Method and system for providing pharmaceutical product information to a patient

• US 20040256453A1
• Filed: 06/23/2003
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Lammle
• Original Assignee: Robert Lammle
• Inventors: Lammle, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,267,278 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/381
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A system and method for providing pharmaceutical information to a patient is disclosed. The invention includes electronically identifying the pharmaceutical product dispensed to the patient with an identification device and electronically prompting the patient with a message using a first output. The message provides the patient with the opportunity to accept or decline the pharmaceutical information by interacting with an input device. If the patient decides to accept the pharmaceutical information, the pharmaceutical information is provided to the patient through a second output. A computer-based apparatus is also disclosed for providing pharmaceutical information to the patient. The computer-based apparatus includes a central processing unit configured to run an executable software program configured to control the functions of peripheral devices operatively connected to the computer-based apparatus.

Claims

1. A method for providing pharmaceutical information to a patient, said method comprising:

dispensing a pharmaceutical product having an electronically identifiable tag associated with said pharmaceutical product;

electronically reading said electronically identifiable tag of said pharmaceutical product to identify said pharmaceutical product;

retrieving electronically stored pharmaceutical information about said pharmaceutical product; and

electronically disclosing said stored pharmaceutical information to said patient;

wherein said stored pharmaceutical information is audibly disclosed.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein electronically disclosing said stored pharmaceutical information to said patient comprises:

electronically prompting said patient with a first message, wherein said first message provides said patient with an interactive choice of accepting or declining said pharmaceutical information; and

wherein said pharmaceutical information is electronically disclosed to said patient upon said patient interactively choosing to accept said pharmaceutical information, based upon said information derived from said electronic identification of said pharmaceutical product, or wherein no pharmaceutical information is electronically disclosed to said patient upon said patient interactively choosing to decline said pharmaceutical information.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

electronically prompting said patient with a second message which provides said patient with an interactive option to speak with a pharmacist; and

wherein said patient interactively accepts or declines said option to speak with a pharmacist.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein said patient interactively selects to accept or decline said pharmaceutical information by interacting with an electronic input device.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said electronic input device comprises a touch-screen display, a microphone or a keyboard.

6. The method according to claim 2, further comprising electronically creating an electronic log of said interaction of said patient.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising said patient providing a signature and electronically recording said signature of said patient.

8. The method according to claim 3, further comprising electronically notifying said pharmacist of said option selected by said patient to speak with said pharmacist.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein electronically disclosing said pharmaceutical information further comprises an act selected from the group consisting of:

electronically displaying said pharmaceutical information to said patient on an electronic visual display, printing said pharmaceutical information on a print medium, generating a voice message reciting said pharmaceutical information, and combinations thereof.

10. The method according to claim 2, wherein electronically prompting said patient with said first message is selected from the group consisting of:

electronically displaying said first message to said patient on an electronic visual display, printing said first message on a print medium, generating a voice message reciting said first message, and combinations thereof.

11. A system for providing interactive pharmaceutical information corresponding to a pharmaceutical product dispensed to a patient, said system comprising:

identification means for electronically identifying said pharmaceutical product, wherein said identification means is physically associated with said pharmaceutical product;

scanning means for electronically identifying said identification means corresponding to said pharmaceutical product;

retrieval means for electronically retrieving stored pharmaceutical information identified by said scanning means; and

disclosing means for audibly disclosing said pharmaceutical information to said patient.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising an electronic input device for interacting with said patent.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said identification means is selected from the group consisting of a bar code, a magnetic strip, and a radio frequency identification tag.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein:

said identification means is said bar code; and

said scanning means is a bar-code scanner.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said disclosing means further comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a visual display, a touch-screen display, a speaker, a telephone receiver, head phones, a printer, and combinations thereof.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein said retrieval means comprises a computer-based apparatus having electronic storage.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said computer-based apparatus is operatively configured to control said scanning means and a display means.

18. The system of claim 11, further comprising a notification device for informing a pharmacist of said interaction of said patient.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein said computer-based apparatus is operatively connected to the Internet.

20. The system of claim 11, further comprising an electronic signature capture device for electronically recording a signature of said patient.

21. A computer-based apparatus for providing pharmaceutical information to a patient, comprising:

an electronic identification device for identifying an active ingredient of a pharmaceutical product;

an electronic communication device for conveying a message to said patient;

an input device for interacting with said patient;

an output device for disclosing said pharmaceutical information to said patient;

a central processing unit configured to run at least one executable software program, wherein said central processing unit includes at least one memory device with said at least one executable software program stored thereon; and

wherein said central processing unit controls, at least partially in response to said running of said at least one executable software program, said function of said electronic identification device, said electronic communication device, said input device, and said output device.

22. The computer-based apparatus of claim 21, wherein said at least one executable software program directs said central processing unit to perform the steps of:

collecting data gathered by said electronic identification device;

generating said message;

receiving data collected by said input device; and

directing said output device to provide said pharmaceutical information to said patient.

23. The computer-based apparatus of claim 21, wherein said computer-based apparatus is operatively connected to the Internet.

24. The computer-based apparatus of claim 21, further comprising an electronic signature capture device for recording a signature of said patient.