“Automated Utilization Driven Inventory Management” in Patent Application Approval Process (USPTO 20200251209)

2020 AUG 24 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Hospital & Nursing Home Daily -- A patent application by the inventors UTECH, Thomas William (Dallas, TX); JASKELA, Maria Consolacion (San Rafael, CA), filed on April 22, 2020, was made available online on August 6, 2020, according to news reporting originating from Washington, D.C., by NewsRx correspondents.

This patent application is assigned to CareFusion 303 Inc. (San Diego, California, United States).

The following quote was obtained by the news editors from the background information supplied by the inventors: “Field

“The present disclosure generally relates to apparatus and methods for supply management and, in particular, relates to controlling the inventory of items in a facility, such as medical items in a health care facility.

“Description of the Related Art

“It is well known in the medical community, and in particular, in facilities like hospitals, to use an inventory system for dispensing and administering medical items (or ‘line items’). In this system, medical items provided by a pharmacy, for example, are temporarily stored in a plurality of areas or stations for administration. Many facilities today utilize automated dispensing cabinets (‘automated dispensing machines,’ ‘ADM,’ or ‘dispensing unit’) to store medical items and provide decentralized drug distribution to patient care areas. These automated dispensing cabinets provide a wide range of medical items that meet the patient care needs for the patient care area. It is common for as high as 95% of the medication items for patients in a specific care area to be fulfilled by an automated dispensing cabinet.

“Hospitals often have limited budgets for procuring medical items in view of the need to maximize staff efficiency to provide patient care. While having medical items closer to patient care areas usually increases efficiency in providing patient care, it creates a challenge in effectively managing all inventory locations for medical items throughout the facility. For instance, a cabinet that fulfills on average 95% of the medication item needs for patients in a specific care area can commonly store at any one time 500 to 750 medical items. In a typical facility having 300 to 350 beds, as many as 11,250 storage locations (e.g., pockets) within multiple cabinets with more than 15,000 items may be needed throughout the facility. This many storage locations can challenge the facility in effectively managing inventory to meet patient care needs and minimize waste through expiration and inventory that is not being utilized (or ‘turned’) based on national benchmark standards.

“Current technology provides static PAR levels (e.g., ‘designated inventory levels,’ which are boundary markers in inventory levels that signal replenishment is necessary) that drive reorder points for storage locations of automated dispensing cabinets. Typically these designated inventory levels are set at the time an item is assigned to an automated dispensing cabinet. It is difficult, however, to manually select and/or adjust designated inventory levels for different types of medical items, especially in facilities with hundreds or thousands of item types. At such facilities, those with the requisite knowledge to manually select a preferred, subjective inventory level usually do not have the time to set such designated inventory levels for all the different items. Providing a preset designated inventory level value applicable to different types of items is also not beneficial, as different types of items are associated with different types of usage patterns.

“Further, usage patterns may vary over time, so that a pre-set designated inventory level that was correct at one time may not be appropriate at a later time. Facilities commonly do not change the designated inventory levels for cabinets in those patient care areas to meet changing usage patterns due to, for example, prescribing pattern changes, seasonal changes, patient mix change, or service line changes. In many instances, this occurs because there are too many storage locations for which the designated inventory level may need to be changed. This leads to waste and ineffective utilization of resources by excessive refill activity, stock-outs, decreased availability of medical items in care areas, and telephone calls between distribution points and the care areas.”

In addition to the background information obtained for this patent application, NewsRx journalists also obtained the inventors’ summary information for this patent application: “According to certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a system for automated inventory management is provided. The system includes a memory that includes storage capability data and retrospective usage data for an item in a dispensing unit. The dispensing unit includes a compartment assigned for storing stock of the item. The system also includes one or more processors. The one or more processors is configured to receive an indicator of a minimum time period for which to stock an item in the dispensing unit, and determine, based on the minimum time period for which to stock the item, the storage capability data, and the retrospective usage data, a minimum number of stock of the item to store in the compartment. The one or more processors is also configured to provide a notification indicating the determined minimum number of stock of the item to store in the compartment.

“According to certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for automated inventory management is provided. The method includes receiving storage capability data for an item in a dispensing unit, retrospective usage data for the item in the dispensing unit, and an indicator of a minimum time period for which to stock the item in the dispensing unit. The dispensing unit includes a compartment assigned for storing stock of the item. The method also includes determining, based on the minimum time period for which to stock the item, the storage capability data, and the retrospective usage data, a minimum number of stock of the item to store in the compartment, and providing a notification indicating the determined minimum number of stock of the item to store in the compartment.

“According to certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a machine-readable storage medium that includes machine-readable instructions for causing a processor to execute a method for automated inventory management is provided. The method includes receiving storage capability data for an item in a dispensing unit, retrospective usage data for the item in the dispensing unit, and an indicator of a minimum time period for which to stock the item in the dispensing unit. The dispensing unit includes a compartment assigned for storing stock of the item. The method also includes determining, based on the minimum time period for which to stock the item, the storage capability data, and the retrospective usage data, a minimum number of stock of the item to store in the compartment, and providing a notification indicating the determined minimum number of stock of the item to store in the compartment.

“It is understood that other configurations of the subject technology will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein various configurations of the subject technology are shown and described by way of illustration. As will be realized, the subject technology is capable of other and different configurations and its several details are capable of modification in various other respects, all without departing from the scope of the subject technology. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.”

The claims supplied by the inventors are:

“1. A system for automated inventory management of a healthcare item dispensing device a healthcare facility, the system comprising: a dispensing device comprising a plurality of storage compartments including a first compartment and a second compartment; and one or more processors configured to: monitor a usage of a plurality of items of an item type within the healthcare facility; determine a number of item units of the item type stored within the dispensing device; automatically determine, based on the number of item units stored within the dispensing device and monitoring the usage over a period of time and a number of new orders for items of the item type, a number of new item units of the item type to store in the dispensing device; automatically determine a first maximum number of stock of the item type that can be stored in the first compartment based on a volumetric space of a respective item unit of the item type when loaded into the first compartment; automatically determine a second maximum number of stock of the item type that can be stored in the second compartment of the dispensing device based on the determined first maximum number, the volumetric space of the respective item unit when loaded into the first compartment, and a change of volume between the first and second compartments; when the number of new item units of the item type to store in the dispensing device exceeds the first maximum number of stock of the item type that can be stored the first compartment, assign the second compartment for storage of one or more of the new item units based on the determined second maximum number; and send a notification of the assignment to a device remote from the dispensing device.

“2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: determine a minimum time period for which to stock items of the item type within the dispensing device; and determine a minimum number of stock of the items to store in the dispensing device based on a daily usage of the items within the healthcare facility and the minimum time period for which to stock the items, wherein the number of new item units of the item type is further based on the determined minimum number of stock of the items.

“3. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: trigger a reorder of the items of the item type when a current number of item units of the item type within the dispensing device falls below the minimum number of stock of the items; wherein the number of new item units of the item type to store in the dispensing device is determined responsive to the reorder being triggered.

“4. The system of claim 3, wherein the minimum time period is determined based on the monitored usage, and indicates a length of time in which a supply of the items is required to last in order to prevent a stock-out of items of the item type before a refill of the items is delivered to the dispensing device, and wherein the minimum number of stock of the items indicates a minimum amount of the supply to last the minimum time period.

“5. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to, based on monitoring the usage of the plurality of items of the item type, and in response to receiving an order of the new orders: determine a length of stay in a care area for at least one patient associated with the item type; determine at least a current usage of the item type during a first period of time within a care area of the at least one patient; determine a number of patients admitted to the care area during a second period of time; and determine the minimum number of stock of the item type based on the determined length of stay, a number of new orders for the item type, the determined current usage of the item type during the first period of time within the care area, the determined number of patients admitted to the care area during the second period of time, and the minimum time period.

“6. The system of claim 5, wherein the length of stay includes an individual average daily item usage for the item type, and wherein the one or more processors is further configured to: determine a care area average daily item usage for the item type based on the individual average daily item usage for the item type and an average number of patients associated with the items that are admitted during the second period of time; update the minimum number of stock of the item type based on the care area average daily item usage for the item type and the minimum time period for which to stock the item type; wherein the minimum number of stock of the item type is determined based on the care area average daily item usage for the item type and a maximum time period for which to stock the item type.

“7. The system of claim 5, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: receive a user-defined minimum number of stock of the item type to store in the first compartment; change the user-defined minimum number of stock of the item type to the determined minimum number of stock of the item type when the determined minimum number of stock of the item type is greater than a threshold value.

“8. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: automatically determine, based on monitoring the usage over a period of time, a minimum time period for which to stock a supply of the item type in the dispensing device before a refill request is triggered for the item type; and trigger a reorder of the items of the item type when the supply of the item type is below a predetermine threshold amount required for the supply to meet the minimum time period.

“9. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: receive an order for the item type, wherein the order includes a request for a plurality of item units; wherein the number of new item units of the item type to store in the dispensing device is determined responsive to receiving the order.

“10. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors is further configured to send a request for additional stock of the item type when a number of item units stored in the first compartment is less than a threshold amount.

“11. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: cause the dispensing unit to deploy a compartment for storing at least the minimum number of stock of the item type.

“12. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: determining that there is a respective item unit of a respective item type not stocked in the dispensing unit that meets or exceeds a need for a scheduled time period; and sending, based on determining that the respective item unit is not stocked, a notification to load stock of the respective item type to the dispensing unit, including a suggestion of a particular compartment to load the stock of the respective item type, a minimum number of stock of the respective item type to store in the particular compartment, and a maximum number of stock of the respective item type that can be stored in the particular compartment; and receiving, after sending the notification, a user acceptance or rejection of the compartment.

“13. A dispensing device, comprising: a plurality of storage compartments including a first compartment and a second compartment; a memory; and one or more processors configured to: monitor a usage of a plurality of items of an item type within the healthcare facility; determine a number of item units of the item type stored within one or more respective compartments of the dispensing device; automatically determine, based on the number of item units stored within the dispensing device and monitoring the usage over a period of time and a number of new orders for items of the item type, a number of new item units of the item type to store in the dispensing device; automatically determine a first maximum number of stock of the item type that can be stored in the first compartment based on a volumetric space of a respective item unit of the item type when loaded into the first compartment; automatically determine a second maximum number of stock of the item type that can be stored in the second compartment of the dispensing device based on the determined first maximum number, the volumetric space of the respective item unit when loaded into the first compartment, and a change of volume between the first and second compartments; when the number of new item units of the item type to store in the dispensing device exceeds the first maximum number of stock of the item type that can be stored the first compartment, assign the second compartment for storage of one or more of the new item units based on the determined second maximum number; and send a notification of the assignment to a device remote from the dispensing device.

“14. The dispensing device of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: determine a minimum time period for which to stock items of the item type within the dispensing device; and determine a minimum number of stock of the items to store in the dispensing device based on a daily usage of the items within the healthcare facility and the minimum time period for which to stock the items, wherein the number of new item units of the item type is further based on the determined minimum number of stock of the items.

“15. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: trigger a reorder of the items of the item type when a current number of item units of the item type within the dispensing device falls below the minimum number of stock of the items; wherein the number of new item units of the item type to store in the dispensing device is determined responsive to the reorder being triggered.

“16. The system of claim 15, wherein the minimum time period is determined based on the monitored usage, and indicates a length of time in which a supply of the items is required to last in order to prevent a stock-out of items of the item type before a refill of the items is delivered to the dispensing device, and wherein the minimum number of stock of the items indicates a minimum amount of the supply to last the minimum time period.

“17. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to, based on monitoring the usage of the plurality of items of the item type, and in response to receiving an order of the new orders: determine a length of stay in a care area for at least one patient associated with the item type; determine at least a current usage of the item type during a first period of time within a care area of the at least one patient; determine a number of patients admitted to the care area during a second period of time; and determine the minimum number of stock of the item type based on the determined length of stay, a number of new orders for the item type, the determined current usage of the item type during the first period of time within the care area, the determined number of patients admitted to the care area during the second period of time, and the minimum time period.

“18. The system of claim 17, wherein the length of stay includes an individual average daily item usage for the item type, and wherein the one or more processors is further configured to: determine a care area average daily item usage for the item type based on the individual average daily item usage for the item type and an average number of patients associated with the items that are admitted during the second period of time; update the minimum number of stock of the item type based on the care area average daily item usage for the item type and the minimum time period for which to stock the item type; wherein the minimum number of stock of the item type is determined based on the care area average daily item usage for the item type and a maximum time period for which to stock the item type.

“19. The system of claim 17, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: receive a user-defined minimum number of stock of the item type to store in the first compartment; change the user-defined minimum number of stock of the item type to the determined minimum number of stock of the item type when the determined minimum number of stock of the item type is greater than a threshold value.

“20. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: determining that there is a respective item unit of a respective item type not stocked in the dispensing unit that meets or exceeds a need for a scheduled time period; and sending, based on determining that the respective item unit is not stocked, a notification to load stock of the respective item type to the dispensing unit, including a suggestion of a particular compartment to load the stock of the respective item type, a minimum number of stock of the respective item type to store in the particular compartment, and a maximum number of stock of the respective item type that can be stored in the particular compartment; and receiving, after sending the notification, a user acceptance or rejection of the compartment.

“21. A method for automated inventory management of a healthcare item dispensing unit for a healthcare facility, the method comprising: monitoring a usage within the healthcare facility of a plurality of items of an item type stored in a dispensing device; determining a number of item units of the item type stored within one or more respective compartments of the dispensing device; automatically determining, based on the number of item units stored within the dispensing device and monitoring the usage over a period of time and a number of new orders for items of the item type, a number of new item units of the item type to store in the dispensing device; automatically determining a first maximum number of stock of the item type that can be stored in a first compartment of the dispensing device based on a volumetric space of a respective item unit of the item type when loaded into the first compartment; automatically determining a second maximum number of stock of the item type that can be stored in a second compartment of the dispensing device based on the determined first maximum number, the volumetric space of the respective item unit when loaded into the first compartment, and a change of volume between the first and second compartments; when the number of new item units of the item type to store in the dispensing device exceeds the first maximum number of stock of the item type that can be stored the first compartment, assigning the second compartment for storage of one or more of the new item units based on the determined second maximum number; and sending a notification of the assignment to a device remote from the dispensing device.

“22. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising machine-readable instructions for causing a processor to execute a method for automated inventory management of a healthcare item dispensing unit for a healthcare facility, the method comprising: monitoring a usage within the healthcare facility of a plurality of items of an item type stored in a dispensing device; determining a number of item units of the item type stored within one or more respective compartments of the dispensing device; automatically determining, based on the number of item units stored within the dispensing device and monitoring the usage over a period of time and a number of new orders for items of the item type, a number of new item units of the item type to store in the dispensing device; automatically determining a first maximum number of stock of the item type that can be stored in a first compartment of the dispensing device based on a volumetric space of a respective item unit of the item type when loaded into the first compartment; automatically determining a second maximum number of stock of the item type that can be stored in a second compartment of the dispensing device based on the determined first maximum number, the volumetric space of the respective item unit when loaded into the first compartment, and a change of volume between the first and second compartments; when the number of new item units of the item type to store in the dispensing device exceeds the first maximum number of stock of the item type that can be stored the first compartment, assigning the second compartment for storage of one or more of the new item units based on the determined second maximum number; and sending a notification of the assignment to a device remote from the dispensing device.”

URL and more information on this patent application, see: UTECH, Thomas William; JASKELA, Maria Consolacion. Automated Utilization Driven Inventory Management. Filed April 22, 2020 and posted August 6, 2020. Patent URL: http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220200251209%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20200251209&RS=DN/20200251209

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