Box-card system

Abstract

The present invention provides a box-card system for use with the distribution of medication, specifically orally disintegrating tablets (ODT's), to residents/patients of long term care facilities. A box-card allows ODT's to be stored and distributed from their original manufacturer packaging. The box-card is dimensioned to be coextensive in height and width to a standard medication punch card, commonly used to store and dispense traditional medication forms to residents/patients of long term care facilities. The box-card allows ODT's and other medications to be stored and dispensed from a medication drawer of a medication cart with standard punch cards, allowing the stored medications to be easily accessed and dispensed therefrom.

1 . A medication box comprising: 
 a top loading box configured to be receivable and accessible within a routine medication drawer of a medication cart, said top loading box having an individual label space on a first side.    
   
   
       2 . The medication box in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said individual label space includes a preprinted area and a writable surface.  
   
   
       3 . The medication box in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said medication box includes a medication label space on a second side.  
   
   
       4 . The medication box in accordance with  claim 3  wherein said top loading box has a height of about eight and three-quarter inches and a width of about five and one-half inches and a depth of about one-half inch.  
   
   
       5 . The medication box in accordance with  claim 4  wherein said top loading box is comprised of an SBS board having a gauge ranging from about 014 to about 018.  
   
   
       6 . The medication box in accordance with  claim 3  wherein said top loading box has a height of about nine inches and a width of about five and one-half inches and a depth of about one-half inch.  
   
   
       7 . The medication box in accordance with  claim 6  further comprising a raised floor within a lumen of said top loading box.  
   
   
       8 . A system for distributing medication, said system comprising: 
 a medication cart having a routine medication drawer for storing and transporting medication therein;    at least one box-card, positioned within said routine medication drawer, said box-card having an individual label space on an outer portion thereof.    
   
   
       9 . The system for distributing medication in accordance with  claim 8  wherein said individual label space includes preprinted information and a writeable surface.  
   
   
       10 . The system for distributing medication in accordance with  claim 9  further comprising an orally disintegrating tablet blister pack contained within said box-card.  
   
   
       11 . The system for distributing medication in accordance with  claim 10  further comprising a raised floor within said box-card.  
   
   
       12 . The system for distributing medication in accordance with  claim 8  further comprising at least one medication punch card positioned within said routine medication drawer.  
   
   
       13 . The system for distributing medication in accordance with  claim 12  wherein said box-card has a height dimension and a width dimension, each coextensive with a corresponding height and a corresponding width of said medication punch card.  
   
   
       14 . The system for distributing medication in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said box-card comprises an SBS board having a gauge ranging from about 014 to about 018.  
   
   
       15 . A method for distributing medication comprising the steps of: 
 a) depositing medication into a box    b) individually labeling said box    c) depositing said box in a routine medication drawer of a medication cart.    
   
   
       16 . The method for distributing medication in accordance with  claim 15  wherein said medication is maintained in a blister pack.  
   
   
       17 . The method for distributing medication in accordance with  claim 16  wherein said box has a height dimension and a width dimension coextensive with a corresponding height and a corresponding width of a punch card positioned within said routine medication drawer.  
   
   
       18 . The method for distributing medication in accordance with  claim 15 , further comprising the step of delivering said medication cart to a resident/patient of a long term care facility.