Drug prescription registry

• US 20050182662A1
• Filed: 02/17/2004
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dwight L. Pierce
• Original Assignee: Dwight L. Pierce
• Inventors: Pierce, Dwight L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,577,690 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Method and system are disclosed for facilitating patient access to pharmacies. The system and method of the present invention involves setting up a prescription registry service. The prescription registry service stores the prescriptions of patients who are members of the registry. Pharmacies, including national and international pharmacies, may then subscribe to the registry service. The pharmacies may be required to satisfy one or more qualification criteria in order to subscribe to the registry service. A patient may then select one of the subscribing pharmacies to fill his prescriptions with reduced risk and increased confidence. Only pharmacies that have been authorized by the patient may access and fill a registered prescription. All communication between the member and the pharmacy are conducted through the pharmacy'"'"'s normal channels and not through the registry service.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating patient access to pharmacies, comprising:

establishing a prescription registry in which patients who have joined said prescription registry may store information regarding their prescriptions;

receiving and storing said information in said prescription registry;

assigning a unique prescription identifier to said information for each prescription, said unique prescription identifier initially known only to said patients and said prescription registry;

providing said patients with a list of pharmacies that have subscribed to said prescription registry, said list including contact information which said patients may use to contact and provide said pharmacies with one or more prescription identifiers; and

allowing said pharmacies to access said information stored on said prescription registry using said prescription identifiers.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein all communications and transaction between said patients and said pharmacies take place through said pharmacies'"'"' normal channels and not through said prescription registry.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of receiving said information includes receiving a scanned image file of an original prescription slip for each prescription.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said step of receiving said information further includes obtaining physical possession of an original prescription slip for each prescription.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said prescription identifier includes a fill code for each patient that may be used for all prescriptions belonging to said patient.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said prescription identifier further includes a prescription number for each prescription of said patient.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising requiring said pharmacies to satisfy one or more qualification criteria, including passing a background check, in order to subscribe to said prescription registry.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising requiring said subscribing pharmacies to pay a fee to said prescription registry.

9. A system for facilitating patient access to pharmacies, comprising:

a prescription registry, said prescription registry including at least one database therein for storing prescription information and further including a user interface for said at least one database, said user interface comprising;

a member login screen for allowing a member of said prescription registry to access said at least one database;

a prescription information screen for allowing a member services provider operator to capture prescription information for one or more prescriptions of said member;

a prescription upload screen for allowing said member services provider operator to upload said prescription information, including a scanned image file of each prescription, to said at least one database;

a prescription verification screen for allowing a pharmacy to access said prescriptions using a unique prescription identifier, said prescription identifier initially known only to said member and said prescription registry; and

a prescription acceptance screen for allowing said pharmacy to accept said one or more prescriptions and for locking each prescription that is accepted by said pharmacy from further access.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said user interface further comprises a membership application screen for accepting new members to said prescription registry.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein said user interface further comprises a member services screen for allowing said member to search for member services providers and pharmacies.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein said user interface further comprises a member services screen for allowing said member to search for member services providers and pharmacies.

13. The system according to claim 9, wherein said user interface further comprises a member services screen for allowing said member to update membership information.

14. The system according to claim 9, wherein said user interface further comprises a membership verification screen for allowing said member services provider operator to verify a membership of said member.

15. The system according to claim 9, wherein said user interface further comprises a membership verification screen for allowing said pharmacy to verify a membership of said member.

20. The prescription registry service according to claim 9, wherein said pharmacies agree to pay said prescription registry service in a predetermined fee for each prescription filled by said pharmacies.

16. A prescription registry service, comprising:

a database configured to store prescription information;

members who upload their prescription information to said database;

member services providers that assist said members to upload their prescription information to said database; and

pharmacies that access said prescription information stored on said database, wherein said pharmacies are only allowed to access prescriptions for which they have been authorized by said members.

17. The prescription registry service according to claim 16, wherein said members must surrender their original prescription slips to the prescription registry service before their prescription information are made accessible to said pharmacies.

18. The prescription registry service according to claim 16, wherein said database is configured to lock from further access any prescription information that have been accepted for filling by said pharmacies.

19. The prescription registry service according to claim 16, wherein said members authorize said pharmacies to fill their prescription information by providing said pharmacies with a prescription number and a fill code.