A system and method for operating medical devices is provided. The system may be used to program a medical device such as an infusion pump. The system may be implemented in a variety of ways including as a computer system. The system may include a first computer at a pharmacy and a second computer at a treatment location. The system sends operating parameters to the medical device after providing various checks to assure that the correct medication is being administered to the correct patient. The system includes features for confirming the operating parameters are still valid and features for sending alarms to the treatment location if there are discrepancies between the operating parameters, medication identifiers, and/or patient identifiers.
