Working on a medcart redesign and would like some input - University of Cincinnati

[PriyaK]

Hello all, hope all is well. I am a student of product design at the university of cincinnati. Currently I am working on redesigning the med cart for any cancer ward (long term inpatient stay) and would like some input and validations on the concepts i've produced and research i've done.

The Medcart concept I am going forth with has an automatic medicine dispensing unit, medicine would be stocked at the beginning of the week, catering to patient needs/most common drugs that are used. (the technology behind it is still in progress, but for now let's just assume it works). The medcart also has a touch screen interface in which the nurse can input, access, and show information pertaining to each patient. Once the patient bracelet has been scanned and the button for medication is pressed, the automated dispensing unit will organize the medicine and present it into a container in which the nurse can pull out and hand to patient.

My question for you guys is if you see this as a plausible concept, and if you have any suggestions for different methods of dispensing medicine more efficiently. Think back to a time where you've asked "wow, i wish there was a machine that...." Or if you have any ideas about how to make the workflow of nurses more efficient and less-stressful let me know!! anything goes!! Anything is appreciated!

Thank you!

Priya!

[SierraBravo]

A machine exactly like that already exists and has for a long time. Models include Pyxis, Omnicell, Cerner, and AmerisourceBergen. Unless you're improving on an existing technology that already works and has nearly 100% market penetration, I fear that you're wasting your time.

[TheBlackDogWaits]

I don't know why I find this so amusing.... But it seems after all of your research that you would have discovered very early on that this technology is alive and well. The only way I could see any improvement to this system is if any of these systems were portable.... Although, I dont know in which states this would actually be a legally viable option.