Method for assimilating and using pharmacy data

• US 20040148196A1
• Filed: 10/08/2003
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnicare LLC (CVS Health Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Omnicare Incorporated (CVS Health Corporation)
• Inventors: Kalies, Ralph F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,606,722 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/70 for mining of medical data, e.g. analysing previous cases of other patients

Abstract

A method for assimilating and using pharmacy data to determine actual consumption of medications from particular sources, such as pharmaceutical companies. Transaction records are accumulated and correlated, and medication dispensing and usage data is extracted to determine actual consumption information. In an alternate embodiment, the transaction records and dispensing data are examined for identifiable usage patterns. The patterns form the basis for a set of rules that can then be used to calculate actual consumption data from transaction records.

Claims

1. A method of assimilating and storing for later analysis pharmacy data relating to a prescription for medication, comprising the steps of:

a) obtaining at least one transaction record from at least one pharmacy;

b) correlating the transaction record to a related prescription;

c) extracting medication dispensing data and usage data from the transaction record; and

d) computing actual consumption data from the dispensing data and usage data, the actual consumption data comprising;

i) at least one source for the medications dispensed, and

ii) the portion of the actual consumption of the medication that is attributable to the source; and

e) a data repository for storing at least one of the transaction record, dispensing data, usage data and actual consumption data.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of storing at least one of the transaction record, dispensing data, usage data and actual consumption data in a data warehouse of the data repository.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of communicating the transaction record to a data repository for storage.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the transaction record is communicated via an electronic communications network.

5. A method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of incorporating security measures to prevent unauthorized access to the transaction record, dispensing data, usage data and actual consumption data.

6. A method according to claim 4 wherein the transaction record is encrypted by the pharmacy prior to communicating it to the data repository, and wherein the data repository decrypts the transaction record after receiving it.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

a) identifying at least one market for at least one selected medication, for at least one selected source;

b) computing actual consumption data for the selected medication;

c) periodically communicating the actual consumption data to the selected source; and

d) computing an incentive to be received from the selected source, the value of which correlates to a change in market share for the selected medication in favor of the selected source, as shown by the actual consumption data.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the actual consumption data is communicated to the source via an electronic communications network.

9. A method of assimilating and using pharmacy data relating to a prescription for medication, comprising the steps of:

a) obtaining at least one transaction record from at least one pharmacy;

b) correlating the transaction record to a related prescription;

c) extracting medication dispensing data and usage data from the transaction record;

d) identifying at least one pattern in the dispensing data and usage data;

e) utilizing the pattern to formulate at least one logical rule for calculating medication actual consumption data;

f) testing the logical rule for accuracy on at least one subsequent transaction record; and

g) using the logical rule to calculate medication actual consumption data comprising;

i) at least one source for the medications dispensed, and

ii) the portion of the actual consumption of the medication that is attributable to the source.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of a) compiling transaction records;

b) communicating the transaction records to a data repository; and

c) storing the transaction records in a data warehouse of the data repository.

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

a) receiving a query for actual consumption data from a requestor;

a) generating a report responsive to the query; and

c) communicating the report to the requester.

12. A method according to claim 10 wherein the transaction records are communicated via an electronic communications network.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the electronic communications network is an intranet.

14. A method according to claim 11 wherein the query and the report are communicated via an electronic communications network.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein the report is encrypted by the data repository before communicating it to the requestor, and wherein the requestor decrypts the report after receiving it.

16. A method according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

a) identifying at least one market for at least one selected medication, for at least one selected source;

b) periodically calculating actual consumption data for the selected medication;

c) periodically communicating actual consumption data to the selected source; and

d) computing an incentive to be received from the selected source, the value of which correlates to a change in market share for the selected medication in favor of the selected source, as shown by the calculated actual consumption data.

17. A method according to claim 9 wherein the step of identifying at least one pattern in the dispensing data and usage data further includes identifying exceptions to the pattern.

18. A method according to claim 16 wherein the actual consumption data is communicated to the source via an electronic communications network.

19. A method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of adding security measures to prevent unauthorized access to the transaction records.

20. A method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of adding security measures to prevent unauthorized access to the query and report.