Method and apparatus for delivery of medical items on an electronic prescription

• US 20080091468A1
• Filed: 10/13/2006
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Haider, Sultan, Heidenreich, Georg
• Granted Patent: US 7,729,929 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring

Abstract

A method for dispensing medical items designated in a prescription, such as an electronic prescription, including providing the electronic prescription to a server, and the server providing the electronic prescription to a pharmacy or other agent that fills the prescription and provides the medical items to the patient. A consent statement is provided by the patient for permission to the pharmacy to receive and fill the prescription and for permission to the server to receive and forward the prescription. Secure communications are provided for key communications to establish trust of identity of the parties and entities.

Claims

1. A method for providing medical items to a patient, comprising the steps of:

receiving a consent statement from the patient, the consent statement providing permission of the patient to receive a prescription prepared for the patient by a medical professional and providing permission of the patient to transmit the prescription to a pharmacy and providing permission of the pharmacy to fill the prescription;

receiving an electronic prescription from a medical professional;

storing the electronic prescription on a server; and

transmitting the electronic prescription to a pharmacy or agent for filling of the prescription.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said consent statement is a general consent statement providing permission by the patient to fill a plurality of prescriptions.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said consent statement is a per-case consent statement providing permission by the patient to fill a predetermined prescription.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said consent statement is provided by the patient to the pharmacy or agent.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of receiving the electronic prescription includes receiving the electronic prescription at a server.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said consent statement is provided by the patient to the server.

7. A system for dispensing medical items designated in an electronic prescription, comprising:

a server having storage in which electronic prescriptions are stored, said server having at least one communication link for receiving electronic prescriptions from medical professionals and for transmitting the electronic prescriptions to a pharmacy; and

a consent statement by a patient and received by at least one of the server and the pharmacy, the consent statement permitting the server to receive an electronic prescription of the patient and permitting the server to store the electronic prescription and to forward the electronic prescription to a pharmacy.

8. A method for providing medical items designated in a prescription to a patient, comprising the steps of:

receiving a consent statement from a patient by a pharmacy;

receiving an electronic prescription for the patient from a medical professional;

transmitting the electronic prescription to the pharmacy; and

delivering a medical item specified in the prescription to the patient.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said consent statement is a general consent.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said step of receiving the consent statement occurs prior to said step of receiving the electronic prescription.

11. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said consent statement is a per-case consent.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said step of receiving the consent statement occurs after said step of receiving the electronic prescription.

13. A method for providing medical items designated in a prescription to a patient, comprising the steps of:

receiving a consent statement from a patient by a server;

receiving an electronic prescription for the patient from a medical professional;

transmitting the electronic prescription to the pharmacy; and

delivering a medical item specified in the prescription to the patient.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said consent statement is a general consent.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said step of receiving the consent statement occurs prior to said step of receiving the electronic prescription.

16. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said consent statement is a per-case consent.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said step of receiving the consent statement occurs after said step of receiving the electronic prescription.