System and Method of Using a Non-Retail Central Filling Facility to Process Pharmacy Product Prescriptions in a Pharmacy Retail Network
First Claim
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1. A method of processing pharmacy product prescription orders within a network of pharmacy resources connected by a pharmacy computing network comprising:
- originating a raw electronic prescription order at a first pharmacy retail store, wherein the first pharmacy retail store releases pharmacy products directly to customers;
information processing the raw electronic prescription order to produce a processed, filled-ready prescription order;
routing the processed, fill-ready prescription order to one of a set of destinations, the set of destinations including a first computer of a central filling facility, a computer of the first pharmacy retail store, and a computer of a second pharmacy retail store based on a set of parameters, wherein the central filling facility is a non-retail pharmacy resource separate and distinct from any pharmacy retail store;
physically preparing a type and quantity of a pharmacy product corresponding to the processed prescription order at the routed destination; and
releasing the prepared pharmacy product to a customer.
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Abstract
The claimed method and system implements an algorithm for routing electronic prescriptions to one of a pharmacy retail store or a non-retail central filling facility for physical preparation of pharmacy products corresponding to the electronic prescriptions.
115 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of processing pharmacy product prescription orders within a network of pharmacy resources connected by a pharmacy computing network comprising:
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originating a raw electronic prescription order at a first pharmacy retail store, wherein the first pharmacy retail store releases pharmacy products directly to customers; information processing the raw electronic prescription order to produce a processed, filled-ready prescription order; routing the processed, fill-ready prescription order to one of a set of destinations, the set of destinations including a first computer of a central filling facility, a computer of the first pharmacy retail store, and a computer of a second pharmacy retail store based on a set of parameters, wherein the central filling facility is a non-retail pharmacy resource separate and distinct from any pharmacy retail store; physically preparing a type and quantity of a pharmacy product corresponding to the processed prescription order at the routed destination; and releasing the prepared pharmacy product to a customer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of processing pharmacy product prescription orders within a network of pharmacy resources connected by a pharmacy computing network comprising:
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connecting a plurality of pharmacy retail stores to a communication network, wherein each of the pharmacy retail stores physically releases pharmacy products directly to customers; connecting at least one non-retail central filling facility to the communication network wherein the central filling facility is a non-retail pharmacy resource separate and distinct from any pharmacy retail store; transmitting a plurality of electronic prescription orders over the communication network; routing an electronic prescription order of the plurality of electronic prescription orders to the central filling facility based on at least one parameter of the set of parameters including a pickup time, a retail store inventory, and a central fill inventory; physically preparing a type and quantity of a pharmacy product based on the routed electronic prescription order at the routed destination; and delivering the prepared pharmacy product to a first pharmacy retail store of the plurality of pharmacy retail stores for release to a customer. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A system for processing pharmacy product prescription orders within a network of pharmacy resources connected by a pharmacy computing network comprising:
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a first pharmacy retail store communicatively coupled to a network, wherein the first pharmacy retail store physically releases pharmacy products directly to customers; a second pharmacy retail store communicatively coupled to the network, wherein the second pharmacy retail store physically releases pharmacy products directly to customers; a first central filling facility coupled to the network and adapted to physically prepare a pharmacy product based on an electronic prescription order received via the network, wherein the central filling facility is a non-retail pharmacy resource separate and distinct from any pharmacy retail store; and a computing device communicatively coupled to the network and adapted to route the electronic prescription order to one of the first pharmacy retail store or the first central filling facility based on a set of parameters that includes a pickup time of the prescription order. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification