Method and system for packaging and dispensing medication

• US 20040148054A1
• Filed: 01/24/2003
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Monty Schwartz
• Original Assignee: Monty Schwartz
• Inventors: Schwartz, Monty
• Application Number:
  US10/350,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20040148054A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/231
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/035 Blister-type containers blisters in general B65D75/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/04 Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
• 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 method and system for dispensing prescription medication to a patient over a select time period including at least one prescription package. The package has a plurality of discrete spatially distinct locations containing the medication arranged in a two dimensional matrix. The matrix includes data corresponding to time of day information and select number of days of a week information. A heading region is disposed on a portion of the package. The heading region contains prescription instruction data having the patient'"'"'s name, medication name, medication dosages and usage schedule. A scheduling code is disposed on an end of the prescription package. The scheduling code corresponds to the same time of day information as in the matrix. The medication is disposed in the discrete spatially distinct locations to correspond to the medication dosages and usage schedule of the prescription instruction data.

Claims

1. A method of dispensing prescription medications to a patient over a select time period comprising the steps of:

receiving a prepared prescription for medication containing prescription data and patient parameters for a select patient;

storing the prescription data and patient parameters;

providing a prescription package having;

a plurality of discrete spatially distinct locations arranged in a two dimensional matrix, the two dimensional matrix including data corresponding to time of day information and a select number of days of a week information, and

a heading region disposed on a portion of the package;

comparing the prescription data to the patient parameters to determine prescription instruction data;

printing prescription instruction data onto the heading region, the prescription instruction data including at least the patient name, medication name, medication dosage and dosage schedule;

packaging the medication in the discrete spatially distinct locations to correspond to the medication dosages and dosage schedule of the prescription instruction data; and

placing a scheduling code on an end of the prescription package, the scheduling code corresponding to the same time of day information as in the matrix.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of the prescription packages having a two-dimensional matrix and scheduling code for a plurality of medications for the patient;

arranging the prescription packages to form a patient'"'"'s prescription package set such that the two dimensional matrix and scheduling codes provide a three dimensional matrix in the patient'"'"'s set for administering the medications to the patient.

3. The method of claim 2 comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of patient'"'"'s sets for a plurality of select patients residing at a plurality of patient care facilities, wherein the day of the week information on each prescription package of the patient'"'"'s sets includes a select start date for administering the packaged medication to each patient; and

distributing the plurality of patient'"'"'s sets to the plurality of facilities, wherein the start dates are customized to, and uniform for, each facility.

4. The method of claim 2 comprising the step of:

providing the scheduling code as a color code corresponding to time of day information such that a visual indication is given as to the time of day each medication within the patient'"'"'s set is to be taken by the patient.

5. The method of claim 3 comprising the steps of:

checking the prescription data and patient parameters for each patient on a first time period criteria;

providing the prescription packages having packaged medication based on the checked prescription data and patient parameters;

delivering the packages to the plurality of patients on the first time period criteria; and

billing the patients for the packages on a second time period criteria greater than the first time period criteria.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first time period criteria is a weekly criteria and the second time period criteria is a monthly criteria.

7. The method of claim 1 comprising the step of printing the most common side effect of the medication onto the package.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the package is a blister pack and the discrete spatially distinct locations are blister cavities

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the two-dimensional matrix comprises rows corresponding to the select number of days of the week information and columns corresponding to the time of the day information.

10. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

contacting the prescriber to verify if more refills should be administered, and reviewing a medication drug profile to determine potential drug interactions and adverse reaction to the medication prescribed.

11. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

providing education relating to the use of the present method and the administration of the medication prescribed.

12. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of storing patient specific health records.

13. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

storing names of all medication currently administered to the patient into a computer program; and

comparing medications currently administered and the medication prescribed to determine drug interactions.

14. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of comparing medications to a patient health record to determine potential adverse reactions.

15. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the steps of contacting the prescriber when drug interactions are found for clarification before filling out the prescription.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

contacting the prescriber when potential adverse reactions are found for clarification before filling out the prescription.

17. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of

monitoring a patient for adverse reactions;

and

entering adverse reactions which occur into a database.

18. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of entering new patient health data into a computer database.

19. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of generating an alarm for incorrect data entered into a computer.

20. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of applying a machine-readable code to the package.

21. A system for dispensing prescription medication to a patient over a select time period comprising at least one prescription package, the package having:

a plurality of discrete spatially distinct locations containing the medication arranged in a two dimensional matrix, the matrix including data corresponding to time of day information and select number of days of a week information;

a heading region disposed on a portion of the package, the heading region containing prescription instruction data having the patient'"'"'s name, medication name, medication dosages and usage schedule; and

a scheduling code disposed on an end of the prescription package, the to scheduling code corresponding to the same time of day information as in the matrix;

wherein the medication is disposed in the discrete spatially distinct locations to correspond to the medication dosages and usage schedule of the prescription instruction data.

22. The system of claim 21 comprising:

a plurality of the packages having a two dimensional matrix and scheduling code for a plurality of medications for the patient;

wherein the packages are arranged to form a patient'"'"'s prescription package set such that the two dimensional matrix and scheduling codes provide a three dimensional matrix in the patient'"'"'s set for administering the medications to the patient.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the scheduling code comprises a color code corresponding to time of day information such that a visual indication is given as to the time of day each medication within the patient'"'"'s set is to be taken by the patient.

24. The system of claim 21 wherein the package is a blister pack and the discrete spatially distinct locations are blister cavities.

25. The system of claim 21 wherein the two dimensional matrix comprises rows corresponding to the select number of days of the week information and columns corresponding to the time of the day information.

26. A blister pack system for dispensing time sensitive substances to a user over select time periods comprising at least one blister pack, the blister pack having:

a plurality of blister cavities containing the time sensitive substance arranged in columns and rows, the columns and rows including select day information and select time of day information to provide a two dimensional scheduling matrix for dispensation of the time sensitive substance;

a heading region disposed on an upper end portion of the blister pack adjacent to the blister cavities, the heading region containing parameter information identifying a select user and including a substance usage schedule to administer the substance to the user; and

a scheduling code disposed on a top end of the heading region corresponding to one of the select day information and the select time of day information;

wherein the time sensitive substance is disposed in the blister cavities to correspond to the substance usage schedule for the user.

27. The blister pack system of claim 26 wherein the at least one blister pack includes a plurality of blister packs for dispensing a plurality of time sensitive substances for the user, wherein the plurality of blister packs are arranged together such that the rows, columns and scheduling code provide a three dimensional scheduling matrix for administering the time sensitive substances to the user.

28. The blister pack system of claim 26 wherein the time sensitive substances are medications and the user is a patient.

29. The blister pack system of claim 26 wherein the select day information corresponds to a period of less than a month'"'"'s time.

30. The blister pack system of claim 26 wherein the select day information corresponds to one of a five and a seven day period.

31. The blister pack system of claim 26 wherein:

the rows correspond to the select day information; and

the columns and scheduling code each correspond to the select time of day information.

32. The blister pack system of claim 26 wherein the scheduling code is a color code.