Pharmacy system and method

• US 20030225728A1
• Filed: 05/31/2002
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: Moura, Anthony A.
• Application Number:
  US10/159,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20030225728A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/1
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

A system and method is disclosed for sharing information between an inpatient pharmacy system and an outpatient or retail pharmacy system. Generally, the system includes an inpatient pharmacy, having a workstation, and an outpatient pharmacy, also having a workstation. Operably connected to the workstations is a pharmacy database containing patient and customer information.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an inpatient pharmacy having a workstation and an inpatient pharmacy database containing inpatient pharmacy information;

an outpatient pharmacy having a workstation and an outpatient pharmacy database containing outpatient pharmacy information;

an network connected between the inpatient pharmacy and the outpatient pharmacy; and

,

the inpatient pharmacy workstation in communication with the outpatient pharmacy database over the network.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the inpatient pharmacy information is displayed on a window provided on the outpatient pharmacy workstation.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the outpatient pharmacy information is displayed on a window provided on the inpatient pharmacy workstation.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the inpatient pharmacy system and outpatient pharmacy system have workstations with standardized graphical user interfaces.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the inpatient pharmacy workstation includes an application for accessing the outpatient pharmacy database.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the outpatient pharmacy workstation includes an application for accessing the inpatient pharmacy database.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein only authorized users can access data contained within the inpatient pharmacy database and the outpatient pharmacy database.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein information contained within the inpatient pharmacy database and the outpatient pharmacy database is displayed on a window.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the window can be parked.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein an application is provided to at least one of the workstations for directing a user through a workflow process.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the workflow process includes order entry and order fill.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein an application is provided to at least one of the workstations for displaying a billing payment coverage window for entry of bill payment information.

13. A system comprising:

an inpatient pharmacy having a workstation;

an outpatient pharmacy having a workstation;

a pharmacy database operably connected to the inpatient pharmacy and the outpatient pharmacy; and

,

patient information contained within the pharmacy database.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the pharmacy database contains both inpatient pharmacy information and outpatient pharmacy information.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the inpatient pharmacy workstation includes an application for accessing the outpatient pharmacy information.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the outpatient pharmacy workstation includes an application for accessing the inpatient pharmacy information.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein only authorized users can access data contained within the pharmacy database.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein the patient information contained within the pharmacy database is displayed on a window.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the window can be parked.

20. The system of claim 13 wherein an application is provided to at least one of the workstations for directing a user through a workflow process.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the workflow process includes order entry and order fill.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein an application is provided to at least one of the workstations for displaying a billing payment coverage window for entry of bill payment information.

23. A method comprising the step of:

providing an application on a workstation within an inpatient pharmacy;

providing an application on a workstation within an outpatient pharmacy;

accessing patient information contained within a pharmacy database operably connected to the workstations within the inpatient pharmacy and the outpatient pharmacy.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the steps of providing security to prevent unauthorized users from accessing the patient information contained within the pharmacy database.

25. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of displaying on a window the patient information contained within the pharmacy database.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of parking the window.

27. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of directing a user through a workflow process for filling a prescription within the inpatient pharmacy.

28. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of directing a user through a workflow process via a window on at least one of the workstations for filling a prescription within the outpatient pharmacy.

29. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of displaying a billing payment coverage window on at least one of the workstations for entry of bill payment information.