System and method for implementing an employee-rights-sensitive drug free workplace policy
First Claim
1. A method for implementing a drug free workplace policy at an entity site, said method comprising the steps of:
- (i) establishing a drug free workplace policy;
(ii) selecting and training a designated employer representative;
(iii) training employees as to said drug free workplace policy;
(iv) training supervisory personnel of the employer as to legal guidelines for drug testing of employees;
(v) selecting a collection center for collection of a test sample; and
, (vi) selecting a testing laboratory for introduction of said test sample into a drug test assay, wherein digital electronic apparatus is employed in at least two of steps (i) through (vi) of said method.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention includes systems and methods for training and implementing a drug free workplace program on behalf of an Entity. By using computerized processing, data storage, training, audit, authentication, certification and verification procedures, an integrated process of best practices for employee drug use detection and reduction is provided according to the invention. Specific steps for hierarchical sequence for implementation are disclosed. Secure processing and storage of information relating to random employee drug tests is provided, such that employee discipline decisions may be made on the basis of high-confidence data.
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Citations
62 Claims
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1. A method for implementing a drug free workplace policy at an entity site, said method comprising the steps of:
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(i) establishing a drug free workplace policy;
(ii) selecting and training a designated employer representative;
(iii) training employees as to said drug free workplace policy;
(iv) training supervisory personnel of the employer as to legal guidelines for drug testing of employees;
(v) selecting a collection center for collection of a test sample; and
,(vi) selecting a testing laboratory for introduction of said test sample into a drug test assay, wherein digital electronic apparatus is employed in at least two of steps (i) through (vi) of said method. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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28. An adaptable computer-implemented system for implementing an employer'"'"'s drug use policy, comprising:
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at least one computer memory;
a system administrator interface through which a system administrator may substantially instantaneously request updating of information in a first database relative to at least one of (a) current employer drug use policies;
(b) drug use policy training materials for employees and supervisors;
(c) legal standards for acceptable employer drug use policies;
(d) insurance standards for employer drug use policies;
(e) preferred providers for services relating to drug use policies; and
(f) secured input and output data for individual employee drug test assay resultsa user interface with which a user can issue a request for access to information in a second database related to the employer drug policy and stored in a computer memory linked to said user interface;
a central master control processor for processing said user request for access;
an information validator operational at said central master control processor to refuse user access to said second database if said second database contains substantially unreliable information; and
a redirector operational at said central master control processor for redirecting the user access request to a database deemed to contain more reliable information when said second database is deemed to contain substantially unreliable information..
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35. A method for implementing an entity drug free workplace policy comprising the steps of:
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(a) formulating the drug free workplace policy;
(b) identifying and storing in a first database processing instructions and digital data relating to a method for at least one of;
(i) training a designated employee representative;
(ii) training an employee as to the drug free workplace policy;
(iii) training a supervisor as to an employee activity not in compliance with the drug free workplace policy;
(iv) selecting one or more collection center service providers to collect an employee sample for a drug;
(v) selecting one or more laboratory test service providers to analyze said employee sample for said drug;
(vi) selecting one or more service providers to review an employee drug test result;
(c) selecting randomly at least one employee from among a plurality of employees for a drug use test;
(d) collecting a test specimen from said random-selected employee, digitally encoding the identity of the employee, and submitting said digitally identified test specimen for drug testing;
(e) determining a value for a drug analyte in said digitally identified test specimen;
(f) storing said identity of said employee and said digital drug analyte value in a secured second database; and
,(g) providing secured access to said second database only to designated delegates of said entity, wherein at least one of said steps (a)-(g) is performed through digital electronic apparatus.
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41. A method for monitoring drug usage among a human entity population, said method comprising the steps of
(i) establishing a drug control policy for the entity population; -
(ii) identifying and training a designated representative to implement said policy;
(iii) informing members of the entity population as to said drug free workplace policy;
(iv) selecting a collector center and collecting a test specimen from a member of said Entity population; and
,(v) selecting a testing laboratory and introducing said test specimen into a drug test assay at said testing laboratory;
wherein said method is conducted at least in part by digital electronic apparatus employing computer processing to effect each of said steps (i) through (v), and wherein each of said steps (i) through (v) is performed substantially in ordinal series. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 48, 49, 50)
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47. A method for implementing a drug free workplace program comprising the steps of:
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(i) providing at least one digital electronic training module for providing instruction an employer drug use policy; and
(ii) providing at least one digital electronic implementation module for processing instructions and data relative to employee compliance with said drug use policy, wherein said training and implementation modules both comprise software programs suitable for processing by a computer operating system.
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51. A method for controlling employer costs associated with possible employee drug usage, comprising the steps of:
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(i) identifying at least one employee drug use policy-related cost selected from (a) productivity loss;
(b) insurance risk;
(c) regulatory risk;
(d) litigation costs; and
(ii) formulating an employer drug free workplace program seeking reduction of at least said cost, wherein said program is implemented in stepwise, electronic-media-assisted, high-security fashion, and wherein historical data documenting said program implementation is maintained. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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57. A method for implementing a drug free workplace policy at an entity site, said method comprising the steps of both:
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(i) establishing through digital electronic apparatus a drug free workplace policy; and
,(ii) training through digital electronic apparatus a designated employer representative.
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Specification