Patent ID: 7286900

Claim:
A method comprising: a) providing at least one configuration input through at least one of a plurality of shelf input devices on a medical item holding shelf, wherein the shelf includes a plurality of storage locations, and wherein the shelf is supported within a medical item holding cabinet, wherein the at least one configuration input is adapted to indicate that a first shelf input device is associated with a first shelf storage location; b) responsive to the at least one configuration input in (a), storing data corresponding to an association between the first shelf input device and the first storage location in at least one data store, wherein the at least one data store is in operative connection with a terminal positioned in proximity to the cabinet, wherein the terminal includes at least one processor; c) storing in the at least one data store, data associating a first medical item and the first storage location; d) storing in the at least one data store, data associating a first quantity and the first storage location; e) storing in the at least one data store, data corresponding to a plurality of patients; f) subsequent to (a)-(e), providing at least one terminal input through at least one terminal input device in operative connection with the terminal, wherein the at least one terminal input corresponds to a first patient; g) providing at least one shelf input through the first input device on the shelf; h) responsive to the at least one terminal input in (f) and the at least one shelf input in (g), operating the at least one processor to cause to be stored in the at least one data store, data corresponding to taking of at least one of the first medical item from the first storage location for use in treatment of the first patient.