Prescription drug distribution system and methods

• US 7,469,213 B1
• Filed: 03/14/2003
• Issued: 12/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Secure Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Secure Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Rao, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Dixon; Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gottschalk; Martin A
• Application Number:
  US10/389,363
• Time in Patent Office: 2,111 Days
• Field of Search: 705 2- 4, 600/300
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• 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 70/40 relating to drugs, e.g. their side effects or intended usage
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

Secure methods of distributing and prescribing prescription medications and related systems significantly increase prescription medication distribution security. Applications of the present invention are particularly useful in prescribing and distributing lifestyle drugs where an actual physical examination is not necessarily required, but are similarly useful for all prescription medications. A system configured according to a particular embodiment of the present invention involves a prescription request kiosk, a prescription request review terminal, a medical information database, and a pharmacy all associated with a prescription distribution system processor. Particular embodiments of prescriptions of the present invention include a photograph of a prescription requestor on the prescription for added security along with additional follow-up questions to be asked by the pharmacist to the customer. Requestors initiate prescription requests by answering a plurality of questions related specifically to the prescription medications requested.

Claims

1. A prescription drug distribution system comprising:

a prescription drug request interface displaying a description of a plurality of prescription drugs; and

a camera associated with the prescription drug request interface and configured to capture an image of a customer at the prescription drug request interface;

wherein the prescription drug request interface is configured to receive a request for a prescription drug from the customer through an interface input, capture a facial image of the customer requesting the prescription drug proximate a time of the request through the camera, and forward the prescription request to a medical doctor remote from the prescription drug request interface, the prescription request including the image of the customer requesting the prescription drug;

wherein the prescription drug request interface is further configured to receive responses from the customer to a plurality of medical questions related to the prescription drug requested;

wherein the system is configured to generate a prescription in response to the request, the prescription comprising the image of the customer requesting the prescription drug and at least a sub-set of the customer'"'"'s responses to the plurality of medical questions related to the prescription drug requested.

2. The prescription drug distribution system of claim 1, further comprising a printer at the pharmacy configured to print the prescription.

3. The prescription drug distribution system of claim 1, further comprising a display at the pharmacy configured to display the prescription.

4. The prescription drug distribution system of claim 1, further comprising a prescription request review terminal configured to display the prescription request and receive approval for the request from the medical doctor.

5. The prescription drug distribution system of claim 1, further comprising a database configured to store information associated with a prescription and a database monitor configured to identify potential prescription abuses by the customer.

6. A method of distributing a prescription medication to a patient requesting the prescription medication, the method comprising:

receiving a request through a computer terminal for a prescription medication from a patient;

gathering information about the patient'"'"'s identity through the computer terminal, wherein the information about the patient'"'"'s identity comprises a photograph of the patient'"'"'s face taken through a camera associated with the computer terminal proximate a time the patient requests the prescription medication;

gathering information through the computer terminal about a medical condition of the patient relating to the prescription medication through an electronic questionnaire;

analyzing the information about the patient'"'"'s medical condition through a medical doctor to determine if the requested medication is appropriate for the patient and the patient'"'"'s medical condition;

issuing a prescription from the medical doctor to a pharmacy for the medication requested by the patient, the prescription comprising the photograph of the patient'"'"'s face; and

using the photograph of the patient'"'"'s face to verify the identity of the patient, and confirming at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s information about the medical condition with the patient at the pharmacy before dispensing the medication.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising obtaining information about other prescriptions recently obtained by the patient.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein obtaining the information about other prescriptions recently obtained by the patient comprises searching a prescription database for matching identity information.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising denying the patient'"'"'s request for the prescription medication if the patient is requesting one of a duplicate and a conflicting medication.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein requesting the prescription medication and gathering the information are accomplished using an interactive computer terminal.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein gathering the information using an interactive computer terminal comprises gathering the information using an interactive computer terminal associated with a digital camera, the digital camera operable to take the photograph of the patient'"'"'s face when time the patient'"'"'s identity information is gathered.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein gathering the information using an interactive computer terminal comprises using at least one of:

a personal computing device having an Internet connection;

a computer located at the pharmacy and having at least one of an Internet connection and an Intranet connection; and

a computer located in a retail store and having at least one of an Internet connection and an Intranet connection.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein gathering the information using an interactive computer terminal comprises gathering information using a computer installed in a kiosk with a digital camera.