the first central server 109 determines if the "change pump channel" XML document is valid at 5 block 5724. For example, the first central server 109 may check if any data normally expected 6 in a "change pump channel" XML document is missing from the received "change purnp 7 channel" XML document. If the first central server 109 determines that the "change pump 8 channel" XML document is not valid, the first central server 109 causes the digital assistant 1 18 9 to display an error message indicating to the user that the "change pump channel" action could 10 not be executed at block 5726. This display may include a reason such as which data was ii missing from the "change pump channel" XNIL document. After the user presses an "OK" 12 button to acknowledge the error message, the first central server 109 returns a failure code to the 13 second central server 108a via the cancellation -URL at block 5728. 14 If the first central server 109 determines that the "change pump channel" XVL 15 document is valid, the first central server 109 initiates a channel scanning process 5730. This 16 channel scanning process 5730 is associated with the "old" channel (i.e., the user is attempting 17 to move from and "old" channel to a "new" channell. Generally, the channel scanning process 18 5730 prompts the user to scan a machine-readable identifier associated with the "old" pump 19 channel and determines if the scanned channel is associated with the patient identifier and the 20 medication identifier (as described in more detail below with reference to FIGURE 58. If the 21 scanned channel is not associated with the patient identifier and the medication identifier, the 22 "change pump channel" action is cancelled. In such an event, the first central server 109 returns 23 a cancel code to the second central server 108a via the cancellation LRL at block 5728. 24 If the scanned channel is associated -with the patient identifier and the medication 25 identifier (i.e., the old channel is valid). the first central server 109 causes the digital assistant 26 118 to display a message indicating the patient 1 12, the old channel of the primary infusion, and 27 the old channel of the piggyback infusion at block 5732. Preferably, the digital assistant 118 28 also displays a message indicating that both infusions (primary and piggyback) are moved by 29 this operation. along with a "Continue" button and a "Cancel" button. If the user presses the 30 "Cancel" button, the first central server 109 ret-urns a cancel code to the second central server 31 108a via the cancellation URL at block 5728. 32 If the user presses the "Continue" button, the first central server 109 initiates another 33 channel scanning process 5734. This channel scanning process 5734 is associated with the 113 i "new" channel (i.e., the user is attempting to move from an "old" channel to a "new" channel). 2 Generally, the channel scanning process 5734 prompts the user to scan a machine-readable 3 identifier associated with the "new" pump channel and determines if the scanned channel is 4 available (e.g., not assigned to any patient 112; assigned to the current patient 112, but not in 5 use; assigned to another patient 112 and overwritten; etc.). If the scanned channel is not 6 available, the "change pump channel" action is cancelled. In such an event, the first central 7 server 109 retums a cancel code to the second central server 108a via the cancellation URL at 8 block 5728. The channel scanning process 5734 is described in more detail below with 9 reference to FIGURE 59. 10 If the scanned channel is associated with the patient identifier and the medication II identifier (i.e., the new channel is valid), the first central server 109 determines if any other 12 infusions are currently associated with the new channel at block 5736. If another infusion is 13 already associated with the new channel, the first central server 109 causes the digital assistant 14 118 to display a message indicating that another infusion is currently associated with the new 15 channel and a message asking the user if he/she would like to overwrite the current infusion at 16 block 5738. Preferably, this message includes a "Yes" button, a "No" button, and a "Cancel" 17 button. If the user presses the "Cancel" button, the first central server 109 retums a cancel code 18 to the second central server 108a via the cancellation URL at block 5728. If the user presses the 19 "No" button, the first central server 109 initiates another channel scanning process 5834. 20 If the user presses the "No" button, the first central server 109 attempts to remove the 21 channel-patient-medication relationship in the database for the new channel at block 5740. If Z2 the attempt to remove the channel-patient-medication relationship in the database for the new 23 channel is unsuccessful at block 5742, the first central server 109 causes the digital assistant 118 24 to display a "change pump channel" error message including the patient identifier, the 25 medication identifier associated with the primary infusion that was not moved (if applicable), 26 and the medication identifier associated with the piggyback infusion that was not moved (if 27 applicable) at block 5744. Once the user acknowledges the "change pump channel" error 28 message by pressing an "OK" button, the first central server 109 returns a failure code to the 29 second central server IOSa via the completion URL at block 5746. 30 If another infusion is not already associated with the new channel at block 5736, or the 31 attempt to remove the channel-patient-medication relationship in the database for the new 32 channel is successful at block 5742, the first central server 109 attempts to change the channel 33 patient-medication relationship in the database for both the primary and piggyback infusions 114 i from the old channel to the new channel at block 5748. If the attempt to move the channel 2 patient-medication relationship in the database from the old channel to the new channel is not 3 successful at block 5750, the first central server 109 causes the digital assistant 11 S to display 4 the "change pump channel" error message. 5 If the attempt to move the channel-patient-medication relationship in the database from 6 the old channel to the new channel is successful at block 5750, the first central server 109 causes 7 the digital assistant 118 to display a "change pump channel" success message including the 8 patient identifier, the medication identifier associated with the primary infusion that was moved 9 (if applicable), and the medication identifier associated with the piggyback infusion that was 1o moved (if applicable) at block 5752. Preferably, the display also includes a message to the user 11 to move the tubing to the new channel. Once the user acknowledges the "change pump 12 channel" success message by pressing an "OK" button, the first central server 109 returns a 13 success code to the second central server 108a via the completion UJRL at block 5746. 14 Channel Scanning Process 15 FIGURE 58 illustrates an example of the channel scanning process 5730 used above 16 with reference to FIGURE 57. Generally, the channel scanning process 5730 prompts the user 17 to scan a machine-readable identifier associated with a pump charnel and determines if the is scanned channel is associated with the previously scanned patient identifier and medication 19 identifier. If the scanned channel is not associated with the patient identifier and the medication 20 identifier, the current action (e.g., stop, discontinue, resume, channel change, remove pump, 21 etc.) is cancelled. 22 More specifically, the example channel scanning process 5730 begins when the first 23 central server 109 causes the digital assistant 118 to display a screen prompting the user to scan 24 a machine-readable identifier associated with the channel at block 5802. An example of a 25 digital assistant display I 18a prompting the user to scan a machine-rea-dable identifier associated 26 with the channel is illustrated in FIGURE 38. For example, the user may use the scanner of the 27 digital assistant L18 to scan a barcode label associated with the channel. Alternatively, the user 28 may manually enter the channel identifier into the digital assistant 11 S 29 The channel identifier is then sent to the first central server 109 for verification at block 30 5804. The first central server 109 then attempts to look up the channel identifier in the database. 31 If the channel identifier does not exist as a valid channel identifier in the database (e.g., not 32 properly formatted, not configured in the first central server 109, etc.), the first central server 33 109 causes the digital assistant 118 to display an invalid channel notification at block 5806. For 115 1 example, the digital assistant 1 IS may display a message that the chatmel is not configured in 2 the first central server 109 and include buttons allowing the user to rescan the channel identifier 3 or cancel out of the operation. If the user chooses to cancel the operation, the first central server 4 109 preferably sends a cancel code to the second central server 108a via the cancellation URL at 5 block 5808. 6 Once a valid channel identifier is obtained, the first central server 109 uses the channel 7 identifier to look up a patient identifier in the database. The patient identifier from the database s is then compared to the scanned (or manually entered) patient identifier at block 5810. If the 9 two patient identifiers do not match, the first central server 109 causes the digital assistant 118 10 to display an invalid patient notification at block 5812. For example, tlie digital assistant 118 11 may display a message that the scanned patient 112 is not associated will the scanned channel 12 and indicate the actual patient 112 assigned to the scanned channel. Again, the PDA display 13 may include buttons allowing the user to rescan the channel identifier or cancel out of the 14 operation. If the user chooses to cancel the operation, the first central server 109 preferably 15 sends a cancel code to the second central server 108a via the cancellation URL at block 5808. 16 Once a valid channel-patient relationship is established, the first central server 109 uses 17 the channel identifier and the patient identifier to look up a medication identifier in the database 18 (or two medication identifiers if a primary medication 124 and a piggyback medication 124 are 19 both associated with this channel). The medication identifier(s) from the database are then 20 compared to the scanned (or manually entered) medication identifier at block 5814. If one of 21 the medication identifier(s) from the database does not match the scanned (or manually entered) 22 medication identifier, the first central server 109 causes the digital assistant 118 to display an 23 invalid medication notification at block 5816. For example, the digital assistant 118 may 24 display a message that the scanned medication 124 is not associated with the scanned channel 25 and indicate the actual medication 124 assigned to the scanned chaniel (both primary and 26 piggyback if applicable). Again, the PDA display may include buttons allowing the user to 27 rescan the channel identifier or cancel out of the operation. If the user chooses to cancel the 28 operation, the first central server 109 preferably sends a cancel code to the second central server 29 108a via the cancellation URL at block 5808. 30 If a valid channel-patient-medication relationship is established, the first central server 31 109 indicates a valid channel scan occurred and returns control to the current action (e.g., 32 administer, stop, discontinue. resume. channel change, remove pump, etc.) without issuing 33 additional displays to the digital assistant 118 at block 5818.

116 1 Channel Scanning Process (new channel) ? FIGURE 59 illustrates an example of the channel scanning process 5734 used above 3 with reference to FIGURE 57. Generally, the channel scanning process 5734 prompts the user 4 to scan a machine-readable identifier associated with a pump channel and determine-s if the 5 scanned channel is available (e.g., assigned to the current patient 1 12, but not in use) If the 5 scanned channel is not available, the current action (e.g., channel change) is cancelled. 7 More specifically, the example channel scanning process 5734 begins when the first B central server 109 causes the digital assistant 118 to display a screen prompting the user to scan ; a machine-readable identifier associated with the channel at block 5902. An example of a digital assistant display I 18a prompting the user to scan a machine-readable identifier associated i with the channel is illustrated in FIGURE 38. For example, the user may use the scanner of the ? digital assistant 118 to scan a barcode label associated with the channel. Alternatively, the user 3 may manually enter the channel identifier into the digital assistant 118. 4 The channel identifier is then sent to the first central server 109 for verification at block 5 5904. The first central server 109 then attempts to lookup the channel identifier in the database. 5 If the channel identifier does not exist as a valid channel identifier in the database (e.g., not I properly formatted, not configured in the first central server 109, etc.), the first central server 3 109 causes the digital assistant 118 to display an invalid channel notification at block 5905. For example, the digital assistant 118 may display a message that the channel is not configured in the first central server 109 and include buttons allowing the user to rescan the channel ideratifier or cancel out of the operation. If the user chooses to cancel the operation, the first central server 109 preferably sends a cancel code to the second central server 1 08a via the cancellation UIRL at 3 block 5908. 4 Once a valid channel identifier is obtained, the first central server 109 uses the channel 5 identifier to look up a patient identifier in the database. The first central server 109 then 6 compares the patient identifier from the database to the scanned (or manually entered) patient 7 identifier at block 5910. If a valid patient identifier is present in the database, but the two 8 patient identifiers do not match (i.e., the channel is assigned to a different patient I 12), the first 9 central server 109 checks the database to see if the channel is running (in either primary aad/or o piggyback mode) at block 5912. 1 If the channel is running, the first central server 109 causes the digital assistant 11 2 to 2 display a "cannot overwrite" error message indicating that a different patient 112 is associated 3 with the scanned channel and that the channel is currently running at block 5914. The error 117 message may also include data indicative of the patient 112 that is associated with the scanned 2 channel (e.g., patient's name), the primary medication 124, and/or the piggyback medication 3 124. Preferably, the user is given the option to cancel or rescan. If the user chooses to cancel 4 the operation, the first central server 109 sends a cancel code to the second central server 108a 5 via the cancellation URL at block 5908. If the user chooses to rescan, the first central server 6 109 causes the digital assistant 118 to display the screen prompting the user to scan a machine 7 readable identifier associated with the channel at block 5902. 8 If the channel is not running, the first central server 109 causes the digital assistant 118 9 to display a "continue overwrite" warning message indicating that a different patient 112 is 1o associated with the scanned channel, but the channel is not currently running at block 5916. 11 Preferably, the warning message indicates that continuing will overwrite existing data (e.g., 12 remove the association with the other patient 112). The warning message may also include data 13 indicative of the patient 112 that is associated with the scanned channel (e.g., patient's name), 14 the primary medication 124, and/or the piggyback medication 124. Preferably, the user is given 15 the option to cancel, rescan, or continue. If the user chooses to cancel the operation, the first 16 central server 109 sends a cancel code to the second central server 108a via the cancellation 17 URL at block 5908. If the user chooses to rescan, the first central server 109 causes the digital 18 assistant 118 to display the screen prompting the user to scan a machine-readable identifier 19 associated with the channel at block 5902. If the user chooses to continue, the first central 20 server 109 causes the digital assistant 118 to display a message indicting that it is okay to use 21 the selected channel at block 5918. When the user presses "continue" the first central server 22 109 returns control to the current action (e.g., administer, channel change, etc.) without issuing 23 additional displays to the digital assistant 11 8. 24 If a valid patient identifier is present in the database, and the two patient identifiers do 25 match (i.e., the channel is assigned to this patient 112) at block 5920, the first central server 109 26 checks the database to see if the channel is empty (e.g., no primary or piggyback infusion 27 associated with this channel) at block 5922. If the channel is empty, the first central server 109 28 causes the digital assistant 118 to display the message indicating that it is okay to use the 29 selected channel at block 5918. If the channel is not empty, the first central server 109 checks 30 the database to see if the channel is running (in either primary and/or piggyback mode) at block 31 5924. 32 If the channel is running, the first central server 109 causes the digital assistant 118 to 33 display a "cannot overwrite" error message indicating that this patient 112 is already associated 118 1 with the scanned channel and that the channel is currently running at block 5926. The error 2 message may also include data indicative of the patient 112 (e.g., patient's name), the primary 3 medication 124, and/or the piggyback medication 124. Preferably, the user is given the option 4 to cancel or rescan. If the user chooses to cancel the operation, the first central server 109 sends 5 a cancel code to the second central server 108a via the cancellation URL at block 5908. If the 6 user chooses to rescan, the first central server 109 causes the digital assistant 118 to display the 7 screen prompting the user to scan a machine-readable ideotifier associated with the channel at 8 block 5902. 9 If the channel is not running, the first central server 109 causes the digital assistant 118 0 to display a "continue" message indicating that this patient 112 is associated with the scanned j channel, but the channel is not currently running at block 5928. The message may also include 2 data indicative of the patient 112 (e.g., patient's name), the primary medication 124, and/or the 3 piggyback medication 124. Preferably, the user is given the option to cancel, rescan, or 4 continue. If the user chooses to cancel the operation, the first central server 109 sends a cancel 5 code to the second central server 108a via the cancellation URL at block 5908. If the user 6 chooses to rescan, the first central server 109 causes the digital assistant 118 to display the 7 screen prompting the user to scan a machine-readable identifier associated with the channel at R block 5902. If the user chooses to continue, the first central server 109 causes the digital 9 assistant 118 to display a message indicting that it is okay to use the selected channel at block O 5918. When the user presses continue again, the first central server 109 returns control to the 1 current action (e.g., channel change) without issuing additional displays to the digital assistant 2 118. 23 Stop/Discontinue In fusion Process 24 FIGURE 60 illustrates an example of a stop/discontinue infusion process 6000. The 25 stop/discontinue infusion process 6000 may be used to temporarily stop (i.e., pause) an infusion 26 process or completely discontinue (i.e., end) an infusion process. In general, the 27 stop/discontinue infusion process 6000 receives inputs from an electronic device, such as a 28 digital assistant 118, which includes information regarding whether a stop or a discontinue is to 19 bc performed, information identifying which patient 112 is to be affected (e.g., patient ID), and 3o information identifying which medication 124 for that patient 112 is to be stopped or 1 discontinued (e.g., Rx ID). The process 6000 then sends this information to the first central 2 server 109. which confirms that channel identification information matches the stop/discontinue 3 order information and confirms that the correct infusion is stopped or discontinued.

119 I More specifically, the example stop/discontinue infusion process 6000 begins when the 2 second central server 108a causes the digital assistant 118 to display a list of patients at block 3 6002. An example of a digital assistant display 118a showing a list of patients is illustrated in 4 FIGURE 24. The list of patients is preferably limited to patients associated with the user (e.g., a 5 clinician 116) who is logged into that digital assistant 118 at the time. Once the user selects a 6 patient 112, information identifying the selection and/or the patient 112 is transmitted from the 7 digital assistant 118 back to the second central server 108a. Communication between the digital 8 assistant 118 and the second central server 108a may be via any suitable communication channel 9 such as the wireless/wired network 102 described above. The second central server 108a then 10 causes the digital assistant 118 to display a list of actions at block 6004. An example of a digital 11 assistant display 118a showing a list of actions is illustrated in FIGURE 25. The list of actions 12 is preferably limited to actions associated with the selected patient 112. For example, a "stop 13 infusion" action and a "discontinue infusion" action would only be available if an infusion 14 associated with this patient 112 was currently in a running state. 15 When the user selects the "stop infusion" action or the "discontinue infusion" action 16 from the list of actions, information identifying the action selected is sent to the second central 17 server 108a. In response, the second central server 108a causes the digital assistant 118 to 18 display a screen listing all running infusions for that patient 112 and prompting the user to scan 19 a machine-readable identifier associated with the medication 124 to be stopped or discontinued 20 at block 6006. An example of a digital assistant display IISa prompting the user to scan a 21 machine-readable identifier associated with the medication 124 is illustrated in FIGURE 34. 22 The user may use the scanner of the digital assistant 118 to scan the medication label 124a on a 23 bag of medication 124 (e.g., a barcode on an infusion bag). Alternatively, the user may 24 manually enter the medication identifier into the digital assistant 118. 25 The medication identifier is then sent to the second central server 108a for verification at 26 block 6008. The second central server 108a attempts to lookup the medication identifier in the 27 database. If the medication identifier (e.g., bag ID) does not exist as a valid medication 28 identifier in the database, the second central server 108a causes the digital assistant 118 to 29 display an invalid item notification at block 6010. Once the user acknowledges the invalid item 30 notification (or the notification times out), the digital assistant 118 re-displays the screen 31 prompting the user to scan a machine-readable identifier associated with the medication 124 to 32 be stopped or discontinued at block 6006.

120 1 If the medication identifier (e.g., bag ID) does exist as a valid medication identifier in the 2 database at block 6008, the second central server 108a causes the digital assistant 118 to display 3 a screen prompting the user to scan a machine-readable identifier associated with the patient 112 4 at block 6012. An example of a digital assistant display 118a prompting the user to scan a 5 machine-readable identifier associated with the patient 112 is illustrated in FIGURE 36. The 6 user may use the scanner of the digital assistant 118 to scan a barcode label on a patient 7 wristband 112a. Alternatively, the user may manually enter the patient identifier into the digital s assistant 118. The patient identifier is then sent to the second central server 108a for 9 verification at block 6014. The second central server 108a then attempts to lookup the patient 0 identifier in the database. If the patient identifier (e.g., wristband ID) does not exist as a valid 1 patient identifier in the database, the second central server 108a causes the digital assistant 118 2 to display an invalid patient notification at block 6016. Once the user acknowledges the invalid 3 patient notification (or the notification times out), the digital assistant 118 re-displays the screen 4 prompting the user to scan a machine-readable identifier associated with the patient 112 at block 5 6012. 6 If the patient identifier (e.g., wristband ID) does exist as a valid patient identifier in the 7 database at block 6014, the second central server 108a may also prompt the user for a code 8 indicative of the reason for the "stop infusion" action or the "discontinue infusion" action. If 9 this reason code is not supplied, the system preferably displays a message to the user that a o reason code must be supplied. In addition, the second central server 108a may timestamp the 1 order and/or prompt the user for a time when the action is to occur. Still further, the second 2 central server 108a preferably checks the status of the infusion order to detennine if the infusion 3 order is active or discontinued. 24 If the infusion order is active, the second central server 108a determines if the user is 25 attempting to issue a "stop infusion" action or a "discontinue infusion" action based on the user 26 selection from block 6004 at block 6018. If the user is attempting to issue a "stop infusion" 27 action, the second central server 108a sets a "DCFlag" in a "stop infusion" XML document to 28 "FALSE" at block 6020. If the user is attempting to issue a "discontinue infusion" action, the 29 second central server 108a sets the "DCFlag" in the "stop infusion" XIML document to "TRUE" 30 at block 6022. Of course, any well-known method of indicating the state of a variable may be 31 used. 32The "stop infusion" XML document, including the patient identifier (e.g., wristband ID), 33 the medication identifier (e.g., bag ID), a completion URL, a cancellation URL, and the DCFlag 121 (indicating stop vs. discontinue) are then transmitted to the first central server 109. The completion URL is a network address used if the infusion is successfully stopped or discontinued. The cancellation URL is a network address used if the "stop infusion" action or the "discontinue infusion" action fails or is cancelled. Once the first central server 109 receives the "stop infusion" XM'IL document, the first central server 109 determines if the "stop infusion" XML document is valid at block 6024. For example, the first central server 109 may check if any data nonnally expected in a "stop infusion" XML document is missing from the received "stop infusion" XML document. If the first central server 109 determines that the "stop infusion" XML document is not valid, the first central server 109 causes the digital assistant 118 to display an error message indicating to the user that the "stop infusion" action or the "discontinue infusion" action could not be executed at block 6026. This display may include a reason such as which data was missing from the "stop infusion" XML document. After the user presses an "OK" button to acknowledge the error message, the first central server 109 returns a failure code to the second central server 108a via the cancellation URL at block 6028. If the first central server 109 determines that the "stop infusion" XML document is valid, the first central server 109 initiates a channel scanning process 5730. Generally, the channel scanning process 5730 prompts the user to scan a machine-readable identifier associated with the pump channel currently running the infusion to be stopped or discontinued and determines if the scanned channel is associated with the patient identifier and the medication identifier (as described in detail above with reference to FIGURE 58. If the scanned channel is not associated with the patient identifier and the medication identifier, the "stop infusion" action or the 3 "discontinue infusion" action is cancelled. In such an event, the first central server 109 returns a 4 cancel code to the second central server I 0Sa via the cancellation URL at block 6028. 5 If the scanned channel is associated with the patient identifier and the medication 6 identifier (i.e., the channel is valid), the first central server 109 causes the digital assistant 118 to 7 display a message indicating the patient 112 and infusion to be stopped including the details of 8 the medication 124 to be stopped and the channel the medication 124 is on at block 6032. 9 Preferably, the PDA display also includes a "Continue" button and a "Cancel" button. In this o manner, the user may manually stop the indicated infusion and then press the "Continue" button 1 to inform the first central server 109 to check if the correct infusion was actually stopped or discontinued. Alternatively, the user may press the "Cancel" button, at which point the first 122 central server 109 returns a cancel code to the second central server 108a via the cancellation URL at block 6028. If the user presses the "Continue" button, the first central server 109 determines if the infusion was stopped by reading status information sent to the first central server 109 by the pump 120 at block 6034. If the pump 120 is unable to communicate with the first central server 5 109, the first central server 109 generates a loss of communication event for that channel. If 1 communication with a channel is lost, the status of the infusion on that channel cannot be changed to "stopped" or "discontinued" until communication with that channel is restored. If communication is working properly, but the infusion was not stopped, the first central server ) 109 causes the digital assistant 118 to display a warning message indicating that the infusion was not stopped and indicating the patient 112 and infusion to be stopped at block 6036. Preferably, the display also includes an "OK" button and a "Cancel" button. If the user presses the "OK" button, the first central server 109 checks again to see if the correct infusion was actually stopped or discontinued at block 6034. If the user presses the "Cancel" button, the first central server 109 returns a cancel code to the second central server 108a via the cancellation URL at block 6028. If the infusion is stopped at block 6034, the first central server 109 checks if this is a "stop infusion" action or a "discontinue infusion" action at block 6038. For example, the first central server 109 may check the state of a flag such as the DCFlag set by block 6020 or block 6022. If this is a "stop infusion" action (i.e., pause infusion), the first central server 109 returns a success code and DCFlag=FALSE to the second central server 108a via the completion URL at block 6044. 3 If instead this is a "discontinue infusion" action (i.e., end infusion), the first central 4 server 109 preferably attempts to remove the database association between the patient identifier, 5 the medication identifier, and the channel identifier for either the primary infusion or the 6 piggyback infusion, but preferably not both at block 6040. If the user wants to stop or 7 discontinue both a primary infusion and a piggyback infusion running on a channel, the user 8 may execute the "stop infusion" action or the "discontinue infusion" action twice, once for each 9 infusion. If the first central server 109 is not successful in removing the database association at 0 block 6042, the first central server 109 returns a failure code to the second central server 1OSa I via the cancellation URL at block 6028. If the first central server 109 is successful in removing 2 the database association at block 6042. the first central server 109 returns a success code and DCFlag=TRUE to the second central server 108a via the completion URL at block 6044.

123 1 The first central server 109 removes the association between the patient identifier, the 2 medication identifier, and the channel identifier for the selected infusion only if a "discontinue 3 infusion" action is successful. Otherwise, the association is maintained. For example, if a "stop 4 infusion" action is successful or a "discontinue infusion" action fails, the association between 5 the patient identifier, the medication identifier, and the channel identifier is maintained. 6 Similarly, the second central server t08a only updates the status of the infusion to "stopped" or 7 "discontinued" upon receiving a success code from the first central server 109. Any other result 8 (e.g., cancel code or failure code) causes the second central server 108a to keep the infusion in 9 its previous state. Preferably, at any point in the process 6000 the user has the option to cancel 10 out of the process 6000. The Stop/Discontinue process may be utilized to document that the 11 infusion was restarted for purposes of the .MAR. 12 Resume Infusion Process 13 FIGURE 61 illustrates an example of a resume infusion process 6100. The resume 14 infusion process 6100 may be used to restart a stopped (i.e., paused) infusion process. However, 15 the resume infusion process 6100 may not be used to restart a discontinued (i.e., ended) infusion 16 process. In general, the resume infusion process 6100 receives inpLts from an electronic device, 17 such as a digital assistant 118, which includes information indicating a resume process is to be 18 performed, information identifying which patient 112 is to be affected (e.g., patient ID), and 19 information identifying which medication 124 for that patient 112 is to be resumed (e.g., Rx 20 ID). The process 6100 then sends this information to the first central server 109, which 21 confirms that channel identification information matches the resume order information and 22 confirms that the correct infusion is resumed. 23 More specifically, the example resume infusion process 6100 begins when the second 24 central server 108a causes the digital assistant 118 to display a list of patients at block 6102. An 25 example of a digital assistant display I I8a showing a list of patients is illustrated in FIGURE 26 24. The list of patients is preferably limited to patients associated with the user (e.g., a clinician 27 116) who is logged into that digital assistant 118 at the time. Once the user selects a patient 28 112, information identifying the selection and/or the patient 112 is transmitted from the digital 29 assistant 118 back to the second central server 108a. Communication between the digital 30 assistant 118 and the second central server I 08a may be via any suitable communication channel 31 such as the wireless/wired network 102 described above. The second central server I Sa then 32 causes the digital assistant 118 to display a list of actions at block 6104. An example of a digital 33 assistant display 11 8a showing a list of actions is illustrated in FIGURE 25. The list of actions 124 1 is preferably limited to actions associated with the selected patient 112. For example, a "resume 2 infusion" action would only be available if an infusion associated with this patient 112 was 3 currently in a stopped state. 4 When the user selects the "resume infusion" action from the list of actions, information 5 identifying the action selected is sent to the second central server 108a. In response, the second 6 central server 108a causes the digital assistant 118 to display a screen prompting the user to scan 7 a machine-readable identifier associated with the medication 124 to be resumed at block 6106. 8 An example of a digital assistant display I1Sa prompting the user to scan a machine-readable 9 identifier associated with the medication 124 is illustrated in FIGURE 34. The user may use the 10 scanner of the digital assistant 118 to scan the medication label 124a on a bag of medication 124 11 (e.g., a barcode on an infusion bag). Alternatively, the user may manually enter the medication 12 identifier into the digital assistant 118. 13 The medication identifier is then sent to the second central server 108a for verification at 14 block 6108. The second central server 108a attempts to lookup the medication identifier in the 15 database. If the medication identifier (e.g., bag ID) does not exist as a valid medication 16 identifier in the database, the second central server 108a causes the digital assistant 118 to 17 display an invalid item notification at block 6110. Once the user acknowledges the invalid item s notification (or the notification times out), the digital assistant 118 re-displays the screen [9 prompting the user to scan a machine-readable identifier associated with the medication 124 to .o be resumed at block 6106. If the user scans a machine-readable identifier associated with a !I medication 124 to be resumed, but the medication 124 has been discontinued, the second central .2 server 108a preferably causes the digital assistant 118 to display a message to the user indicating 23 that the medication 124 cannot be resumed due to its discontinued state. 24 If the medication identifier (e.g., bag ID) does exist as a valid medication identifier in the 25 database at block 6108, and has not been discontinued, the second central server 1 08a causes the 26 digital assistant 11 S to display a screen prompting the user to scan a machine-readable identifier 27 associated with the patient 112 at block 6112. An example of a digital assistant display II 8a 28 prompting the user to scan a machine-readable identifier associated with the patient 112 is 29 illustrated in FIGURE 36. The user may use the scanner of the digital assistant 118 to scan a 30 barcode label on a patient wristband 112a. Alternatively, the user may manually enter the 31 patient identifier into the digital assistant 118. The patient identifier is then sent to ihe second 32 central server 108a for verification at block 6114. The second central server 108a then attempts 33 to lookup the patient identifier in the database. If the patient identifier (e.g., wristband ID) does 125 not exist as a valid patient identifier in the database, the second central server 108a causes the digital assistant 118 to display an invalid patient notification at block 6116. Once the user acknowledges the invalid patient notification (or the notification tires out), the digital assistant 118 re-displays the screen prompting the user to scan a machine-readable identifier associated with the patient 112 at block 6112. If the patient identifier (e.g., wristband ID) does exist as a valid patient identifier in the database at block 6114, the second central server 108a may also prompt the user for a code indicative of the reason for the "resume infusion" action. If this reason code is not supplied, the system preferably displays a message to the user that a reason code must be supplied. In addition, the second central server I 08a may timestamp the order and/or prompt the user for a time when the action is to occur. Still further, the second central server I 08a preferably checks the status of the infusion order to determine if the infusion order is active or discontinued. If the infusion order is active, the second central server 108a transmits a "resume infusion" XML document to the first central server 109. The "resume infusion" XML document includes the patient identifier (e.g., wristband ID), the medication identifier (e.g., bag ID), a completion URL, and a cancellation UJRL. The completion URL is a network address used if the infusion is successfully resumed. The cancellation URL is a network address used if the "resume infusion" action fails or is cancelled. Once the first central server 109 receives the "resume infusion" XML document, the first central server 109 determines if the "resume infusion" XML document is valid at block 6124. For example, the first central server 109 may check if any data normally expected in a "resume infusion" XML document is missing from the received "resume infusion" XML document. If 3 the first central server 109 determines that the "resume infusion" XML document is not valid, 4 the first central server 109 causes the digital assistant I 18 to display an error message indicating 5 to the user that the "resume infusion" action could not be executed at block 6126. This display 6 may include a reason such as which data was missing from the "resume infusion" XML 7 document. After the user presses an "OK" button to acknowledge the error message, the first 8 central server 109 returns a failure code to the second central server 108a via the cancellation 9 URL at block 6128. 0 If the first central server 109 determines that the "resume infusion" XML document is I valid, the first central server 109 initiates the channel scanning process 5730. Generally, the 2 channel scanning process 5730 prompts the user to scan a machine-readable identifier associated 3 with the pump channel currently associated with the infusion to be resumed and determines if 126 i the scanned charnel is associated with the patient identifier and the medication identifier (as 2 described in detail above with reference to FIGURE 58). If the scanned channel is not 3 associated with the patient identifier and the medication identifier, the "resunae infusion" action 4 is cancelled. In such an event, the first central server 109 returns a cancel code to the second 5 central server 108 a via the cancellation URL at block 6128. 6 If the scanned channel is associated with the patient identifier and the medication 7 identifier (i.e., the: channel is valid), the first central server 109 causes the digital assistant 118 to s display a message indicating the patient 112 and infusion to be resumed at block 6132. 9 Preferably, the PDA display also includes a "Continue" button and a "Cancel" button. In this 10 manner, the user may manually resume the indicated infusion and then press the "Continue" 11 button to inform the first central server 109 to check if the correct infusion was actually 12 resumed. Alternatively, the user may press the "Cancel" button, at which point the first central 13 server 109 returns a cancel code to the second central server 108a via the cancellation URL at 14 block 6128. 15 If the user presses the "Continue" button, the first central server 109 determines if the 16 infusion was resuxned by reading status information sent to the first central server 109 by the 17 pump 120 at block 6134. If the pump 120 is unable to communicate with the first central server 18 109, the first central server 109 generates a loss of communication event for that channel. If 19 communication with a channel is lost, the status of the infusion on that channel cannot be 20 changed to "resumed" until communication with that channel is restored. If communication is 21 working properly, but the infusion was not resumed, the first central server 109 causes the 22 digital assistant 1 1 8 to display a warning message indicating that the infusion was not resumed 23 and indicating the patient 112 and infusion to be resumed at block 6136. Preferably, the display 24 also includes an "OK" button and a "Cancel" button. If the user presses the "OK" button, the 25 first central server 109 checks again to see if the correct infusion was actually resumed at block 26 6134. If the user presses the "Cancel" button, the first central server 109 returns a cancel code 27 to the second central server 108a via the cancellation URL at block 6128. 28 If the infusion is resumed at block 6134, the first central server 109 returns a success 29 code to the second central server 108a via the completion URL at block 6144. The first central 30 server 109 maintains the association between the patient identifier, the medication identifier, and 31 the channel identifier for the selected infusion. The second central server 108a only updates the 32 status of the infusion to "running" upon receiving a success code from the first central server 33 109. Any other result (e.g., cancel code or failure code) causes the second central server 108a to 127 keep the infusion in its previous state. Preferably, if the user wants to resume both a primary infusion and a piggyback infusion running on a channel, the user may execute the "resusne 3 infusion" action twice, once for each infusion. The Resume process may be utilized t docurnent I that the infusion was restarted for purposes of the MAR. 5 Remove Pump Process 5 FIGURE 62 illustrates an example of a remove pump process 6200. The remove purnp 7 process 6200 may be used to terminate a channel-patient-medication relationship in the first 3 central server 109 database independent of a discontinue infusion order existing in the pharmacy ? database and without going through the stop/discontinue infusion process 6000 describe above. I 1n general, the remove pump process 6200 receives inputs from an electronic device, such as a i digital assistant 118, which includes inforniation indicating a remove pump process is to be pcrfornied, information identifying which patient 112 is to be affected (e.g., patient ID), and 5 information identifying which medication 124 for that patient 112 is to be affected (e.g., Rx ID). The process 6200 then sends this information to the first central server 109, which confirms that channel identification information matches the remove pump order information and confirrris that the correct pump 120 is removed. More specifically, the example remove pump process 6200 begins when the second central server 108a causes the digital assistant 11 8 to display a list of patients for selection at block 6202. An example of a digital assistant display 118a showing a list of patients is illustrated in FIGURE 24. The list of patients is preferably limited to patients associated with the user (e.g., a clinician 116) who is logged into that digital assistant 118 at the time. Once the user selects a patient 112, information identifying the selection and/or the patient 112 is 3 transmitted from the digital assistant 118 back to the second central server 108a. 4 Communication between the digital assistant 1 18 and the second central server I08a may be via 5 any suitable communication channel such as the wireless/wired network 102 described above. 6 The second central server 1 08a then causes the digital assistant 118 to display a list of actions at 7 block 6204. An example of a digital assistant display 118a showing a list of actions is s illustrated in FIGURE 25. The list of actions is preferably limited to actions associated with the 9 selected patient 112. For example, a "remove pump" action would only be available if an 0 infusion associated with this patient 112 was currently listed in the first central server 109 1 database. 2 When the user selects the "remove pump" action from the list of actions, information 3 identifying the action selected is sent to the second central server 1OSa. In response, the second 128 1 central server 108a causes the digital assistant 118 to display a screen prompting the user to scan 2 a machine-readable identifier associated with the medication 124 to be affected by this "remove 3 pump" action at block 6206. An example of a digital assistant display I18a prompting the user 4 to scan a machine-readable identifier associated with the medication 124 is illustrated in 5 FIGURE 34. The user may use the scanner of the digital assistant 118 to scan the medication 6 label 124a on a bag of medication 124 (e.g., a barcode ora an infusion bag). Alternatively, the 7 user may manually enter the medication identifier into the digital assistant 118. 8 The medication identifier is then sent to the second central server 108a for verification at 9 block 6208. The second central server 108a (or the digital assistant 118) checks if a properly u formatted medication identifier was received. Preferably, the second central server 108a does j not need to check if the medication identifier matches a c-urrent infusion in the second central 2 server 108a database, because the purpose of the "reniove pump" action is to remove 3 associations from the first central server 109 database that have no corresponding infusions in 4 the second central server 108a database. 5 If the medication identifier (e.g., bag ID) is not properly formatted, the second central 5 server 108a causes the digital assistant 118 to display an invalid item notification at block 6210. 7 Once the user acknowledges the invalid item notification (or the notification times out), the 3 digital assistant 118 re-displays the screen prompting the user to scan a machine-readable identifier associated with the medication 124 to be resumed at block 6206. ) If the medication identifier (e.g., bag ID) is properly formatted at block 6208, the second I central server 108a causes the digital assistant 118 to display- a screen prompting the user to scan a machine-readable identifier associated with the patient Il 2 at block 6212. An example of a 3 digital assistant display 118a prompting the user to scan a machine-readable identifier associated 4 with the patient 112 is illustrated in FIGURE 36. The user may use the scanner of the digital 5 assistant 118 to scan a barcode label on a patient wristband I I2a. Alternatively, the user may 6 manually enter the patient identifier into the digital assistant 118. The patient identifier is then 7 sent to the second central server 108a for verification at block 6214. The second central server 8 108a (or the digital assistant 118) then checks if a properly formatted patient identifier was 9 received. Preferably, the second central server 108a does not need to check if the patient o identifier matches a current infusion in the second central server 108a database, because the I purpose of the "remove pump" action is to remove associations from the first central server 109 2 database that have no corresponding infusions in the second central server 108a database.

129 1 However, the second central server 108a (or the digital assistant 118) may check if the patient 2 identifier matches the patient 112 selected in block 6202. 3 If the patient identifier (e.g., wristband ID) is not properly formatted, or the patient 4 identifier does not match the patient 112 selected in block 6202, the second central server 108a 5 causes the digital assistant 118 to display an invalid patient notification at block 6216. Once the 6 user acknowledges the invalid patient notification (or the notification times out), the digital 7 assistant 118 re-displays the screen prompting the user to scan a machine-readable identifier 8 associated with the patient 112 at block 6212. 9 If the patient identifier (e.g., wristband ID) is properly formatted and matches the patient 10 112 selected in block 6202 at block 6214, the second central server 108a transmits a "stop alarm 11 routing" XML document to the first central server 109 at block 6217. The "stop alarm routing" 12 XML document includes the patient identifier (e.g., wristband ID), the medication identifier 13 (e.g., bag ID), a completion URL, and a cancellation URL. The completion URL is a network 14 address used if the pump 120 is successfully removed. The cancellation URL is a network 15 address used if the "remove pump" action fails or is cancelled. 16 Once the first central server 109 receives the "stop alarm routing" XML document, the 17 first central server 109 determines if the "stop alarm routing" XML document is valid at block 1S 6224. For example, the first central server 109 may check if any data normally expected in a 19 "stop alarm routing" XML document is missing from the received "stop alarm routing" XML 20 document. If the first central server 109 determines that the "stop alarm routing" XML 21 document is not valid, the first central server 109 causes the digital assistant 118 to display an 22 error message indicating to the user that the "stop alarm routirag" action could not be executed at 23 block 6226. This display may include a reason such as whicl] data was missing from the "stop 24 alarm routing" XML document. After the user presses an "OK" button to acknowledge the error 25 message,. the first central server 109 returns a failure code to Ihe second central server 1OSa via 26 the cancellation URL at block 6228. 27 If the fust central server 109 determines that the "stop alarm routing" XML document is 28 valid, the first central server 109 initiates the channel scanning process 5730. Generally, the 29 channel scanning process 5730 prompts the user to scan a machine-readable identifier associated 30 with the pump channel currently associated with the pump 120 to be removed and determines if 31 the scanned channel is associated with the patient identifier and the medication identifier (as 32 described in detail above with reference to FIGURE 58. If the scanned channel is not associated 33 with the patient identifier and the medication identifier, the removee pump" action is cancelled.

130 1 In such an event, the first central server 109 returns a cancel code to the second central server 2 108a via the cancellation URL at block 6228. 3 If the scanned channel is associated with the patient identifier and the medication 4 identifier (i.e., the channel is valid), the first central server 109 causes the digital assistant 118 to 5 display a message indicating the patient 112 and infusion associated with this action at block 6 6232. Preferably, the PDA display also includes a "Continue" button and a "Carcel" button. In 7 this manner, the user may manually stop the indicated infusion and then press the "Continue" 8 button to inform the first central server 109 to check if the correct infusion was actually stopped. 9 Alternatively, the user may press the "Cancel" button, at which point the first central server 109 10 returns a cancel code to the second central server 108a via the cancellation URL at block 6228. ii If the user presses the "Continue" button, the first central server 109 determines if the 12 infusion was stopped by reading status information sent to the first central ser-ver 109 by the 13 pump 120 at block 6234. If the infusion was not stopped, the first central server 109 causes the 14 digital assistant I18 to display a warning message indicating that the infusion was not stopped at 15 block 6236. Preferably, the display also includes an "Continue" button and a "Cancel" button. 16 If the user presses the "Cancel" button, the first central server 109 returns a cancel code to the 17 second central server 108a via the cancellation UJRL at block 6228. is If the user presses the "Continue" button, the first central server 109 attempts to remove 19 the database association between the patient identifier, the medication identifier, a-nd the channel .o identifier for either the primary infusion or the piggyback infusion, but preferably not both at zi block 6240. If the user wants to stop alarm routing associated with both a primary infusion and 22 a piggyback infusion running on a channel, the user may execute the "remove pump" action 23 twice, once for each infusion. If the first central server 109 is not successful in removing the 24 database association at block 6242, the first central server 109 returns a failure code to the 25 second central server 108a via the cancellation URL at block 6228. If the first central server 26 109 is successful in removing the database association at block 6242, the first central server 109 27 returns a success code to the second central server 108a via the completion URL at block 6244. 28 The first central server 109 removes the association between the patient identifier, the 29 medication identifier, and the channel identifier for the selected infusion only if a "remove 30 pump" action is successful. Otherwise, the association is maintained. The second central server 31 108a need not update the status of the "removed" infusion upon receiving a success code from 32 the first central server 109. 33 Secure Communication Process 131 1 As described above, the system may include a plurality of digital assistants 118 and a 2 plurality of medical devices (e.g., infusion pumps 120) communicating over a wired or wireless 3 network. Because some of the data being transmitted is confidential medical data, the data is 4 preferably encrypted and only communicated in the clear to authorized users and devices. In 5 order to setup a new digital assistant 118 or medical device 120, a commissioning phase o-f the 6 authentication process may be performed. Each time a commissioned device is powered up, an 7 authentication process is preferably performed in order to verify communication is occurring 8 with an authorized device and/or user. Once a device and/or user is authenticated, secure one 9 way and/or two-way communication may occur in order to pass parameters, instructions, data, 10 alarms, status information, and any other type of information between digital assistants, medical i i devices, and/or servers. 12 Referring to FIGURE 63, a digital assistant commissioning phase (i.e., se-ver 13 registration phase) of a secure communication process 6300 begins at block 6302 when the first [4 central server 109 creates a digital assistant user account. For example, the digital assistant user [5 account may be established using Microsoft Active Directory in a well-known manner. 'The 16 first central server 109 then generates a digital certificate for the digital assistant 118 at block 17 6304. The digital certificate may be generated in any manner. For example, the digital 18 certificate may be generated at the first central server 109 using Microsoft Digital Certificate [9 Services in a well-known manner. The digital certificate preferably includes the digital !o assistant's public key digitally signed using the first central server's private key. In other words, !1 the first central server 109 is acting as the certification authority (CA) for the digital assislart's !2 digital certificate. Once the digital certificate is generated, the first central server 109 maps the 23 digital certificate to the user account at block 6306. 24 The digital assistant's digital certificate and the digital assistant's private key are then 25 sent by the first central server 109 at block 6308 to the digital assistant 11S at block 63 10. 26 Preferably, the digital assistant's digital certificate and the digital assistant's private key are sent 27 to the digital assistant 118 via a secure connection. For example, an RS-232 cable that is mot 28 connected to any other devices may be used. In addition, the first central server's digital 29 certificate is sent by the first central server 109 at block 6312 to the digital assistant 118 at blk>ck 30 6314. Again, the first central server's digital certificate is preferably sent to the digital assistant 31 118 via a secure connection such as an RS-232 cable that is not connected to any other devices. 32 At this point, the digital assistant 118 is commissioned (i.e., registered with the server).

132 Of course, any method of communicating with the digital assistant 118 may be used. In 2 one example, the digital assistant's private key may be stored in a memory associated with the 3 digital assistant 118 (e.g., an EPROM) at the time the digital assistant I18 is manufactured. In 4 addition, each digital assistant 118 may have the same private key, with different identification s codes used to distinguish one digital assistant 118 from another. 6 Each time a commissioned digital assistant 118 is turned on, the digital assistant 11 8 and 7 the first central server 109 must perform an authentication process in order to move from an 8 unsecured wireless connection to a secured wireless connection. In the example illustrated, the 9 digital assistant 118 establishes an unsecured 802.11 (wireless Ethernet) connection with the o first central server 109 at block 6316 and block 6318. Of course, any type of connection may be uscd, such as a wired connection or a connection using another protocol. 2 Turning to FIGURE 64, at block 6402 the digital assistant 118 sends a request to the first 3 central server 109 to establish a secure connection. The first central server 109 receives the 4 digital assistant's request to establish a secure connection at block 6404. The first central server 5 109 responds to the request to establish a secure connection at block 6406 by sending a copy of 6 the first central server's digital certificate to the digital assistant 118 over the unsecured 7 connection. The digital assistant 118 receives the first central server's digital certificate at block 8 6408. 9 The digital assistant 118 uses the first central server's digital certificate to authenticate D the first central server 109 at block 6410. In addition, at block 6412 the digital assistant 118 I uses the first central server's digital certificate to retrieve an embedded uniform resource locator 2 (URL) associated with the first central server 109. The digital assistant 118 can now request 3 data and services from the retrieved URL knowing it is talking to the real first central server 4 109. 5 Next, at block 6414 the first central server 109 sends a request to the digital assistant 118 6 to establish the other half of the secure connection. The digital assistant 118 receives the first 7 central server's request at block 6416. The digital assistant 11 S responds to the request to 8 establish a secure connection at block 6418 by sending a copy of the digital assistant's digital 9 certificate to the first central server 109. The first central server 109 receives the digital o assistant's digital certificate at block 6420. 1 The first central server 109 uses the digital assistant's digital certificate to authenticate 2 the digital assistant 118 at block 6422. The first central server 109 can now communicate with 3 the digital assistant 118 knowing it is talking to a commissioned digital assistant 118. In 133 i addition. turning to FIGURE 65, the first central server 109 establishes what files this digital 2 assistant is authorized to access by mapping a session for the digital assistant user account to an 3 active directory at block 6502. 4 Now that the digital assistant 118 is communicating with the first central server 109 over 5 a secure connection, and the digital assistant 118 is cleared to access certain files on the first 6 central server 109, at block 6504 the digital assistant 118 may establish a secure communication 7 session with the first central server 109 by accessing the URL retrieved fiom the first central 8 server's digital certificate. The first central server 109 also establishes the secure 9 communication session at block 6506. In addition, an application on the first central server 109 0 verifies the digital assistant 118 belongs to the appropriate active directory at block 6508. t Although the digital assistant 11 8 may now be authenticated, the first central server 109 2 still does not know the identity of the user using the digital assistant 118. This is important 3 because some users may have different access rights than other users, and certain alarms and 4 other data are only sent to specific users. Accordingly, an application on the first central server 5 109 may request a user name and password from the user of the digital assistant 118 at block 6 6510. Once the digital assistant 118 receives the request for a user name and password at block 7 6512, the digital assistant 118 retrieves a user name and password from the user via a prompt on s the digital assistant display I1Sa at block 6514. The user name and password are then sent by 9 the digital assistant I 18 at block 6516 and received by the first central server 109 at block 6518. a The application on the first central server 109 may then authenticate the user at block 6520. Once the user is authenticated on one server (e.g., the first central server 109), the 2 authentication credentials may be used to automatically authenticate the digital assistant 118 on 23 another server (e.g., second central server 108a). In one example, a user may only be 24 authenticated if the user is authenticated on both the first central server 109 and the second ?5 central server 108a. Accordingly, the user name and password are preferably synchronized 6 between the first central server 109 and the second central server 108a whenever a user name or 7 password is created or modified. Afler authenticating the user, the first central server 109 preferably returns a token that .9 will be unique to the session between the user and the first central server 109. This session o token is passed with each request (e.g., in an HTTP header or as a cookie) made to the first I central server 109 as a means of authenticating the origin of the request and hence the 2 destination of the response. Once this token is in place, the digital assistant I18 may roam from 3 one wireless access point 114 to another seamlessly.

134 1 Turning to FIGURE 66, the medical device commissioning phase (i.e., server 2 registration phase) of the process 6300 begins at block 6602 when the first central server 109 3 creates a medical device user account. For example, the medical device user account may be 4 established using Microsoft Active Directory in a well-known manner. The first central server 5 109 then generates a digital certificate for the medical device 120 at block 6604. The digital 6 certificate may be generated in any manner. For example, the digital certificate may be 7 generated at the first central server 109 using Microsoft Digital Certificate Services in a well s known manner. The digital certificate preferably includes the medical device's public key 9 digitally signed using the first central server's private key. In other words, the first central o server 109 is acting as the certification authority (CA) for the medical device's digital j certificate. Once the digital certificate is generated, the first central server 109 maps the digital 2 certificate to the user account at block 6606. 3 The medical device's digital certificate and the medical device's private key are then 4 sent by the first central server 109 at block 6608 to the medical device 120 at block 6610. 5 Preferably, the medical device's digital certificate and the medical device's private key are sent 6 to the medical device 120 via a secure connection such as an RS-232 cable that is not connected 7 to any other devices. In addition, the first central server's digital certificate is sent by the first S central server 109 at block 6612 to the medical device 120 at block 6614. Again, the first a central server's digital certificate is preferably sent to the medical device 120 via a secure > connection such as an RS-232 cable that is not connected to any other devices. At this point, the medical device 120 is commissioned (i.e., registered with the server). Of course, any method of communicating with the medical device 120 may be used. In 3 one example, the medical device's private key may be stored in a memory associated with the 4 medical device 120 (e.g., an EPROM) at the time the medical device 120 is manufactured. In 5 addition, each medical device 120 may have the same private key, with different identification 6 codes used to distinguish one medical device 120 from another. 7 Each time a commissioned medical device 120 is turned on, the medical device 120 and 8 the first central server 109 must perform an authentication process in order to move from an 9 unsecured wireless connection to a secured wireless connection. In the example illustrated in 0 FIGURE 67, the medical device 120 establishes an unsecured S02.11 (wireless Ethernet) I connection vith the first central server 109 at block 6702 and block 6704. Of course, any type 2 of connection may be used, such as a wired connection or a connection using another protocol.

135 1 Next, at block 6706 the medical device 120 sends a request to the first central server 109 2 to establish a secure connection. The first central server 109 receives the medical device's 3 request to establish a secure connection at block 6708. The first central server 109 responds to 4 the request to establish a secure connection at block 6710 by sending a copy of the first central 5 server's digital certificate to the medical device 120 over the unsecured connection. The 6 medical device 120 receives the first central server's digital certificate at block 6712. 7 The medical device 120 uses the first central server's digital certificate to authenticate 8 the first central server 109 at block 6714. In addition, at block 6716 the medical device 120 uses 9 the first central server's digital certificate to retrieve an embedded uniform resource locator 1o (URL) associated with the first central server 109. The medical device 120 can now request 11 data and services form the retrieved URL knowing it is talking to the real first central server 12 109. 13 Next, at block 6718 the first central server 109 sends a request to the medical device 120 14 to establish the other half of the secure connection. The medical device 120 receives the first 15 central server's request at block 6720. The medical device 120 responds to the request to 16 establish a secure connection at block 6722 by sending a copy of the medical device's digital 17 certificate to the first central server 109. The first central server 109 receives the medical 18 device's digital certificate at block 6724. 19 Turning to FIGURE 68, the first central server 109 uses the medical device's digital 20 certificate to authenticate the medical device 120 at block 6802. The first central server 109 can 21 now communicate with the medical device 120 knowing it is talking to a commissioned medical 22 device 120. In addition, the first central server 109 establishes what files this medical device 23 120 is authorized to access by mapping a session for the medical device user account to an 24 active directory at block 6804. 25 Now that the medical device 120 is communicating with the first central server 109 over 26 a secure connection, and the medical device 120 is cleared to access certain files on the first 27 central server 109, at block 6S06 the medical device 120 may establish a secure communication 28 session with the first central server 109 by accessing the URL retrieved from the first central 29 server's digital certificate. The first central server 109 also establishes the secure 30 communication session at block 6808. In addition, an application on the first central server 109 31 verifies the medical device 120 belongs to the appropriate active directory at block 6810. 32 Although the medical device 120 may now be authenticated, the first central server 109 33 still does not know the identity of the user using the medical device 120. In many instances, no 136 1 user will be associated with a medical device 120. In some applications, this may be important I2 because some users may have different access rights than other users. In addition, a medical 3 device may have different "roles." For example, a medical device may have a "one-way 4 communication" role or a "two-way communication" role. In this manner, a medical device 120 5 capable of two-way communication may be placed in a system that expects only one-way 6 communication devices. Similarly, a system that is capable of handling both one-way 7 communication devices and two-way communication devices may need to be told the type of 8 device that is connected. 9 Accordingly, an application on the first central server 109 may request a user name and to password from the user of the medical device 120 at block 6812. Once the medical device 120 1 i receives the request for a user name and password at block 6814, the medical device 120 12 retrieves a user name and password from the user via a prompt on the medical device 120 or an 13 associated digital assistant display I I8a at block 6816. The user name and password are then 14 sent by the medical device 120 (or other device) at block 6902 of FIGURE 69 and received by 15 the first central server 109 at block 6904. The application on the first central server 109 may 16 then authenticate the user at block 6906. 17 Once the user is authenticated on one server (e.g., the first central server 109), the 18 authentication credentials may be used to automatically authenticate the user on another server 19 (e.g., second central server 108a). In one example, a user may only be authenticated if the user 20 is authcnticatcd on both the first central server 109 and the second central server I 08a. 21 Accordingly, the user name and password are preferably synchronized between the first central 22 server 109 and the second central server 108a whenever a user name or password is created or 23 modified. 24 After authenticating the user, the first central server 109 preferably returns a token that 25 will be unique to the session between the user and the first central server 109. This session 26 token is passed with each request (e.g., in an HTTP header or as a cookie) made to the first 27 central server 109 as a means of authenticating the origin of the request and hence the 28 destination of the response. 29 Secure one-way conununications may now be sent from the medical device 120 to the 30 digital assistant 118. For example. the medical device 120 may report settings., generate alarms, 31 etc. In the example illustrated, the medical device 120 determines data to be sent to the digital 32 assistant 118 via the first central server 109 at block 690S. This data is then sent to the first 33 central server 109 at block 6910 and received by the first central server 109 at block 6912. The 137 1 first central server 109 may then determine which user(s) are authorized to receive this data at 2 block 6914 and which digital assistant(s) 118 those users are currently associated with at block 3 6916. For example, a lookup table stored in the first central server 109 database may be used. 4 The first central server 109 then sends the data to the appropriate digital assistant(s) 118 5 at block 6918 and the digital assistant(s) I18 receive and display the data at block 6920. In 6 addition, secure two-way communications may be accomplished. For example, a digital 7 assistant 118 and/or the first central server 109 may send data, commands, setup information, or 8 any other type of information to the medical device 120. .9 Multi-Purpose User Interface 10 Referring to Figure 70, several further embodiments are disclosed, each of which can be ii used to implement the various features advantages of the above identified and described 12 embodiments, as one of ordinary skill the art would understand. Specifically, Figure 70 shows a 13 multi-purpose user interface 118' for the healthcare system referred to herein. A plurality of 14 user interfaces 118' as well as the user interfaces or digital assistants 118, referred to above, can 15 be used within the system as well. The system also has a plurality of medical devices 120, 16 which, as mentioned, can be a controller for a medical device, such as a controller for an 17 infusion pump, or can be a pumping mechanism, such as a MEMS pump integral with a line set is (see Figures 1, 3, and 53), as 'well as other types of medical devices. The user interface 118' has 19 a housing, a processor, a rnemory, and a communications interface. The communications 20 interface is preferably a RF transmitter/receiver for providing communication between the user 21 interface 118' and the medical device 120. In one embodiment, the user interface 118' can 22 receive information from the medical device 120 about the status of the operation of the medical 23 device, including alarms, alerts, and other information, including but not limited to maintenance 24 information. In another embodiment, the user interface 118' can both receive medical 25 information, and send or transmit control information and/or parameters to the medical devices 26 120 through the communications interface, for controlling the operation of the medical devices 27 directly or through the programming instructions that are used by the medical device 120 to 28 control itself. For example, this control information can include high level instructions such as 29 volume to be infused and infusion rate parameters in the case of an infusion pump medical 30 device, or the control information can be low level instructions used to directly control the 31 medical device 120. 32 Similar to embodiments discussed herein above, the first central computer can 33 communicate directly with the medical device in a manner disclosed in these previous 138 1 embodiments, with respect to at least the one way communication and the two way 2 communication embodiments. Tn an even further embodiment, the first central computer can 3 send the medical device control information to provide the direct operating commands for the 4 medical device 120 to follow. For example, in the previous embodiments, this control 5 information can include high level instructions such as volume to be infused and infusion rate 6 parameters in the case of an infusion pump medical device, and in the present embodiment, the 7 control information can be low level instructions used to directly control the medical device S 120, such as a MEMS pump shown in Figure 53. An example of the high level parameters can 9 include an infusion rate, a volume to infuse, and a start time for an infusion pump, and in the 10 case of low level instructions, a start command, a speed to run at, and a stop command, etc. II The communications interface also provides for communication between the user 12 interface 118' and the first central computer 109 in a manner which can include at least the 13 types of communications referred to herein above. The user interface 118' also has a display for 14 displaying a medical prompts of the types also referred to herein above for the various different 15 types of actions that a clinician or other care giver can take mentioned herein above, as well as 16 other actions and prompts therefore. The user interface 118' further can display medical 17 information received from the first central computer 109, as explained herein above, as well as 18 other medical information. 19 The housing of tie user interface 118' can be structured to have a shape, size and 20 components / elements which allow the user interface to physically connect to one or more of 21 the plurality of medical devices 120. The shape, size, and components of the housing allow for 22 the user interface to be removeably connected with the medical devices 120. The user interface 23 118' can be programmed with a thin-client operating system for operating the user interface 24 118'. Alternatively, the user interface 118' can be programmed with a thick client operating 25 system or other operating system. 26 As described in previous embodiments, a task or computer program, such as a listener 27 task can be sent by the first central computer 109 to the user interface for the user interface 118' 2S to listen for medical information from the first central computer 109. The first central computer 29 109 can also send a second task or computer program, such as a listener task, to the user 30 interface I IS' for the user interface 118' to listen for medical information from directly from the 31 medical device 120. The system can be arranged such that the communications take place 32 between the user interface I I S' and the first central computer 109, and between the medical 33 device and the first central computer, and even between the user interface I18' and the medical 139 I device 120, through a standard wireless network having a plurality of wireless access points as 2 described herein above. 3 The user interface 118' can also communicate and interact with one medical device 120 4 in the manner described above, the user interface can communicate and interact with a plurality 5 of medical devices 120 in a one to many manner. Likewise, a plurality of user interfaces 118' 6 can be used within the system. The user interfaces 118' are associated with particular medical 7 devices 120 and a record of this association can be kept track of at the first central computer s 109, or elsewhere. The user interface 118' can be programmed to display or receive instructions 9 to display a selection prompt on the display for selecting at least one medical device 120 to to associate the user interface with. The user of the user interface 118' can select the medical ji device on the display or by scanning a bar code or reading some other medical device identiFier, 12 as described herein above. As described, the medical devices 120 can be of different types. In 13 order to handle different types of medical devices 120, the user interface can be programmed or 14 receive instructions to allow the user interface to operate and communicate with the different 15 types of medical devices which may be utilized within the system. A first personality (the 16 screens, prompts, and other instructions and commands needed for a proper interaction with the 17 user interface, the user, the medical device and the first central computer) can be programmed 18 and stored in the memory of the user interface 118', the first central computer 109, and /or the 19 other devices for later use. Likewise, other personalities can be progranmed and stored as well. 20 When the identification of the medical device is received, the processor can automatically 21 program the user interface 118' and/or the other devices to operate in accordance with the first 22 personality type. 23 The user interface 118' can also be programmed or receive instructions., such as a script 24 to run, which can send a request to the first central compute 109 to locate an available and 25 qualified clinician for the user interface 109, in order to gain the attention of onc or more 26 clinicians in the care giving facility. The first central computer 109 can then send a message to 27 a clinician device, such as device 118., that the user interface 118' is in need of attention. The 28 first central computer 109 and/or the user interface 118' can then receive a response from the 29 clinician device 118 that the clinician will attend to the user interface 118'. 30 All or at least a portion of all of the communications can be sent in a secure fashion, as 31 described above herein. In addition, the system can utilize web services for communication 32 with the medical devices, the user interfaces, and other central computers, such as a second 33 central computer 108a, as described above herein. For example, the first central computer can 140 i send one or more tasks to the user interface 118' and/or the medical device 120, including but 2 limited to a listen task, an alarm task, an alert task, a message task, a low battery task, an 3 occlusion task, a pre-occlusion task, a bolus task, a KVO task, a STAT task, a change order task, 4 a new order task, a lab result task, an MRI results task, update task, change in telemetry data 5 task, a change in vital signs task, a doctor contact task, a patient contact task, a loss of 6 conamunications task, a relay of message from other device task; and a new rate task. 7 Vital Signs and Central Monitoring Integrated With Central System And Pump Controllers 8 Referring to Figures 71-75, the system 100 described above, including the various 9 embodiments thereof, can be integrated with vital sign(s) monitoring devices 7104 and central 10 monitoring systems 7110. In one embodiment, infusion pumps and/or controllers 7114 11 therefore are connected to a network 7120, such as a wired or wireless local area network, along 12 with the vital sign(s) monitoring devices 7104 and the central monitoring system(s) 7110. A 13 central computer 7130, which can be the same as or similar to the central computer 108 14 (incl-uding the separation of functions into a plurality of central computers 108a, 109) can also 15 be connected to the network 7120 and provide the same or similar functionality of the previous 16 embodiments described above in relation to the pumps 7114 and in relation to the other devices 17 and functionality described above. In general, clinicians using this arrangement will have the 18 ability to correlate infusion pump data with vital signs, arrhythmias and/or other hemodynamic 19 parameters and data. This arrangement also allows for infusion pump alarm and/or alert 20 notification and management thereof. This arrangement further allows for the ability to change 21 infusion pump settings from the central station. This arrangement further allows for the 22 comparison of drug label, rate/dose, and/or concentration prograrmmed on infusion pumps to a 23 pre-defined list of high and low dose and/or concentration limits and generates a message at the 24 central station if limits are exceeded. 25 Specifically, in one embodiment, during critical and/or non-critical patient events or 26 alarm conditions, a clinician can view, manage and/or print out infusion pump data mentioned in 27 any or all of the prior embodiments, as such data correlates with hemodynamic parameters and 28 arrhythrnias through the central computer 7130, through devices connected thereto, such as 29 handheld interface devices mentioned in prior embodiments. Exemplar screens are shown in 30 Figures 72-75. Vital signs data can be tracked by the vital signs monitoring devices 7104, and 31 the vital signs data can be sent to and received by the central computer 7130. This information 32 will be automatically recorded in the patient's electronic medical record (eMAR) at the central 33 computer 7130. As indicated above, the central computer 7130 tracks pump data as well 141 1 received from the infusion pumps 7114. The integration of infusion pump data with the vital 2 signs data at the central computer 7130 allows for correlation of the infusion pump data and at 3 least hemodynamic pararieters, and other vital signs data and parameters. As indicated in prior 4 embodiments, from a cornputer screen connected to the central computer 7130 at a central 5 location or from a transportable interface device (such as a handheld device), the clinician 6 would be able to identify which patients have active infusions on infusions pumps 7114 and/or 7 how many channels are infusing for such pumps 7114. In addition, the clinician could view a 8 map of infusion pump locations on her/his unit. Such information could include the pump 9 channel, the name of the medication/solution being delivered on such puanp channel, the to delivery rate and dose for the medication/solution being delivered on such channel, the volume ii of medication/solution to be infused, the volume already infused and/or the remaining volume to 12 be infused, and the infusion time remaining. At least this information could be displayed for 13 each infusion, as shown in Figures 72-75. For other types of medication delivery pumps, other 14 than infusion pumps, the same type of information could be provided. Other details about an 15 infusion or other delivery could be accessed as well. The central computer screen and/or 16 transportable interface device could also provide for the communication of audible and/or visual 17 notifications of alarm and alert conditions and infusion/other delivery status, such as "standby", 18 "running", and/or "stopped". Through such central computer screens and/or transportable 19 interface devices, clinicians could silence alarm and/or alert conditions, and could have a "near 20 end" of the infusion or delivery alert for infusions or other delivery type. Alarms and alerts 21 notification and display thereof on the central computer screen and/or transportable interface 22 devices could be prioritized and could have an escalation feature associated with them, as can be 23 understood from the embodiments described above. For example, caregivers using a central 24 computer screen and/or transportable interface device could be alerted through such screen 25 and/or interface that a punp 7114 is being or was programmed outside of an acceptable limit on 26 medication/solution dose, rate, and/or concentration. In response thereto, or in general, the 27 clinician could then be given the ability to modify the pump settings from the central computer 28 screen and/or the transportable interface device. 29 The central computer screen and/or transportable interface device provides for viewing 30 of infusion pump data at the same time as other hemodynamic parameters, thereby providing a 31 clinician a more complete picture of the clinical state of a patient, and a second look or double 32 check of programmed infusion parameters. As mentioned, the central computer screen and/or 33 transportable interface device also provides the ability to program/manage infusion pumps 7114, 142 1 such as for example, clearing the voluxne infused at the end of a shift, provides notification of 2 infusion pump alarms and alerts, provides for prioritized alarms and alerts as well as the 3 escalation thereof, provides for the ability to silence alarms and alerts, provides access to 4 documentation of titration history (vital sign trends associated with flow rate changes), provides 5 a direct link to eMAR and clinical documentation, provides information on comparisons of drug 6 label, rate/dose, or concentration data programmed on infusion pump to a pre-defined list of 7 high and low dose or concentration limits (through the central computer 7130 or otherwise) and s provides notification if limits are exceeded, and provides a near end of infusion alert for critical 9 or other infusions, all of the above including tracked data and/or real time data, as appropriate. to Printers connected to the central computer 7130 and/or central monitor 7110 can provide I I printouts as to the real time and/or tracked data, such as for hemodynamic and/or arrhythmia 12 events along with correlating infusion pump data, for infusion pump data during code blue 13 situations (all changes made on infusions correlated with hemodynamic and arrhythmia events), 14 and/or for end of shift summary, for snapshots of pump data correlated with vital signs during 15 alarm conditions (either pump alarms or alarms for hemodynamic changes or arrhythmias). l6 This printable data can also be accessed through the central computer screen and/or through the 17 transportable interface device. Maps or other ways to identify infusion device and other device [8 locations can be provided through the screens, interfaces and prinouts, for example, on a i9 particular unit basis and/or on an entire hospital basis, with or without availability data of such ZO devices. All of the display and control functionality available through the central computer Z2 screens and/or transportable interface devices described above, such as for example, receiving 23 and displaying data from the vital signs monitors 7104 and the infusion pumps 7114 in real 24 time, could also be performed through a central computer screen and/or transportable interface 25 device (handheld or otherwise) connected to and/or through the central monitor 7110. The 26 displayed and/or printable information can appear in various formats, such as for example 27 graphical and/or tabular forms. The integration between monitor and pump data and 28 functionality described herein can also apply to the integration with the data and functionality of 29 other devices, such as for example, monitor and ventilator data and functionality, and monitor 30 and intraortic balloon pump data and functionality. 31 Medication Delivery Data Tracking. Analyzine and Reporting 32 Referring to Figures 76- 128, the system 100 of the prior embodiments can generate a set 33 of reports that will be of value to clinicians, administrators or risk managers/safety officers in 143 viewing healthcare and medication delivery data, such as for example, data related to pump usage and medication errors. Examples of some of the types of reports that can be provided include a near miss summary, summary of alarxns and alerts, total number of pump infusions, flow rate history, pump infusion comparison sunmary, pump Guardian dose/rate out of limits alert warnings and overrides summary, and other reports. The ability to view and print this type of data is beneficial in identifying and tracking actual and potential medication errors and near misses. It could also be used to look at response time of clinicians to critical pump alarms. Knowing the total number and type of pump infusions per unit is an indication of patient acuity and could help with staffing decisions. For pumps, such as for example, those made by Baxter Heathcare. Inc. under the name COLLEAGUE that can have a feature named GUARDLAN (see http://www.baxter.com!products/medication management/infusion pumps/large volume infusion pumps/colleague/index.html), the system would track pump out of limits alert overrides to help pharmacists and other healthcare professionals in determining if the limits for specific medications require adjustment. Another example includes hospitals using data on numbers of infusions/ pump usage to help make purchasing decisions regarding number of pumps required per unit. Specifically, the reports will at least allow clinicians to view and print a history of flow rate changes made on the Colleague Pump for a specific medication on a specific channel; allow hospitals/clinicians to view and print information regarding the total number of infusions hung on pumps, with connectivity to central computers for the unit(s), medication(s), and time period selected; allow hospitals/clinicians to view and print near misses related to the five rights of medication administration/management (right patient, right drug, right dose, right time, and 3 right route), with reason codes; allow hospitals/clixiicians to view and print a history of pump 4 alarms and KVO alerts and resolutions by unit(s), patient(s), medication(s), specific alarm 5 condition, and time period, including the total number of alarms and KVO alerts escalated to a 5 charge nurse that can also be sorted by unit and/or alarm condition; allow hospitals/clinicians to 7 view and print a flow rate comparison summary by patient(s) and medication(s), including all 3 matches, mismatches and mismatch overrides; allow hospitals/clinicians to view a history of pump alarms and KVO alerts and when silenced/cleared, specific unit(s) and average time to resolve; allow hospitals/clinicians to view and print pump dose/rate out of limits alert summary including when the warning was accepted and overridden and when the pump was reprogrammed as a result of the warning. including an out of limit summary report by specific medication on infusions hung with the use of handheld interface devices connected to central 144 I computers in communication with such pumps, as described ira prior embodiments. While the 2 reports that will be shown as examples in FIGURES 76-128 have certain particularities about 3 each of them, these reports could vary in many different ways, such as for example. varying 4 layouts/formats (for example: portrait vs. landscape), varying sort order and/or group 5 definitions, varying graph types, varying the type and the amount of data shown, varying the 6 title or identification of the reports, and/or varying the search/criteria options for changing data 7 that will be shown. The system could also provide for a print preview option. 8 More specifically, with reference to prior embodiments, the system includes a plurality 9 of interface devices, such as the various types described herein above. The interface devices 10 each can have a receiver, such as a bar code scanner, RF scaaner, or other receiver described II herein above, for receiving identifier data. The identifier data can also be of the type described 12 herein above. The system also has a central computer in communication with the plurality of 13 interface devices over a communications network for receiving and storing the identifier data 14 and all information associated with such identifier. For exarnple, a bar code on a line set 15 solution bag can identify the medication(s) (solution(s)) in there bag. Information, such as for 16 example, which infusion pump the bag was used with, which nurse connected the bag to the 17 infusion pump, whether the solution in the bag matched with the Order for the patient, which 18 patient the bag was used with, can be considered to be associated with the identifier data and be 19 a part of such identifier data. This identifier data can also be considered as medical pump data 20 when a medical pump is involved. The interface devices ca-n have an interface screen for 21 displaying a manipulated version of the identifier data. Further, the system can have a plurality 22 of medical pumps, such as for example infusion pumps, ea-ch having medical pump data 23 associated therewith, as mentioned above. The central computer is in communication with the 24 plurality of medical pumps over a communications network, as described above herein, for 25 receiving and storing the medical pump data. The interface devices also have an interface 26 screen for displaying a manipulated version of the medical pump data. Upon request for 27 manipulated data from an interface device, or as a result of sorrie other occurrence, the central 28 computer can add, calculate, combine, compare, analyze, conapute, separate, tabulate and/or 29 perform some other processing function to and/or on the identifier data and/or medical pump 30 data and/or the use thereof in delivering medication. This manipulated information can then be 31 transmitted to the interface device for review by a caregiver. 32 This manipulated information, manipulated version of the medical pump data, and/or 33 manipulated version of the identifier data can take on many different forms, such as for 145 example, in different types of reports presented in various different formats. The following 2 describes several exemplar preferred embodiments of such reports, i including the presentation of 3 manipulated information, manipulated version of the medical puni data, and/or manipulated 4 version of the identifier data. 5 Near Miss Summary Report 6 Referring to Figures 76-77, an error near miss summary report is shown which indicates 7 totals of near misses at administration for the patient's five rights for each unit and/or for all 8 units in the hospital. Figure 76 shows this information for multiple -iits and totalizes the data, 9 and Figure 77 shows this information for a single chosen unit. 0 The following exemplar data/information can be included in this report: Header/Label Description Data Type Total Total Med Administrations in that Numeric Administrations Unit (with & without errors) Total Wrong Total of # Wrong Drug + #Wrong Numeric Patient + fiWrong time 4- #lWrong Route + #Wrong Rate (Near Miss) + #Wrong Dose (Med Error) # Wrong Drug Total Scan Errors on wrong drug for Numeric all patients in the Unit For Example: Nurse scans Multiple Vitamin injection when the order is for (the system expects) Bel's Morphine Sulfate Injection This wrong scan is counted as part of # Wrong Drugs for Bel's Mophine Sulfate Injection. # Wrong Patient Total Scan Errors on Patient for Unit Numeric fi Wrong Time Total of early, late, expired, and Numeric missed med administrations # Wrong Route Total wrong route entered. This only Numeric applies to Infusions # Wrong Rate Total #Resolved Rate Mismatches Numeric (Near Miss) for Infusions only (equivalent of "Wrong Dose" for infusions) # Wrong Dose Total Partial Dose Administrations Numeric (Med Error) (For Non-Infusions) Unit Name of Unit to which the Patient Text currently belongs (# Wrong Rate Near Miss - see below for I alternatives) Infusion / Non- | Totals split as to whether the Text Infusion medication in the administration 146 related to the Right being verified is an Infusion or non-Infusion. As indicated above, the reports in Figures 76 and 77 indicate that the systenca can break the data down by at least unit, infusion or medical pump data and non-infusion or identifier data. The system can allow for searching by at least date range and/or unit. In addition, the Wrong Route can be tracked and reported for both infusions and non-infusion orders. A caregiver may be required to enter the Route actually used at the time of administration to track this data. For Wrong Rate (Near Miss), the system could be set up to save if the nurse attempts to give a dose greater than what was ordered or could be set up to prevent the nurse from continuing with the administration workflow. Further, the system can count the # Resolved Rate Mismatches in the Wrong Rate (Near Miss) total, or track and report this data separately. For non-infusi-on Wrong Dose (Med Error) the system can allow for entry of a Partial Dose. For infusion Wong Dose (Med Error), the system can be set up to not allow for the entry of a Partial Dose (i.e., less than amount ordered). The system can also be set up so that Unit is defined as that to Xvhich the Patient currently belongs for all categories except #4 Wrong Rate (Near Miss). For #Wrong Rate (Near Miss), the system can be set up so that the Unit is defined as the unit to which the Patient belonged when the Resolved Rate Mismatch occurred. For example, Patient A is in Unit X when the Infusion is hung and the Rate Mismatch occurs. Later Patient A is transferred to Unit Y. The Near Miss for the Rate Mismatch will be totaled under Unit X. Any other Near Misses for this Patient will be totaled under Unit Y. Near Miss Summary by Medication Report Referring to Figures 78-81, a near miss surrunary by medication report is shown, which 2 lists totals of near misses and medication errors at administration for the patient's five rights by 3 medication per unit or all units in the hospital. 4 The following exemplar datafinformation can be included in this report: Header/Label i Description Data Type Total Total Med Administrations in that Numeric Administrations Unit (with & without errors) Total Wrong Total of # Wrong Drug + #Wrong Numeric Patient + #Wrong time + #Wrong Route + #Wrong Rate (Near Miss) + #Wrong Dose (Med Error) SWrong Drug Total Scan Errors on wrong drug for Numeric all patients in the Unit 147 For Example: Nurse scans Multiple Vitamin Injections when the order is for (the system expects) Bet's Morphine Sulfate injection. This wrong scan is counted as part of # Wrong Drugs for Bel's Mophine Sulfate Injection. # Wrong Patient Total Scan Errors on Patient for Numeric Unit # Wrong Time Total of early, late, expired, and Numeric missed med administrations # Wrong Route Total wrong route entered. This Numeric only applies to infusions. # Wrong Rate Total #Resolved Rate Mismatches Numeric (Near Miss) for Infusions only (equivalent of "Wrong Dose" for infusions) # Wrong Dose Total Partial Dose Administrations Numeric (Med Error) (For Non-Infusions only) Unit Name of Unit to which the Patient Text currently belongs (# Wrong Rate Near Miss - see below for alternatives) Infusion / Non- Totals split as to whether the Text Infusion medication in the administration related to the Right being verified is an Infusion or non-Infusion. Medication Totals split per Medication and Text grouped by Infusion/Non-Infusion (see Notes below) 2 As indicated above, the reports in Figures 78 and 79 indicate that the system can break 3 the data down by at least unit, infusion or medical pump data, non-infusion or identifier data, 4 and medication. The system can allow for searching by at least date range, unit, and/or item 5 name, such as for example. a medication name. In addition, the Wrong Route can be tracked 6 and reported for both infusions and non-infusion orders. A caregiver may be required to enter 7 the Route actually used at the time of administration to track this data. For Wrong Rate (Near 8 Miss), the system could be set up to save if the nurse attempts to give a close greater than vhat 9 was ordered or could be set up to prevent the nurse from continuing with the administration 10 workflow. Further, the system can count the # Resolved Rate Mismatches in the Wrong Rate I I (Near Miss) total, or track and report this data separately. For non-infusion Wrong Dose (Med 12 Error) the system can allow for entry of a Partial Dose. For infusion Wong Dose (Med Error), 13 the system can be set up to not allow for the entry of a Partial Dose (i.e., less than amount 14 ordered). The system can also be set up so that Unit is defined as that to which the Patient 148 1 currently belongs for all categories except # Wrong Rate (Near Miss). For #Wrong Rate (Near 2 Miss), the system can be set up so that the Unit is defined as the unit to which the Patient 3 belonged when the Resolved Rate Mismatch occurred. The same example from the Near Miss 4 Summary Report embodiment applies here as well. 5 In one embodiment for Medications in relation to Infusions, business rules for 6 summarizing Infusions by Med can work as follows: 1) if infusion has I 1tem/Medication in it, 7 the data is counted under that Medication; 2) if a Mixed Infusion has 2 Items in it, the data is 8 counted under the Additive rather than the Solution (for example, if Infusion is Dopamine + 9 D5W, any near misses for this order are counted as Dopamine); 3) if Infusion has more than 2 10 Items in it (for example, 2 Additives plus Solution), the infusion will be counted by its Order II Type (for example, Continuous Infusion, TPN, etc.). The report can display either the name of 12 the drug in the infusion if the Infusion has 1 medication or can display the Order type if there 13 are 2 or more ingredients. Further, for the Med Admin results, if the Order has 2 ingredients, 14 the report can display the first ingredient. A further report can be provided, indicating the Top 15 20 Meds used. For example, a bar chart displaying the Top 20 meds used over a particular 16 Unit(s) and time span, in connection with (for example, on the samc screen) the other reports or 17 separate from the other reports. This type of report can be provided in various different forms, is such as for example, in Bar Chart format. 19 Scan Errors Rcport 20 Referring to Figure 82, a scan errors report is shown, which lists all scan errors in the 21 hospital for patients, items and containers. 22 The following exemplar data/information can be included in this report: Header/Label Description Data Type Group User Group (e.g. Nurse - HandHeld Text /'Interface Device) Personnel Name of Nurse who caused the scan Text error Time Time of Scan error Date/Time (dd-mm-yyyy hh:mm) System/Screen Name of BPCS application plus Text Screen on which the Scan error occurred Scan Error Type of Scan error Text (Type/Error) Description of scan error type 149 Expected Value of expected scan - If patient Text related, include name of Patient. If Item, include Item name. Actual Actual scanned value - If patient Text related, include name of Patient. If Item, include Item name. Total Total Number of scan errors for the User for the selected time period 2 The system can break the data down by at least date range, date error occurred, user 3 group (caregiver group/unit), user, and/or identifier type, such as for example, a bar code type. 4 The identifier type can include at least container identifiers (for example, medication/supply cart 5 identifiers), encounter locators or identifiers (for example., patient identifiers), patient identifiers, 6 and/or item scan identifiers (for example, medications, bags, other supply items). The system 7 can allow for searching by at least date range, user group (caregiver group/unit), user, and/or s identifier type. Figure 83 shows one example of a selection criteria screen that can be used to * select the criteria for displaying the Scan Errors Report. > Wrong Time Report Referring to Figures 84-87, a near miss wrong time / wrong time report is shown, which lists totals for wrong time of administrations per unit or all units in the hospital. The following exemplar data/information can be included in this report: Header/Label Description Data Ty e Total Total Med Administrations for the Numeric Administrations selected Unit(s) Total Wrong Total Med Administrations at the Numeric Time wrong time in that Unit (Total of Early. Late, Expired, and Missed) # Early Meds Total Early administrations Numeric # Late Meds Total Late administrations Numeric # Expired Meds Total administrations of Expired Numeric orders # Missed Meds Total missed med administrations Numeric Unit Name of Unit to which the Patient Text belonged when the Administration was done Infusion / Non- Totals split as to whether the Text Infusion medication in the administration is an Infusion or non-Infusion._ 5 150 1 As indicated above, the system can break the data down by at least unit, infusion, and/or 2 non-infusions. The system can further allow for searching by at least date range and/or unit. 3 The system can provide for display of Total Administrations separately from the table or in 4 combination with the report of data. 5 Wrong Time by Medication Report 6 Referring to Figures 88-91, a near miss wrong time by medication / wrong time by 7 medication report is shown, which lists totals of near misses for wrong time of administration by 8 medication per unit or all units in the hospital. 9 The following exemplar data/information can be included in this report: 10 Header/Label Description Data Type Total Total Med Administrations for the Numeric Administrations selected Unit Total Wrong Total Med Administrations at the Numeric Time wrong time in that Unit # Early Meds Total Early administrations Numeric # Late Meds Total Late administrations Numeric # Missed Meds Total missed med administrations Numeric Unit Name of Unit to which the Patient Text belonged when the Administration was done Infusion / Non- Totals split as to whether the Text Infusion medication in the administration is an Infusion or non-Infusion. Medication Totals split per Medication and Text grouped by Infusion/Non-Infusion (see Notes below) 11 12 As indicated above, and as shown in Figures 8S-91. the system can break the data down 13 for these reports by at least unit, infusion or medical pump data, non-infusion or identifier data, 14 and medication. The system can allow for searching by at least date range, unit, and/or item 15 name, such as for example, a medication name. In one embodiment for Medications in relation 16 to Infusions, business rules for summarizing Infusions by Med can work as follows: 1) if 17 infusion has 1 Item/Medication in it, the data is counted under that Medication; 2) if a Mixed 18 Infusion has 2 Items in it, the data is counted under the Additive rather than the Solution (for 19 example, if Infusion is Dopamine +1 D5W, any near misses for this order are counted as 20 Doparine); 3) if Infusion has more than 2 Items in it (for example, 2 Additives plus Solution). 21 the infusion will be counted by its Order Type (for example, Continuous Infusion, TPN, etc.).

151 1 The report can display either the name of the drug in the infusion if the Infusion has 1 2 medication or can display the Order type if there are 2 or more ingredients. Further, for the Med 3 Admin results, if the Order has 2 ingredients, the report can display the first ingredient. The 4 system can also provide for display of Total Administrations separately from the table or in 5 combination with the report of data. In addition, although the number of Late Administrations 6 for Continuous, Tapering, and TPN infusions can be tracked and reported, this information may 7 not be useful data. In particular, if one administration is late, the rest should be as they are hung s when the previous one ends. This information may be more useful for Intermittent infusions. 9 Wrong Time With Reason Codes Report o Referring to Figures 92-93, a wrong time with reason code report is shown, which lists I the administrations given at the wrong times - early, late, expired, and missed along with the 2 reason associated with this wrong time. 3 The following exemplar data/information can be included in this report: 4 Header/Label Description Data Type Wrong Time Category of Wrong Time - Early, Text Category Late, Expired, and Missed Medication Name of Medication Text Reason i Reason Code text associated with Text wrong time of administration Patient Name of Patient Text Order RX ID and description of the order Text (i.e. RX Text) Order Admin Date and Time Medication was Date Tirne Ordered for (dd-mi-n-yyyy hh:mm :ss) Admin Time Date and Time Medication was Date actually administered (dd-mm-yyyy hh:mm:ss) Nurse Name of Nurse who administered Text the Medication. Total Total number of Administrations for Numeric each Wrong Time Category 15 16 As indicated above, and as shown in Figures 92-93, the system can break the data down 17 for these reports by at least wrong time category (early, late, expired, missed), medication, IS reason code, and/or order administration time. The system can allow for searching by at least 19 date range, unit, and/or medication. If the system tracks the nurse that was actually or was 152 1 supposed to be assigned to a patient at the time the medication was supposed to be administered, ' 2 then the system could provide a Nurse with Missed Meds report. 3 Infusion Flow Rate History Report 4 Referring to Figure 94, an infusion with flow rate history report is shown, which lists the 5 history of flow rates for medication hung on infusion pumps. 6 The following exemplar data/information can be included in this report: 7 Header/Label Description Data Type Unit Name of Unit to which the Patient Text belonged when the Medication was Administered (all Patients who received pump infusions during timeframe selected) Patient Name of Patient Text Nurse Name of Nurse assigned to Patient Text Order RX ID and description of the order Text (i.e. RX Text) Administration Time and Date of actual Text/ Date administration - e.g. Jan 14. 2004 1:05:00 pin (based RX Schedule ID) Occurrence Date Date and Time the Infusion rate Date changed (change in (min/dd/yyyy Mode/Status/Rate/Dose) hh:mm:ss) Pump Mode Mode of Pump - Primary or Text Piggyback Pump Status Status of Pump at Occurrence Date Text (e.g. Stopped, Standby Mode) Rate Rate progranuned into Pump Numeric Dose Dose programmed into Pump. Numcric 8 9 As indicated above, and as shown in Figure 94, the system can break the data down for 10 this report by at least unit, patient, nurse, order, and/or administration. The system can allow for i i searching by at least date range, unit, patient, and/or item/medication. 12 Infusion Rate and Mode Comparison Summary Report 3 Referring to Figures 95-97, an infusion rate and mode comparison summary report is 14 shown, which lists totals of resolved mismatches, accepted mismatches, matches, and no 5 comparisons for rate comparisons as well as total mode mismatches for primary or piggyback 6 comparisons. 7 The following exemplar data/information can be included in this report: 18 153 Header/Label Description Data Type Total The sum of #Accepted Mismatches, #Matches, and #No Comparisons. # Resolved Total Rate Comparisons that started Numeric Mismatches as mismatches and ended up as matched # Accepted Total Rate Comparisons that were Numeric Mismatches mismatches and the clinician accepted the mismatch (selected -"Accept Mismatch") 4 Matches Total Rate Comparisons that were Numeric matches # No Total Rate Comparisons that had the Numeric Comparisons "No Companison" result Mode Mismatch Total Mismatches for Primary or Numeric Piggyback Mode (see Layout) Units Name of Unit to which the Patient Text belonged when the Comparison was done (all Patients who received pump infusions during timeframe selected) Piggyback vs Split each of the "Total Rate Text Primary (Mode) Comparison" columns between those that were compared on the Primary mode or those that were compared on the Piggyback mode As indicated above, and as shown in Figures 95-97, the system can break the data down for these reports by at least unit, and/or piggyback vs. primary (mode). The system can allow for searching by at least date range and/or unit. When patients change units, and if there was a 5 Rate Comparison done for Patient in Unit A and subsequently the Patient moves from Unit A to 6 Unit B, the system can be set up to have the Rate Comparison data remain with Unit A or be 7 transferred to Unit B (with or -without a special indication of this change). In addition, resolved 8 mismatches can be counted in the total. However, preferably they are not counted in the Total 9 as they are a subset of #Matches. 0 154 1 Infusion Rate Comparison Summary Report (by Medication) 2 Referring to Figures 98-100, an infusion rate comparison summary by medication report 3 is shown, which lists total of resolved mismatches, accepted mismatches, matches, and no 4 comparisons for rate comparisons by medication per unit or all units in the hospital. 5 The following exemplar data/information can be included in this report: 6 Header/Label Description Data Type Total Infusions Total Infusions for Med in that Unit Numeric is the sum of # Accepted Mismatches, #Matches, and #No Comparisons. # Resolved Total Rate Comparisons that started Numeric Mismatches as mismatches and ended up as matched # Accepted Total Rate Comparisons that were Numeric Mismatches mismatches and the clinician accepted the mismatch (selected "Accept Mismatch") # Matches Total Rate Comparisons that were Numeric matches # No Total Rate Comparisons that had the Numeric Comparisons "No Comparison" result Units Name of Unit to which the Patient Text belonged when the Comparison was done (all Patients who received pump infusions during tineframe selected) Medication Specific Medications hung on Text pumps (through central computer). 7 8 As indicated above, and as shown in Figures 98-100, the system can break the data down 9 for these reports by at least unit and/or medication. The system can allow for searching by at 10 least date range, unit, and/or item name/medication. When patients change units, and if there 11 was a Rate Comparison done for Patient in Unit A and subsequently the Patient moves from 12 Unit A to Unit B, the system can be set up to have the Rate Comparison data remain with Unit 13 A or be transferred to Unit B (with or without a special indication of this change). In addition., 14 resolved mismatches can be counted in the total. However, preferably they are not counted in 15 the Total as they are a subset of#Matches. 16 In one embodiment for Medications in relation to Infusions, business rules for 17 summarizing Infusions by Med can work as follows: 1) if infusion has 1 ltemledication in it, 155 1 the data is counted under that Medication; 2) if a Mixed Infusion has 2 Items in it, the data is 2 counted under the Additive rather than the Solution (for example, if Infusion is Dopamine + 3 DSW, any near misses for this order are counted as Dopamine); 3) if Infusion has more than 2 4 Items in it (for example, 2 Additives plus Solution), the infusion will be counted by its Order 5 Type (for example, Continuous Infusion, TPN, etc.). The report can display either the name of 5 the drug in the infusion if the Infusion has 1 medication or can display the Order type if there 7 are 2 or more ingredients. Further, for the Med Adinin results, if the Order has 2 ingredients, B the report can display the first ingredient. ? Infusion Flow Rate Comparison Report (by Patient) D Referring to Figures 101-102, an infusion flow rate comparison by patient report is I shown, which lists the history of flow rate comparisons for medication(s) hung on infusion pumps. The following exemplar data/information can be included in this report: t Summary Graphs: Header/Label Description Data Type Comparison Total Number each of Matches, Numeric bar Results Mismatches, and No Comparisons chart for Rate Comparisons in the Report Unit Comparison Percentage each of Matches, Numeric bar Results (%) Mismatches, and No Comparisons chart of total Rate Comparisons in the Report Unit Body of Report: Header/Label Description Data Type Unit Name of Unit to which the Patient Text belonged when the Medication was Administered (all Patients who received pump infusions during timeframe selected) Nurse Name of Nurse who administered Text the Medication. Patient Name of Patient Text Order RX ID and description of the order I Text (i.e. RX Text) Administration Time and Date of actual Text/ Date Time administration - e.g. Jan 14, 2004 1:05:00 pm (based RX Schedule ID) Pump Mode Mode of Pump - Primary or Text 156 Piggyback Rx Rate Rate entered in Order Numeric Pump Rate Rate programmed into Pump at Rate Numeric Comparison Comparison Result Rate Compare. (e.g. Match, Text Result Mismatch, No Comparison) Date/Time Date and Time of the Rate Date Comparison (mn/dd/yyyy hh:nni:ss) 2 As indicated above, and as shown in Figures 101-102, the system can break the data 3 down for these reports by at least unit, nurse, patient, order, an.d/or administration time. The 4 system can allow for searching by at least date range, unit, and/or patient. 5 Dose/Rate Range Out of Limit Summary Report 6 Referring to Figures 103-106, a GUARDIAN type dose/rate range out of limit summary 7 report is.shown, which lists total alerts for unit(s) and time period in the hospital. S The following exemplar data/information can be included in this report: 9 Header/Label Description Data Type # Infusions Total number of infusions hung Numeric (which can be tracked through central computer, in Time Period and selected Unit(s) # Guardian Total number of Guardian Pump Numeric Alerts Alerts tracked through central computer # Reprogrammed Total number of times a pump was Numeric after Alerts re-programmed after receiving a Guardian Alert #Accepted Alert Total number of times a pump was Numeric Overrides not re-programmed after Guardian Alert. #Accepted Alert Overrides = #Guardian Alerts-# Reprogrammed after Alerts Units Name of Unit to which the Patient Text belonged when the Comparison was done (all Patients who received infusions during timefrane selected) 10 II As indicated above, and as shown in Figures 103-106., the system can break the data 12 down for these reports by at least unit. The system can allow for searching by at least date range 157 1 and/or unit. "GUARDIAN" type data can be received by the central computer in the system, 2 tracked, manipulated and provided through at least these reports. 3 Dose/Rate Range Out of Limit Summary by Medication Report 4 Referring to Figures 107-108, a GUARDIAN type dose/rate range out of limit summary 5 by medication report is shown, which lists total alerts by medication for unit(s) and time period 6 in the hospital. 7 The following exemplar data/information can be included in this report: 8 Header/Label Description Data Type # Infusions Total number of infusions hung Numeric through central computer in Time Period and selected Unit(s) # Guardian Total number of Guardian Pump Numeric Alerts Alerts received by central computer # Reprogrammed Total number of times a pump was Numeric after Alerts re-programmed after receiving a Guardian Alert #Accepted Alert Total number of times a pump was Numeric Overrides not re-programmed after Guardian Alert. #Acceptcd Alert Overrides = #Guardian Alerts-# Reprogrammed after Alerts Units Name of Unit to which the Patient Text belonged when the Comparison was done (all Patients who received infusions during timeframe selected) Pharmacy Label Specific Medications hung on Text pumps (through central computer). (see Notes below) Guardian Label 8 character label for Medication Text used by "Guardian" Pwp 9 to As indicated above, and as shown in Figures 107-108, the system can break the data iI down for these reports by at least unit, pharmacy labels, and/or "GUARDIAN" type labels, such 12 as COLLEAGUE GUARDIAN type labels within particular embodiments of the system. The 13 system can allow for searching by at least date range, unit, and/or item name such as for 14 example, pharmacy label/medication. "GUARDIAN" type data can be received by the central 15 computer in the systern, tracked, manipulated and provided through at least these reports. 16 In one embodiment for Medications in relation to Infusions, business rules for 158 i summarizing Infusions by Med can work as follows: 1) if infusion has I Item/Medication in it, 2 the data is counted under that Medication; 2) if a Mixed Infusion has 2 Items in it, the data is 3 counted under the Additive rather than the Solution (for example, if Infusion is Dopamine + 4 D5W, any near misses for this order are counted as Dopamine); 3) if Infusion has more than 2 5 Items in it (for example, 2 Additives plus Solution), the infusion will be counted by its Order 6 Type (for example, Continuous Infusion, TPN, etc.). The report can display either the name of 7 the drug in the infusion if the Infusion has 1 medication or can display the Order type if there s are 2 or more ingredients. Further, for the Med Admin results, if the Order has 2 ingredients, 9 the report can display the first ingredient. 10 The central computer of the system can further track Unit Names, Pharmacy Labels, 11 COLLEAGUE GUARDIAN type labels, # Infusions,. # "Guardian" Alerts, and/or # 12 Reprogrammed after Alerts. In one embodiment, if the # "Guardian" Alerts is 0 and the # 13 Infusions is more than 0, these infusions will still appear on the report. (See Dopamine 1-Cl Inj 14 40MG/ML and Bel's Morphine Sulfate Inj 2 MG/ML in Figure 108.) 15 Alarms/Alerts Sumnnary 16 Referring to Figures 109-112, an alarm/alerts summary report is shown, which lists total 17 alarms and KVO alerts for unit(s) and time period in the hospital. 18 The following exemplar data/inforrmation can be included in this report: 19 Header/Label Description Data Type Total Infusions Total Infusions hung on pumps for Numeric the Unit(s), Medication(s) and Time Period selected Alarms/Alerts Total number of Alarms + Total Numeric Total number of KVO Alerts received from pumps # Alarms Total nuniber of Alarms received by Numeric central computer from pwnps # KVO Alerts Total rrumber of KVO Alerts Numeric received by central computer from pumps # Escalated Total number Alarms and KVO Numeric alerts escalated to Charge Nurse Avg. Response Total time between start of Time Time alanr/alert and when the alarm/alert (mm:ss) was Cleared for all Alarms and KVO Alerts in specified time period & Unit. This total is then divided by Total 159 Alarms & KVO Alerts in specified time period and Unit. Round the average to nearest second. Unit Name of Unit to which the Patient Text belonged when the Comparison was done (all Patients who received pump infusions during timeframe selected) 2 As indicated above, and as shown in Figures 109-112, the system can break the data 3 down for these reports by at least unit. The system can allow for searching by at least date range 4 and/or unit. In one embodiment, the number of alarms will not include all alarms received from 5 the central computer, such as for example, "Loss of Communication" alarms. Thus, number of 6 alarms may only be a subset of all alarms received from the central computer (e.g., Downstream 7 Occlusion, Tube Not Loaded, etc.). However, in another embodiment, all alarms will be 8 included in the number of alarms. In one embodiment, # Escalated is the number of alarms and 9 KVO alerts escalated to "escalation level=]". Thus, such alarms would have been actually sent 10 to a second Nurse (after being sent to the Nurse responsible for the patient (escalation level=O)). I i In one embodiment for the Average Response Time, for Alarms/Alerts that do not have a 12 Clearance time (those that have an undefined Response Time), the central computer may need to 13 track when a Pump was turned off. Further, the central computer can track when a KVO Alert 14 changes to another type of Alarm/Alert (e.g., XVO Alert silenced and then it becomes a 15 Channel/Pump Stopped alarm/alert because the Nurse has stopped the Pump). Under such L6 circumstances, the system can use this time as the "time cleared" for the KVO Alert. # L7 Alanus/Alerts silenced can be included as a part of the average response time analysis as well. 18 Alarms/Alerts Summary by Unit and Alarr Condition 19 Referring to Figures l I3A, 1 13B, and 114-, an alarm/alerts summary by alarm condition 20 report is shown, which lists total alarms and KVO alerts for unit(s) and time period in the 21 hospital split by type of alarm/alert. 22 The following exemplar data/information can be included in this report: Header/Label [Description Data Type Total Infusions Total Infusions hung on Pumps for Numeric the Unit(s), Medication(s) and Time Period selected Alarms/Alerts Total number of Alarms + Total Numeric Total number of KVO Alerts received 160 from pumps # Alarms Total number of Alarms received Numeric by central computer from punp s # KVO Alerts Total number of KVO Alerts Numeric received by central computer from pumps # Escalated Total number Alarms and K~CVO Numeric alerts escalated to Charge Nusrse, split by Alarm Condition Avg. Response Total time between start of Time Time alarm/alert and when the (mm:ss) alarm/alert was Cleared for each Alarms and KVO Alerts Condition in specified time period & Unit. This total is then divided by Total Alarm & KVO Alert Conditions in specified time period and Unit. Round the average to nearest second. Unit Name of Unit to which the Patient Text belonged when the Comparison was done (all Patients vwho received pump infusions during timeframe selected) Alarm Condition Alarm Condition received from Text central computer 2 As indicated above, and as shown in Figures 113A, 113B, and 114, the system can break 3 the data down for these reports by at least unit and/or alarm condi-tion. The system can allow for 4 searching by at least date range and/or unit. In one embodiment, the number of alarms will not 5 include all alarms received from the central computer, such as for example "Loss of 6 Communication" alarms. Thus, number of alarms may only be a subset of all alarms received 7 from the central computer (e.g. Downstream Occlusion, Tube Not Loaded, etc.). However, in 8 another embodiment, all alarms will be included in the number of' alarms. In one embodiment, #9 9 Escalated is the number of alarms and KVO alerts escalated to "escalation level=l". Thus, such 10 alarns would have been actually sent to a second Nurse (after being sent to the Nurse I I responsible for the patient (escalation level=0)). 12 In one embodiment for the Average Response Time, for Alarms/Alerts that do not havc a 13 Clearance time (those that have an undefined Response Time), the: central computer may need to 14 track when a Pump was turned off. Further, the central computer can track when a KVO Alert 15 changes to another type of Alarm/Alert (e.g., KVO Alert silenced and then it becomes a 16 Channel/Pump Stopped alarm/alert because the Nurse has stopped the Pump). Under such 161 circumstances, the system can use this time as the "time cleared" for the KVO Alert. # 2 Alarms/Alerts silenced can be included as a part of the average response time analysis as well. 3 Alarm/Alert Resolution History Report (by Alarm Condition) 4 Referring to Figures I 15A, 11 5B, and 116-118, an alarnm/alerts resolution history report 5 is shown, which lists the history of resolution of alarms and KVO alerts for medication hung on 6 infusion pumps. 7 The following exemplar data/information can be included in this report: 3 Summary Gra hs: Header/Label Description Data Type Alarms/Alerts by Total Number of Alanns and KVO Numeric bar Code Alerts per code for the Report Unit chart and time frame. Alarms/Alerts by Number each of Alarms plus KVO Numeric bar Device (%) Alerts per Device as a percentage of chart Total Number of Alarms plus KVO Alerts for the Report Unit and time frame 9 0 Body of Repo Header/Label Description Data Type Alarm/Alert Text of Alarm/Alert Code received Text Code from central computer Unit Name of Unit to which the Patient Text belonged when the Medication ovas Administered (all Patients vho received pump infusions during timeframe selected) Patient Name of Patient Text Nurse Name of Nurse who administered Text the Medication. Ordcr RX ID and description of the order Text (i.e. RX Text) Esc. Level Level of Escalation of Alarn/Alert Numeric Source Channel Barcode? Text Device Device sending Alarm/Alert Text e.g. over network/PDA/Channel Mode Channel Mode where applicable Text Occurrence Time Date and Time of start of alarm Date (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm:ss) Cleared Time Date and Time alarm was cleared Date (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mnss) 162 Silenced Time Date and Time alarm was silenced Date (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm:ss) Total Total alarms and alerts for each Numeric Code 2 As indicated above, and as shown in Figures 115A, 115B, and 116-118, the system can 3 break the data down for these reports by at least alarm/alert code, unit, patient, nurse. order, 4 and/or occurrence time. The system can allow for searching by at least date range, unit and/or 5 alarm/alert code. 6 Alarm/Alert Resolution History Report (by Cleared/Silenced Time) 7 Referring to Figures 119A, -119B, and 120-121, an alann/alerts resolution history by 8 cleared/silenced time report is shown, which lists the history of resolution of alarms and KVO 9 alerts for medication hung on infusion pumps. 0 The following exemplar data/information can be included in this report: I Summary Graphs: Header/Label Description Data Type Response Time Total Number of Alarms and KVO Numeric bar Alerts responded to within 1, 5, 15, chart 30, and 60 minute timeframes for the Report Unit and time frame. Cleared/Silenced Total Number each of Cleared Numeric bar Alarms and Alarms plus KVO Alerts, and chart KVO Alerts Silenced Alarms plus KVO Alerts for the Report Unit and time frame 2 3 163 Body of Report: Header/Label Description Data Type Time Frame Unit of Time for grouping Text Cleared/Silenced alarms & alerts e.g. up to 1 minute, 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes. Groups are actually <=1 minute Between 1 minute (& I second) and 5 minutes Between 5 minutes (& 1 second) and 15 minutes Between 15 minutes (& I second) and 30 minutes Greater than 30 minutes Unit Name of Unit to which the Patient Text belonged when the Medication was Administered (all Patients who received pump infusions during timeframe selected) Patient Name of Patient Text Nurse Name of Nurse who administered Text the Medication. Order RX ID and description of the order Text (i.e. RX Text) Esc. Level Level of Escalation of Alarm/Alert Numeric Source Channel Barcode? Text Device Device sending Alarm/Alert Text e.g. over network/PDA/Channel Mode Channel Mode where applicable Text Occurrence Date and Time of start of alarm Date (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm:ss) Cleared Date and Time alarm was cleared Date (mm/dd/yyyy hh:nni:ss) Silenced Date and Time alarm was silenced Date (mmn/dd/yyyy hh:nun:ss) Total Total cleared/silenced alarms and Numeric alerts in Time Frame 2 3 As indicated above, and as shown in Figures 119A, 119B, and 120-121, the system can 4 break the data down for these reports by at least time frame, unit, patient, nurse. order, and/or 5 occurrence time. The system can allow for searching by at least date range, unit ancl/or patient. 6 The central computer and system can be set up to tell whether the silencing of the alarm/alert 164 comes from the pump or from an interface device. This information can be tracked, 2 manipulated and reported. 3 AlarmlAlert Resolution History Report (by Unit) 4 Referring to Figures 122A, 122B, and 123, an alarm/alerts resolution history by unit 5 report is shown, which lists the history of resolution of alarms and KVO alerts for medication 6 hung on infusion pumps. 7 The following exemplar data/information can be included in this report: 8 Summary Graphs: Header/Label Description Data Type Alarms/Alerts by Total Number of Alarms and KVO Numeric bar Device Alerts per Device. chart Alanns/Alerts by Total Number of Alarms and KVO Numeric bar Device (%) Alerts per Device as a percentage of chart Total Alarms and KVO Alerts 9 0 Body of Report: Header/Label Description Data Ty pe Unit Name of Unit to which the Patient Text belonged when the Medication was Administered (all Patients wlo received pump infusions durig timeframe selected) Patient Name of Patient Text Nurse Name of Nurse who administered Text the Medication. Order RX ID and description of the order Text (i.e. RX Text) Alarm/Alert Alarm Alert Name and Number Text Esc. Level Level of Escalation of Alarm/Alert Numeric Source Channel Barcode? Text Device Device sending Alarm/Alert Text e.g. over network/PDA/Channel Mode Channel Mode where applicable Text Occurrence Time Date and Time of start of alarm Date (mm/dd/yyyy hh :mm:ss) Cleared Time Date and Time alarm was cleared Date (mn/dd/yyyy hh :mm:ss) Silenced Timc Date and Time alarm was silenced Date (mm/dd/yyyy hh:nun:ss) 165 As indicated above, and as shown in Figures 122A, 122B, and 123, the system can break the data down for these reports by at least unit, patient, nurse, order. and/or occurrence time. The system can allow for searching by at least date range, unit and/or patient. Alarms/Alerts Summary by Medication Referring to Figures 124-127, an alarm/alerts summary by medication report is shown, which lists total alarms and KVO alerts for unit(s) and time period in the hospital split by medication. The following exemplar data/information can be included in this report: Header/Label Description Data Type Total Infusions Total Infusions hung on pumps for Numeric the Unit(s), Medication(s) and Time Period selected Alarms/Alerts Total number of Alarms + Total Numeric Total number of KVO Alerts received from pumps # Alarms Total number of Alarms received by Numeric central computer from pumps j # KVO Alerts Total number of KVO Alerts Numeric received by central computer from pumps # Escalated Total number Alarms and KVO Numeric aleits escalated to Charge Nurse Avg. Response Total time between start of Time Time alarm/alert and when the alarm/alert (mm:ss) was Cleared for all Alarms and KVO Alerts in specified time period & Unit. This total is then divided by Total Alarms & KVO Alerts in specified time period and Unit. Round the average to nearest second. Unit Name of Unit to which the Patient i Text belonged when the Comparison was done (all Patients who received pump infusions during timeframe selected) Medication Totals split per Medication (see Text Notes below) As indicated above, and as shown in Figures 124-127, the system can break the data down for these reports by at least unit and/or medication. The system can allow for searching 166 i by at least date range, unit and/or item name/medication. In one embodimerat, the number of 2 alarms will not include all alarms received from the central computer, such as for example "Loss 3 of Communication" alarms. Thus, number of alarms may only be a subset of all alarms received 4 from the central computer (e.g. Downstream Occlusion, Tube Not Loaded, etc.). However, in s another embodiment, all alarms will be included in the number of alarms. In one embodiment, # 6 Escalated is the number of alarms and KVO alerts escalated to "escalation level=l". Thus, such 7 alarms would have been actually sent to a second Nurse (after being sent to the Nurse s responsible for the patient (escalation level=0)). 9 In one embodiment for the Average Response Time, for Alarms/Alerts that do not have a o Clearance time (those that have an undefined Response Time), the central computer may need to 1 track when a Pump was turned off. Further, the central computer can track when a KVO Alert 2 changes to another type of Alarm/Alert (e.g., KVO Alert silenced and then it becomes a 3 Channel/Pump Stopped alarm/alert because the Nurse has stopped the Pump). Under such 4 circumstances, the system can use this time as the "time cleared" for the EVO Alert. # 5 Alarms/Alerts silenced can be included as a part of the average response time analysis as well. 6 In one embodiment for Medications in relation to Infusions, business rules for 7 summarizing Infusions by Med can work as follows: 1) if infusion has 1 Itern/vedication in it, 8 the data is counted under that Medication; 2) if a Mixed Infusion has 2 Items in it, the data is 9 counted under the Additive rather than the Solution (for example, if Infusion is Doparmine + o D5W, any near misses for this order are counted as Dopamine); 3) if Infusion has more than 2 1 Items in it (for example, 2 Additives plus Solution), the infusion will be counted by its Order 2 Type (for example, Continuous Infusion, TPN, etc.). The report can display either the name of 23 the drug in the infusion if the Infusion has 1 medication or can display the Order type if there 24 are 2 or more ingredients. Further, for the Med Admin results, if the Order has 2 ingredients, 25 the report can display the first ingredient. 26 Hierarchy of Reports 27 Referring to Figure 128, one embodiment of a hierarchy of the reports shown in Figures 28 76-127 is shown. This hierarchy can be used by the system as a part of the flowicrdering of the 29 screens which appear on the display of the interface devices. Alternatively or additionally, this 0 hierarchy can be used as a part of the structuring of the database at the central computer or 1 elsewhere. In particular, the Near Miss Summary Report 12802 is shown in Figur-es 76 and 77. 2 The Near Miss Summary by Med Report 12804 is shown in Figures 78-81. The Scan Errors .3 Report 12806 is shown in Figures 82 and 83. The Near Miss Wrong Time Suramary Report 167 1 12808 is shown in Figures 84-87. The Near Miss Wrong Time Summary by Med Report 128 10 2 is shown in Figures 88-91. The Near Miss Wrong Time with Reasons Codes Report 12812 is 3 shown in Figures 92 and 93. The Colleague Infusion Flow Rate History Report 12820 is shown 4 in Figure 94. The Colleague Infusion Rate & Mode Comparison Summary Report 12814 is 5 shown in Figures 95-97. The Colleague Infusion Rate Comparison Summary by Med Report 6 12816 is shown in Figures 98-100. The Colleague Infusion Flow Rate Comparison by Patient 7 Report 12818 is shown in Figures 101 and 102. The Guardian Dose/Range Out of Limit 8 Summary Report 12822 is shown in Figures 103-106. The Guardian Dose/Range Out of Limit 9 Summary by Med Report 12824 is shown in Figures 107 and 108. The Colleague A-larm/Alert 3 Summary Report 12826 is shown in Figures 109-112. The Colleague Infusion Alarms/Alerts Summary by Unit and Alarm Condition Report 12828 is shown in Figures 1l3A,B and 114. 2 The Alarms/Alerts Resolutions by Alarm Condition Report 12836 is shown in Figures 115A,B 3 and 116-118. The Alarms/Alerts Resolutions by Cleared/Silenced Time Report 12834 is shown 4 in Figures 119A,B, 120, and 121. The Alarms/Alerts Resolution History by Unit Report 12832 is shown in Figures 122A,B, and 123. The Colleague Alarms/Alerts Summary by Med Report s 12830 is shown in Figures 124-127. 7 In a further embodiment, a caregiver such as for example a pharmacist can have a login/user level which allows for receiving reporting on pump status data for all connected pumps in a unit, pump status data for all connected pumps in a hospital, pump status data for all connected pumps which are active in the unit, and/or pump status data for all connected pumps which are active in the hospital. Active pumps can include, for example, pumps for which an infusion is being provided to a patient at the time the report is being run. The pump data, for 3 example, could include the patient connected, the amount remaining to be infused, the rate of 4 the infusion, the medicament being delivered, and/or any current and/or previous alar-ns/alerts 5 for the delivery. 6 In one embodiment, the system can be set up to automatically notify the phannacy, one 7 particular pharmacist, and/or a group of pharmacists of a particular or type of alarm and/or alert. 8 In the embodiment with a first central computer and a second central computer described above, 9 pump alarms and/or alerts will be received by first central computer. Once received by the first 0 central computer, for particular alarms and/or alerts, or particular types of alarms and/or alerts, I such as for example a KVO alert, the alarm and/or alert will automatically be sent to the second 2 central computer, and to one or more pharmacists, as programmed by the system. In the 3 particular example mentioned, a KVO alert can automatically be sent to a particular pharmacist 168 I the system knows is on duty at the time to indicate to the pharmacist that a bag of solution beiLg 2 infused to a patient is empty in real time. This allows for the pharmacist to be able to know h.e 3 or she should fill a remaining order(s) for that patient, instead of relying on a nurse to request 4 the the filling of an order or issue an order, or instead of waiting for a pre-scheduled time to fill 5 such an order. This automatic notification also allows the pharmacist (pharmacy) to monitor the 6 delivery of critical drugs to a patient through a pump. An additional example can include that 7 the pharmacist (pharmacy) is automatically notified anytime a high risk IV medication alert is 8 issued, for which an override is provided. A further example can include that the pharmacist 9 (pharmacy) is automatically notified anytime a rate mismatch override is issued. a The system can be configured to automatically send these alarms and/or alerts to the 1 pharmacist (phannacy) based on at least one of medication type, patient, unit, alarm type, and 2 alert type. This information could be sent to an interface device used by a pharmacist or by the 3 pharmacy, and/or printed to a pharmacist/pharmacy printer. In response to these automatic I notifications, the pharmacist can provide a clinical intervention and document the outcome 5 within the patient profile located at central computer, such as the second central computer. 5 It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention, 7 particularly, any "preferred" embodiments, are possible examples of implementations, merely 3 set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and ? modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) of the invention without > substantially departing from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications I are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention 2 and protected by the following claims. 3

Claims

1. A method for operating a healthcare system within a care-giving facility, the system having a plurality of medical devices each associated with a different patient, a first central computer remote from the medical device, and a multi-purpose user interface separate from the first central computer and the plurality of medical devices, the method comprising the steps of for each of the plurality of medical devices: the first central computer receiving first medical data from each of the plurality of medical devices; the first central computer receiving second medical data from the user interface; the first central computer sending third medical data to the user interface; the first central computer sending a communication task to the user interface for providing at least one communication capability for communication between the at least one of the plurality of medical devices and the user interface; and the first central computer sending fourth medical data to at least one of the plurality of medical devices, the fourth medical data comprising operating parameters for the medical device.

2. A system for monitoring healthcare data, comprising: a plurality of medication delivery pumps for infusing a solution, each pump having a first location, each pump having first healthcare data associated therewith and each pump being associated with a different patient; for each of the plurality of pumps, a vital signs monitor proximate the first 170 location, the monitor having second healthcare data associated therewith; a central computer for receiving the first and second healthcare data; and an interface device remote from the plurality of medication delivery pumps and the vital signs monitors and in communication with the central computer, wherein the interface device displays at least a portion of each of the first and second healthcare data for each of the plurality of pumps on a single interface screen on the interface device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the central computer manipulates the first and second healthcare data to combine at least the portion of each of the first and second healthcare data for use in displaying on the interface device.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the first healthcare data comprises at least one of pump alarm data, pump alert data, medication being infused data, medication to be infused data, rate of infusion data, medication dose data, volume to be infused data, volume already infused data, volume left to be infused data, infusion time data, time left for infusion data, time elapsed for infusion data, order comparison data, limits data, patients with active infusions data, channels being used for pump data, location of pump data, pumps on standby data, pumps running data, pumps stopped data, and infusion near end alert data.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the second healthcare data comprises at least one of vital signs data, arrhythmia data, and hemodynamic data. 171

6. A method for monitoring healthcare data within a healthcare system, comprising the steps of: a central computer receiving first healthcare data associated with each of a plurality of medication delivery pumps for infusing a solution, each of the medication delivery pumps having a first location and being associated with a different patient; for each of the plurality of medication delivery pumps, the central computer receiving second healthcare data associated with a patient monitor proximate the first location; the central computer combining at least a portion of each of the first and second healthcare data; the central computer sending the combined first and second healthcare data to an interface device remote from the plurality of medication delivery pumps and the patient monitors; and the interface device displaying the combined first and second healthcare data for each of the plurality of medication delivery pumps on a single interface screen.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of the central computer receiving a request from the interface device, the request comprising at least one of a programming request and a management request.

8. A system for tracking and reporting healthcare system data, comprising: a first medical pump having first medical pump data associated therewith; a second medical pump having second medical pump data associated therewith; 172 a central computer in communication with the first and second medical pumps over a communications network, for receiving and storing the first and second medical pump data; and, an interface device remote from the first medical pump and the second medical pump having an interface screen for displaying a manipulated version of the first and second medical pump data, wherein the manipulated version of the first and second medical pump data comprises near miss data related to the delivery of a medication from the first and second pumps.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the manipulated version of the first and second medical pump data comprises at least one of scan error data, source of scan data, scan type data (item or patient), expected scan data, and actual scan data.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the interface device comprises a second interface screen for selecting criteria to display the manipulated version of the first and second medical pump data.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the manipulated version of the first and second medical pump data comprises at least one of total administrations data, total wrong time data, reason data, medication data, patient data, order data, order administration time data, administration time data, early medication data, late medication data, expired medication data, and missed medication data.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the manipulated version is sorted by at least one of unit, infusion, non-infusion, nurse, and medication. 173

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the manipulated version of the first and second medical pump data comprises at least one of infusions data, matches data, resolved mismatches data, accepted mismatches data, and no comparisons data.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the manipulated version is sorted by at least one of type of infusion and unit.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the manipulated version of the first and second medical pump data comprises at least one of no match data, match data, and no comparison data.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the manipulated version is sorted by at least one of infusion type, medication type, volume, infusion route, total, unit, primary and piggyback.

17. The system of claim 8, wherein the manipulated version of the first and second medical pump data comprises at least one of infusions data, rate matches data, rate resolved mismatches data, rate accepted mismatches data, rate no comparisons data, mode mismatches data.

18. A system for tracking and reporting healthcare system data, comprising: a plurality of interface devices, at least one of the interface devices having a receiver for receiving identifier data; and, a central computer in communication with the plurality of interface devices over a communications network, for receiving and storing the identifier data, wherein at least one of the plurality of interface devices has an interface 174 screen for displaying a manipulated version of the identifier data, wherein the manipulated version of the identifier data comprises near miss data relating to the use of the identifier data.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the central computer processes the identifier data to create the manipulated version of the identifier data by at least one of totalizing, calculating, combining, comparing, analyzing, computing, and tabulating the identifier data or the use thereof in delivering medication.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising: a first medical pump having first medical pump data associated therewith; a second medical pump having second medical pump data associated therewith, wherein the central computer is in communication with the first and second medical pumps over the communications network, for receiving and storing the first and second medical pump data, wherein the at least one interface device has an interface screen for displaying a manipulated version of the first and second medical pump data and the manipulated version of the identifier data by hospital unit and totalized together. Dated this 2 1 st day of May 2012 Baxter International Inc. Patent Attorneys for the Applicant PETER MAXWELL AND ASSOCIATES