A method comprising: determining, by a controller of a drug infusion device, whether an infusion program (107, 217) is stored within a memory of the drug infusion device, the drug infusion device being capable of being connected to a patient and delivering a drug to the patient in accordance with the infusion program under control of the controller after configuration of the drug infusion device according to parameters specified by the infusion program; if the infusion program is stored within the memory, prompting, by the controller with a first series of prompts, a user to confirm usage of the infusion program, to make a confirmation of a drug identifier, and to review the configuration of the drug infusion device according to the parameters specified by the infusion program; if the infusion program is not stored within the memory and a clinical care area in which the drug infusion device is located or to be used has been identified by a clinical care area identifier, enabling, by the controller, a capability for the drug infusion device to receive and store in the memory of the drug infusion device an auto program with which the drug infusion device can configure itself without intervention by the user according to parameters specified by the auto program as the infusion program; wherein said enabling opens a window of time to receive and store the auto program for the identified clinical care area, if the auto program is not received after the capability for the drug infusion device to receive and store the auto program is enabled, waiting, by the controller, for receipt of the auto program or for a selection by the user to manually enter the infusion program; and when the controller begins waiting for receipt of the auto program or for a selection by the user to manually enter the infusion program, displaying, by the controller, a menu screen indicating that the drug infusion device is waiting for the auto program; and wherein if the auto program is received i) while the capability for the drug infusion device to receive and store the auto program is enabled and ii) before the controller begins waiting for receipt of the auto program or for a selection by the user to manually enter the infusion program, then the menu screen indicating that the drug infusion device is waiting for the auto program is not displayed, wherein the capability for the drug infusion device to receive and store the auto program is not enabled by the controller unless an infusion program previously stored in memory is cleared or completed. if the infusion program is stored within the memory, prompting, by the controller with a first series of prompts, a user to confirm usage of the infusion program, to make a confirmation of a drug identifier, and to review the configuration of the drug infusion device according to the parameters specified by the infusion program; if the infusion program is not stored within the memory and a clinical care area in which the drug infusion device is located or to be used has been identified by a clinical care area identifier, enabling, by the controller, a capability for the drug infusion device to receive and store in the memory of the drug infusion device an auto program with which the drug infusion device can configure itself without intervention by the user according to parameters specified by the auto program as the infusion program; wherein said enabling opens a window of time to receive and store the auto program for the identified clinical care area, if the auto program is not received after the capability for the drug infusion device to receive and store the auto program is enabled, waiting, by the controller, for receipt of the auto program or for a selection by the user to manually enter the infusion program; and when the controller begins waiting for receipt of the auto program or for a selection by the user to manually enter the infusion program, displaying, by the controller, a menu screen indicating that the drug infusion device is waiting for the auto program; and wherein if the auto program is received i) while the capability for the drug infusion device to receive and store the auto program is enabled and ii) before the controller begins waiting for receipt of the auto program or for a selection by the user to manually enter the infusion program, then the menu screen indicating that the drug infusion device is waiting for the auto program is not displayed, wherein the capability for the drug infusion device to receive and store the auto program is not enabled by the controller unless an infusion program previously stored in memory is cleared or completed.