| abstract |
A veterinary medication management system which includes two or three separate components to assist a handler/owner control, monitor and manage administration of prescribed medications to an animal patient. The system comprises a handler/owner component having a retrievable animal and handler/owner database of animal medical history, prior prescribed medications and current prescribed medications, and it includes a data transfer interface, e.g., a hardwired interface, such as an RS232 interface or infrared data transfer port. The system also includes a veterinarian component having a retrievable veterinarian's database of medication information and an input/output device enabling a prescribing veterinarian to enter prescription information into the veterinarian component. The veterinarian's database is capable of receiving and storing handler/owner data transferred from the handler/owner component through said data transfer interface. The system finally also includes a veterinarian support component resident on a veterinarian's computer. The veterinarian's computer is adapted to interface with said handler/owner component to transfer prescription data to said veterinarian support component. At least one of or each of the veterinarian component and the veterinarian support component has the capability of searching a medication database to determine potential medication interactions with currently prescribed medications and identify those to the veterinarian for selective downloading to the handler/owner component so that the handler/owner can be alerted to the potential interactions. The handler/owner component has a scheduler which tracks a plurality of medication dose schedules and includes alarm functions to prompt a handler/owner to administer particular medications to the animal, reschedule them, and/or alert the handler/owner to potential interactions between medications and/or provide caution information to the handler/owner for administration of the medication to the animal. |