Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for tracking a drug. Information associated with a drug is received from at least a code reader that scans a code associated with a drug container, and a drug server that receives information from a drug storage device storing an inventory of drugs. The drug container associated with the code scanned by the code reader is selected from the inventory of drugs. A result of a comparison of information included in: (i) the information obtained in response to reading the computer-readable code, and (ii) the portion of the drug removal information received from the drug server is obtained. Issuance of an alert is controlled based on the result of the comparison indicating that a conflict exists.

Abstract: Provided is a remote barcode reader that is to communicate with a terminal in a medical network. The remote barcode reader includes an optical barcode scanner that transmits a signal indicative of a barcode in response to interrogating the barcode. A non-transitory computer-readable memory stores, at least temporarily, information obtained in response to reading the barcode. A network interface communicates wirelessly over a wireless communication channel with a remote device in a medical network to obtain information pertaining to a drug that is identifiable from the information obtained in response to reading the barcode. A processor initiates the transmission of a communication based on the information obtained from the barcode to the remote device, and delays transmitting at least a portion of the information obtained from the barcode until at least a time when a response including information related to the drug is received from the remote device.