System and software of enhanced pharmaceutical operations in long-term care facilities and related methods

• US 20050096785A1
• Filed: 09/20/2004
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tech Pharmacy Services, LLC
• Original Assignee: DFW Associates III, LLC
• Inventors: Martin, James J., Moncrief, James W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,698,019 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/241
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 1/30 Devices or methods for controlling or determining the quantity or quality or the material fed or filled
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• 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
• 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

Abstract

A system, software and related methods of enhanced pharmaceutical operations in long term care facilities are provided. An embodiment of a system includes a long-term care facility pharmacy group management server, long-term care facility pharmacy management software associated with the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server to manage pharmacological operations in a plurality of long-term care facilities, a plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts each positioned in a long-term care facility remote from the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server and in communication therewith, a remote pharmacy group server in communication with the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server, and a plurality of pharmaceutical prescription document processors each positioned in a long-term care facility and in communication with the remote pharmacy group server or the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server.

Claims

1. A system of enhanced pharmaceutical operation services for a plurality of long-term care facilities, the system comprising:

a first data processing and management computer including a first memory to store data therein to thereby define a long-term care facility pharmacy group management server;

long-term care facility pharmacy management software stored in the first memory of the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server to manage pharmaceutical operations in a plurality of long-term care facilities;

a communications network in communication with the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server;

a plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts each positioned in a separate long-term care facility remote from the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server and in communication with the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server through the communication network to store pharmaceuticals therein and to dispense the pharmaceuticals to authorized health care personnel located at the long-term care facility;

a second remote pharmacy group computer positioned remote from the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server, in communication with the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server and the plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts through the communication network, and including a second memory to store data therein to define a remote pharmacy group server; and

a plurality of pharmaceutical prescription document processors each positioned in a long-term care facility remote separate from and in communication with the remote pharmacy server to process a pharmaceutical prescription order from the long-term care facility to be delivered to the long-term care facility.

2. A system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of video input devices each separately positioned adjacent a respective one of the plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts remote from and in communication with at least one of the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server and the remote pharmacy group server, each video input device positionable to produce a video image of facility health care personnel and visually accessible functional components of the adjacent pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing cart, to thereby provide visual feedback to pharmacy personnel to train facility health-care personnel and for troubleshooting the pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing cart.

3. A system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a pharmaceutical storage facility associated with the remote pharmacy group server and having a plurality of pharmaceuticals stored therein, and at least one vehicle to facilitate delivery of the pharmaceuticals at the storage facility to each of the plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts at the plurality of long-term care facilities responsive to the pharmaceutical prescription order.

4. A system as defined in claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts store a plurality of different pharmaceuticals, package a plurality of individual doses of pharmaceuticals, and dispense the plurality of individual doses of pharmaceuticals to authorized healthcare personnel at the plurality of long-term care facilities.

5. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the long-term care facility pharmacy management software is particularly adapted to accept prescriptions from a physician, patient identification information from the long-term care facility, insurance information from the patient'"'"'s insurance company, and pharmaceutical inventory from each of the plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts to control inventory in each of the plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts and to order delivery of pharmaceuticals to restock the dispensing carts or for individually tailored prescription delivery for those prescriptions not stocked in the dispensing carts.

6. A system as defined in claim 5, wherein the long-term care facility pharmacy management software includes automated inventory replenishment of the dispensing carts, dispensing cart dispensing control, claim processing, prescribed drug conflict analysis based on patient medication profile, allergies, diagnosis, prescribed drug conflict analysis based on prescribed drug interaction, and prescribed drug analysis based on patient insurance coverage.

7. A system of enhanced pharmaceutical operation services for a long-term care facility, the system comprising:

a pharmacy group management computer defining a long-term care facility pharmacy group management server;

long-term care facility pharmacy management software associated with the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server to manage pharmaceutical operations in a plurality of long-term care facilities;

a plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts each positioned in a separate long-term care facility remote from the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server and in communication with the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server to store pharmaceuticals therein and to dispense the pharmaceuticals to authorized health care personnel located at the long-term care facility; and

a plurality of pharmaceutical prescription document processors each positioned in a long-term care facility remote separate from and in communication with the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server to process a pharmaceutical prescription order from the long-term care facility to be delivered to the long-term care facility.

8. A system as defined in claim 7, further comprising a pharmaceutical storage facility having a plurality of pharmaceuticals stored therein and at least one vehicle to facilitate delivery of the pharmaceuticals at the pharmaceutical storage facility to each of the plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts at the plurality of long-term care facilities responsive to the pharmaceutical prescription order.

9. A system as defined in claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts store a plurality of different pharmaceuticals, package a plurality of individual doses of pharmaceuticals, and dispense the plurality of individual doses of pharmaceuticals to authorized healthcare personnel at the long-term care facilities.

10. A system as defined in claim 7, wherein the long-term care facility pharmacy management software is particularly adapted to accept prescriptions from a physician, patient identification information from the long-term care facility, insurance information from the patient'"'"'s insurance company, and pharmaceutical inventory from the medication dispensing apparatus to control inventory in each of the plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts and to order delivery of pharmaceuticals to restock the dispensing carts or for individually tailored prescription delivery for those prescriptions not stocked in the dispensing carts.

11. A system as defined in claim 7, wherein the long-term care facility pharmacy management software includes automated inventory replenishment of the dispensing carts, dispensing cart dispensing control, claim processing, prescribed drug conflict analysis based on patient medication profile, allergies, diagnosis, prescribed drug conflict analysis based on prescribed drug interaction, and prescribed drug analysis based on patient insurance coverage.

12. A system of enhanced pharmaceutical operation services for a long-term care facility, the system comprising:

a first pharmacy group management computer defining a long-term care facility pharmacy group management server;

long-term care facility pharmacy management software associated with the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server to manage pharmaceutical operations in a plurality of long-term care facilities;

a plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts each positioned in one of the plurality of long-term care facilities remote from the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server and in communication with the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server to store a plurality of different pharmaceuticals, package a plurality of individual doses of pharmaceuticals, and dispense the plurality of individual doses of pharmaceuticals to authorized facility medical personnel located at one of the plurality of long-term care facilities; and

a remote pharmaceutical dispensing and storage facility positioned remote from the plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts and associated with a second remote pharmacy group computer defining a remote pharmacy group server in communication with the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server and each of the plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts through the communication network, having a plurality of pharmaceuticals stored therein, and having at least one vehicle positioned to deliver selected pharmaceuticals at the storage facility to each of the plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts, responsive to a combination of individual facility patient pharmaceutical dispensing instructions and medication inventory for each of the plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts.

13. A system as defined in claim 12, further comprising a plurality of pharmaceutical prescription document processors each positioned in a separate one of the plurality of long-term care facilities adjacent a respective one of the plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts and in communication with the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server to process a pharmaceutical prescription order from the respective one of the plurality of long-term care facilities to be delivered to such long-term care facility.

14. A system as defined in claim 12, further comprising a plurality of video input devices each positioned adjacent a respective one of the plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts remote from and in communication with at least one of the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server and the remote pharmacy group server, each video input device positionable to display over a virtual private network a video image of facility medical personnel and visually accessible functional components of the pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing cart, to thereby provide visual feedback to pharmacy personnel to train the facility medical personnel and for troubleshooting the pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing cart.

15. A system as defined in claim 12, wherein the long-term care facility pharmacy management software is particularly adapted to accept prescriptions from a physician, patient identification information from the plurality of long-term care facilities, insurance information from the patient'"'"'s insurance company, and pharmaceutical inventory from the plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts to control inventory in each of the plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts and to order delivery of pharmaceuticals to restock the dispensing carts or for individually tailored prescription delivery for those prescriptions not stocked in the dispensing carts.

16. A system as defined in claim 12, wherein the long-term care facility pharmacy management software includes a medication dispensing apparatus administrator responsive to an input from pharmacy personnel and positioned to selectively remotely control functions available to facility medical personnel from a terminal of one of the plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts over a virtual private network to thereby provide training to the facility medical personnel.

17. A system as defined in claim 12, wherein the long-term care facility pharmacy management software includes a medication dispensing apparatus imager responsive to video signals from the video input device to display a video image of facility medical personnel and functional components of the pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing cart over a virtual private network to thereby provide remote training to the facility medical personnel and for remotely troubleshooting the pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing cart.

18. A system as defined in claim 12, wherein the long-term care facility pharmacy management software includes:

a patient prescription order transferor stored in memory of each of the plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts, and responsive to a release initiated by at least one of a pharmacy staff member and a facility staff member, positioned to transmit to the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server over a virtual private network a digitized image of a patient medication prescription order received from an associated pharmaceutical prescription document processor, to thereby provide the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server with patient medication requirements;

a patient prescription receiver responsive to receipt of the digital image of the patient medication prescription from the patient prescription order transferor to store the digital image in a memory of the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server and to queue the digital image of the patient medication prescription for processing;

a queue positioned to receive the digital image and positioned to hold the digital image for prescription order requirements entry and release verification by a remote pharmacy pharmacist; and

a dispensing initiator positioned to receive the medication inventory for each of the pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts and responsive to the release verification performed by the remote pharmacy pharmacist to transmit individual facility patient pharmaceutical dispensing instructions to the respective pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing cart over the virtual private network to thereby initiate patient medication dispensing.

19. A system as defined in claim 18, wherein the long-term care facility pharmacy management software includes:

a patient record transferor responsive to a release initiated by at least one of a pharmacy staff member and a facility staff member and positioned to transmit over the virtual private network at least portions of a patient record having fields including a patient medication profile, a patient allergy profile, a patient diagnosis profile, and a patient insurance profile from an associated one of the plurality of the pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts to the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server to thereby store the at least portions of the patient record in the memory of the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server; and

a drug conflict analyzer responsive to the prescription order requirements and the patient record to analyze the prescription order requirements against the patient medication profile, the patient allergy profile, the patient diagnosis profile, and patient insurance profile, and a drug interaction profile, to determine if a conflict exists.

20. A system as defined in claim 12, wherein the long-term care facility pharmacy management software includes:

an inventory tracker positioned to maintain the medication inventory for each of the pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts; and

an inventory replenisher, positioned to receive the medication inventory from the inventory tracker, and responsive to the medication inventory decreasing below a minimum threshold level, to notify pharmacy personnel associated with the remote pharmaceutical dispensing and storage facility of a replenishment requirement for at least one of the plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts.

21. A system as defined in claim 12, wherein the long-term care facility pharmacy management software includes:

a patient billing tracker, responsive to patient medication dispensing from the respective pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing cart to provide separate billing records for each of a plurality of patients at the plurality of long-term care facilities; and

a claims processor positioned to receive the billing records from the patient billing tracker to submit medication claims to at least one of a reimbursement provider and a patient representative, for each patient.

22. Long-term care facility pharmacy management software adapted to be stored on a storage media associated with a pharmacy group management computer defining a long-term care facility pharmacy group management server for managing pharmaceutical operations in a remote pharmaceutical dispensing and storage facility and a plurality of remotely positioned long-term care facilities each having at least one remote medication dispensing apparatus, the software comprising:

a patient prescription receiver responsive to receipt of a digital image of a patient medication prescription order from a pharmaceutical prescription document processor associated with a remote medication dispensing apparatus to store the digital image of the patient medication prescription and to queue the digital image for prescription order processing;

a queue, positioned to receive the digital image of the patient medication prescription order, to hold the digital image of the patient medication prescription for processing and release by a remote pharmacy pharmacist associated with the remote pharmaceutical dispensing and storage facility; and

a dispensing initiator, responsive to a medication inventory for the remote medication dispensing apparatus and the release performed by the remote pharmacy pharmacist, to transmit individual facility patient pharmaceutical dispensing instructions to the respective remote medication dispensing apparatus over a network to thereby initiate patient medication dispensing.

23. Software as defined in claim 22, further comprising a drug conflict analyzer, responsive to patient medication requirements extracted from the digital image of the patient medication prescription order to analyze the patient medication requirements against a patient medication profile, a patient allergy profile, a patient diagnosis profile, a patient insurance profile, and a drug interaction profile, to analyze a medication conflict, when so existing.

24. Software as defined in claim 22, further comprising:

an inventory tracker adapted to maintain the medication inventory for each remote medication dispensing apparatus; and

an inventory replenisher, responsive to each respective medication inventory from the inventory tracker to notify pharmacy personnel associated with the remote pharmaceutical dispensing and storage facility of a replenishment requirement for each respective remote medication dispensing apparatus.

25. Software as defined in claim 22, further comprising:

a patient billing tracker, responsive to patient medication dispensing, to provide separate billing records for a plurality of patients at each of the plurality of long-term care facilities; and

a claims processor, responsive to the billing records from the patient billing tracker and a date reference signal, to consolidate billing data for each long-term care patient, indexed by reimbursement provider, and to submit medication claims to a reimbursement provider.

26. Software as defined in claim 22, further comprising a medication dispensing apparatus administrator adapted to respond to an input from a pharmacy staff member to selectively remotely control functions available to a facility staff member from a terminal of the remote medication dispensing apparatus over the virtual private network to provide training to the facility staff member.

27. Software as defined in claim 22, further comprising a medication dispensing apparatus imager responsive to video signals from a video input device associated with a remote medication dispensing apparatus to display a video image of a facility staff member and functional components of the remote medication dispensing apparatus over the virtual private network to provide training to the facility staff member and for troubleshooting the remote medication dispensing apparatus.

28. Long-term care facility pharmacy management software adapted to be stored on a storage media associated with a pharmacy group management computer to manage pharmaceutical operations in a remote pharmaceutical dispensing and storage facility and a plurality of remotely positioned long-term care facilities each having a medication dispensing apparatus, and adapted to accept prescriptions from a physician, patient identification information and pharmaceutical inventory from the medication dispensing apparatus, and insurance information from the patient'"'"'s insurance company to control dispensing medication from the medication dispensing apparatus to an authorized health-care personnel in each of the long-term care facilities, to control inventory in the medication dispensing apparatus, to order delivery of pharmaceuticals from the remote pharmaceutical dispensing and storage facility to restock the medication dispensing apparatus or for individually tailored prescription delivery for those prescriptions not stocked in the medication dispensing apparatus, and to electronically process medication claims with a reimbursement provider.

29. A computer readable medium that is readable by a computer to manage pharmaceutical operations in a remote pharmaceutical dispensing and storage facility defining a remote pharmacy and in a plurality of remotely positioned long-term care facilities each having at least one remote pharmaceutical dispensing and storing apparatus in communication with the computer and having a memory and a plurality of medication dispensing cartridges associated therewith, the computer readable medium comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform the following operations:

establishing remote communications between each pharmaceutical storage and dispensing apparatus and the remote pharmacy;

registering at least one patient for each of the plurality of long-term care facilities in a database of residents for the long-term care facility associated with a pharmaceutical storage and dispensing apparatus located at that long-term care facility;

storing in memory of each pharmaceutical storage and dispensing apparatus at least one medication type and an amount to be dispensed;

storing in memory of each pharmaceutical storage and dispensing apparatus a medication dispensing time;

dispensing medication responsive to patient prescription requirements for each patient registered to the pharmaceutical storage and dispensing apparatus located at each respective long-term care facility; and

maintaining a record of medication dispensed and an inventory of medication remaining in each cartridge of each pharmaceutical storage and dispensing apparatus.

30. A computer readable medium according to claim 29, further comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform the following operation:

submitting medication claims to a reimbursement provider for each patient.

31. The computer readable medium according to claim 29, further comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform the following operations:

providing separate billing records for each registered patient at each of the plurality of long-term care facilities; and

consolidating billing data for each registered patient at each of the plurality of long-term care facilities, the billing data indexed by reimbursement provider

32. The computer readable medium according to claim 29, further comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to perform the following operations:

receiving a digital image of an actual pharmaceutical prescription order, the order containing patient prescription requirements;

queuing the pharmaceutical prescription order for examination by a remote pharmacy pharmacist associated with the remote pharmacy;

analyzing the patient prescription requirements against a patient medication profile, a patient allergy profile, a patient diagnosis profile, a patient insurance profile, and a drug interaction profile, to determine if a conflict exists; and

transmitting the patient prescription requirements to the pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing cart.

33. A computer readable medium according to claim 29, wherein one of the pharmaceutical storage and dispensing apparatus in each of the plurality of remotely positioned long-term care facilities has a separate removable medicine cartridge for each medication type.

34. A method of providing pharmaceutical services to a plurality of long-term care facilities, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a pharmacy remote from a plurality of long-term care facilities to define a long-term care facility remote pharmacy;

restructuring long-term care facility staff procedures for communication between long-term care facility staff and the long-term care facility remote pharmacy;

restructuring medication procurement and resident medication distribution procedures within the plurality of long-term care facilities;

installing a pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing cart at each of the plurality of long-term care facilities to be used by the long-term care facility staff; and

visiting each of the plurality of long-term care facilities on a preselected frequency from the long-term care facility remote pharmacy to assess performance and enhance communication.

35. A method as defined in claim 34, wherein the step of restructuring long-term care facility staff procedures, further comprises the step of:

transmitting a digital image of an actual pharmaceutical prescription order from a prescription document processor associated with one of the pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts over a virtual private network to the long-term care facility remote pharmacy, providing an exact image of the physician prescription order to a long-term care facility remote pharmacy pharmacist, to allow the remote pharmacist to separately interpret the prescription order interpreted by the facility staff member to thereby reduce errors due to miscommunication and misinterpretation of the pharmaceutical prescription order.

36. A method as defined in claim 35, wherein the step of restructuring medication procurement and resident medication distribution procedures, further comprises the steps of:

entering patient prescription requirements obtained from the digital image of the actual pharmaceutical prescription order into a memory of a long-term care facility pharmacy group management server positioned remote from the plurality of long-term care facilities;

queuing the pharmaceutical prescription order for examination by a remote pharmacy pharmacist associated with the long-term care facility remote pharmacy;

examining the pharmaceutical prescription order for correctness and conflicts; and

transmitting the patient prescription requirements extracted from the pharmaceutical prescription order to the pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing cart, if so correct.

37. A method as defined in claim 36, wherein the step of restructuring medication procurement and resident medication distribution procedures further comprises the step of:

analyzing patient prescription requirements against a patient medication profile, a patient allergy profile, a patient diagnosis profile, a patient insurance profile, and a drug interaction profile, to determine if a conflict exists.

38. A method as defined in claim 34, wherein the step of restructuring medication procurement and resident medication distribution procedures further comprises the steps of:

maintaining a medication inventory for each pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing cart;

notifying the long-term care facility pharmacy over the virtual private network of a replenishment requirement, if so existing, for each respective pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing cart; and

delivering pharmaceuticals by long-term care facility remote pharmacy vehicle both to replenish a plurality of the pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts and to provide those pharmaceuticals according to the patient prescription requirements not stored by the respective pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing cart.

39. A method as defined in claim 34, wherein the step of restructuring long-term care facility staff procedures for communication between the long-term care facility staff and the long-term care facility remote pharmacy, further comprises the steps of:

selectively remotely controlling functions available to a facility staff member from a terminal of one of the pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts over a virtual private network to provide training to the facility staff member;

providing visual feedback to pharmacy personnel with a video input device positioned adjacent a plurality of the pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts and positionable to display over a virtual private network a video image of the facility staff member to further enhance training of the facility staff member; and

troubleshooting visually accessible functional components of the pharmaceutical storage electronic dispensing cart by manipulating the video input device adjacent a functional component requiring troubleshooting the video input device.

40. A method as defined in claim 34, wherein the step of restructuring long-term care facility staff procedures for communication between the long-term care facility staff and the long-term care facility pharmacy, further comprises the step of providing a medication pass list and a new or changed order report to synchronize pharmacy and long-term care facility documentation to thereby reduce errors due to miscommunication and misinterpretation of pharmaceutical prescription orders.

41. A method as defined in claim 34, wherein the step of restructuring medication procurement and resident medication distribution procedures, further comprises the step of consolidating medication intervals into four medication pass time blocks, each block having specific medication administration times within the respective block.

42. A method as defined in claim 36, further comprising the steps of:

dispensing medication according to patient prescription requirements for each of a plurality of patients at each of the plurality of long-term care facilities;

providing separate billing records for the plurality of patients at each of the plurality of long-term care facilities; and

submitting medication claims to a reimbursement provider and a patient representative for each of the plurality of patients.

43. A method as defined in claim 42, further comprising the step of consolidating billing data for each of the plurality of long-term care patients at each of the plurality of long-term care facilities.

44. A method of generating revenue from a plurality of long-term care facilities each devoid of an on-location pharmacy, the method comprising the steps of:

reducing management overhead costs by;

assigning each of the plurality of long-term care facilities at least one automated pharmaceutical storage and dispensing cart,

assigning a plurality of the long-term care facilities to each of at least one long-term care facility remote pharmacy, and

assigning the at least one long-term care facility remote pharmacy to a single long-term care facility pharmacy group manager, to thereby continuously monitor multiple long-term care facilities; and

reducing pharmaceutical delivery costs by;

delivering pharmaceuticals by long-term care facility remote pharmacy vehicle to replenish, in a single delivery iteration, each of a plurality of the automated pharmaceutical storage and dispensing carts and to provide those pharmaceuticals according to the patient prescription requirements and not provided by each respective pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing cart.

45. A method as defined in claim 44, further comprising the step of reducing pharmaceutical error costs and liabilities due to miscommunication and misinterpretation of a pharmaceutical prescription order by:

transmitting an exact image of each physician'"'"'s pharmaceutical prescription order from a pharmaceutical document processor associated with a pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing cart over a virtual private network to the at least one long-term care facility remote pharmacy; and

establishing a quality assurance check including having both a facility staff member review the physician'"'"'s pharmaceutical prescription order and a remote pharmacy pharmacist separately review the exact image of each physician'"'"'s pharmaceutical prescription order.

46. A method as defined in claim 44, further comprising the step of maintaining automated pharmaceutical storage and dispensing cart operational status by:

assigning a pharmacy staff member a primary responsibility to monitor usage, restocking, and maintenance of the automated pharmaceutical storage and dispensing cart; and

remotely troubleshooting a visually accessible functional component of the automated pharmaceutical storage electronic dispensing cart with a video input device positioned adjacent the pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing cart and positionable to display over a virtual private network a video image of the visually accessible functional component of the pharmaceutical storage electronic dispensing cart.

47. A method as defined in claim 45, wherein the step of reducing pharmaceutical error costs and liabilities further includes the step of:

analyzing patient prescription requirements against a patient medication profile, a patient allergy profile, a patient diagnosis profile, a patient insurance profile, and a drug interaction profile, to determine if a conflict exists.

48. A method as defined in claim 44, wherein the step of reducing pharmaceutical error costs and liabilities further includes the step of:

providing a Medication Pass List and a New or Changed Order Report to synchronize pharmacy and long-term care facility documentation.

49. A method as defined in claim 44, wherein the step of reducing management overhead costs further includes the steps of:

selectively remotely controlling functions available to a facility staff member from a terminal of a pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing cart over a virtual private network to provide training to the facility staff member; and

providing visual feedback to pharmacy personnel with a video input device positioned adjacent the pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing cart and positionable to display over a virtual private network a video image of the facility staff member to further enhance training of the facility staff member.

50. A method as defined in claim 44, further comprising the step of streamlining long-term care facility medication dispensing procedures by consolidating medication intervals into four medication pass time blocks, each block having specific medication administration times within the respective block.

51. A method as defined in claim 44, wherein the step of reducing overhead management costs further includes the steps of:

providing separate billing records for a plurality of patients at each of the plurality of long-term care facilities; and

submitting medication claims electronically to a reimbursement provider for each of the plurality of patients.

52. A method as defined in claim 44, wherein the step of reducing overhead management costs further includes the step of generating reimbursements from a reimbursement provider electronically by consolidating billing data for a plurality of patients at each of the plurality of long-term care facilities for submission to a respective same reimbursement provider.

53. A method as defined in claim 44, further comprising the step of preventing prescription backlogs due to prescription order entry difficulties of a single entry to accommodate massive numbers of incoming prescription orders by instituting a maximum individual order entry time protocol.

54. A method of increasing sales to and generating revenue from a plurality of long-term care facilities being devoid of an on-location pharmacy, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a pharmacy remote from a plurality of long-term care facilities to define a long-term care facility remote pharmacy;

positioning at least one pharmaceutical storage and dispensing apparatus in each of the plurality of long-term care facilities to store and dispense pharmaceuticals to a patient living therein;

establishing remote communications between each pharmaceutical storage and dispensing apparatus and the remote pharmacy;

registering patients for each of the plurality of long-term care facilities in a database of residents for the long-term care facility associated with a respective pharmaceutical storage and dispensing apparatus located at that long-term care facility, the database stored in memory of a data processing and management computer;

remotely programming at least one medication type and amount to be dispensed into each pharmaceutical storage and dispensing apparatus;

remotely programming a medication dispensing time into each pharmaceutical storage and dispensing apparatus;

dispensing medication according to patient prescription requirements for each associated registered patient; and

maintaining an inventory of medication dispensed and medication remaining in the pharmaceutical storage and dispensing apparatus.

55. A method as defined in claim 54, wherein the each long-term care facility has a plurality of patients, the method further comprising the step of:

submitting medication claims to a reimbursement provider for each registered patient.

56. A method as defined in claim 54, wherein the each long-term care facility has a plurality of patients, the method further comprising the steps of:

providing separate billing records for each plurality of patients at each of the plurality of long-term care facilities; and

consolidating billing data for each of the plurality of patients at each of the plurality of long-term care facilities.

57. A method as defined in claim 54, wherein each pharmaceutical storage and dispensing apparatus has at least one removable medicine cartridge.