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

• US 7,698,019 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2004
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tech Pharmacy Services, LLC
• Original Assignee: Tech Pharmacy Services Incorporated (Partners Pharmacy LLC)
• Inventors: Moncrief, James W., Martin, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford; Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLLINS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US10/944,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20050096785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,031 Days
• Field of Search: 700231-244, 705 8- 9, 705/417, 705/3
• 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 manage and control a plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts, each positioned remote therefrom and 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, to process distribution of pharmaceuticals stored in the dispensing carts during preselected dispensing time periods, and to perform a pharmaceutical utilization review for individual patients at a long-term care facility responsive to added prescriptions so that each respective dispensing cart includes new approved prescriptions prior to the next preselected time periods;

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, in communication with the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server through the communication network, to store a plurality of pharmaceuticals therein, and to individually retrieve at least one pharmaceutical of the plurality of pharmaceuticals stored in the pharmaceutical storage and dispensing cart, load the at least one pharmaceutical of the plurality of pharmaceuticals into one of a plurality of disposable individual patient dosing packages, package the at least one pharmaceutical, and dispense the loaded and packaged one of the plurality of individual patient dosing packages into a separate and removable container associated with the cart for use by authorized health care personnel located at the long-term care facility;

a second pharmacy group computer positioned remote from the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server and remote from the long-term care facility, 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 separate long-term care facility remote 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 healthcare 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, and wherein the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server establishes regular delivery routes for the at least one vehicle to thereby result in efficient use of the at least one vehicle.

4. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts remain substantially stationary, wherein the plurality of pharmaceuticals comprises a plurality of different pharmaceuticals, and wherein each of the plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts package a plurality of individual doses of pharmaceuticals and dispense the plurality of individual doses of pharmaceuticals during preselected dispensing time periods 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, and 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 including memory to store data therein, the pharmacy group management computer being positioned to manage and control a plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts each positioned remote therefrom to thereby define 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, to process distribution of pharmaceuticals stored in the dispensing carts during preselected dispensing time periods, and to perform a pharmaceutical utilization review for individual patients at a long-term care facility responsive to added prescriptions so that each respective dispensing cart includes new approved prescriptions prior to the next preselected time periods;

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 a plurality of pharmaceuticals therein and to individually retrieve at least one pharmaceutical of the plurality of pharmaceuticals stored in the pharmaceutical storage and dispensing cart, load the at least one pharmaceutical of the plurality of pharmaceuticals into one of a plurality of disposable individual patient dosing packages, package the at least one pharmaceutical, and dispense the loaded and packaged one of the plurality of individual patient dosing packages into a separate and removable container associated with the cart for use by authorized health care personnel located at the long-term care facility; and

a plurality of pharmaceutical prescription document processors each positioned in a separate long-term care facility remote 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, and wherein the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server establishes regular delivery routes for the at least one vehicle to thereby result in efficient use of the at least one vehicle.

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

10. A system as defined in claim 7, further comprising a database accessible to the long-term care facility pharmacy management software, wherein the long-term care facility pharmacy management software is 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, and wherein the long-term care facility pharmacy management software performs the operations of receiving a digital image of a patient medication prescription order and storing associated patient medication requirements in the database responsive to the digital image.

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 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;

performing a pharmaceutical utilization review for individual patients at a long-term care facility responsive to added prescriptions so that each respective pharmaceutical storage and dispensing apparatus includes new approved prescriptions prior to the next preselected time periods;

individually retrieving at least one medication of a plurality of medications stored in the plurality of dispensing cartridges, loading the at least one medication into one of a plurality of disposable individual patient dosing packages, packaging the at least one medication, and dispensing the loaded and packaged one of the plurality of individual patient dosing packages into a separate and removable container associated with the pharmaceutical dispensing and storing apparatus during preselected dispensing time periods 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.

13. A computer readable medium according to claim 12, 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.

14. A computer readable medium according to claim 12, 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.

15. A computer readable medium according to claim 12, 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 dispensing apparatus.

16. A computer readable medium according to claim 12, 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, and wherein the step of maintaining including updating a record of medication dispensed and an inventory of medication remaining in each separate removable medicine cartridge of each pharmaceutical storage and dispensing apparatus after the medication is dispensed.

17. 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 plurality of patients living therein;

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

providing a pharmacy group management computer being positioned remote from the plurality of long-term care facilities to manage and control a plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing apparatuses defining a long-term care facility pharmacy management server;

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 the long-term care facility pharmacy management computer;

remotely programming by the long-term care facility pharmacy management server at least one medication type and amount to be dispensed into each pharmaceutical storage and dispensing apparatus;

remotely programming by the long-term care facility pharmacy management server a medication dispensing time into each pharmaceutical storage and dispensing apparatus;

individually retrieving at least one medication of a plurality of medications stored pharmaceutical storage and dispensing apparatus, loading the at least one medication into one of a plurality of disposable individual patient dosing packages, packaging the at least one medication, and dispensing the loaded and packaged one of the plurality of individual patient dosing packages into a separate and removable container associated with the pharmaceutical storage and dispensing apparatus during preselected dispensing time periods responsive 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.

18. A method as defined in claim 17, 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.

19. A method as defined in claim 17, 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.

20. A method as defined in claim 17, wherein each pharmaceutical storage and dispensing apparatus has at least one removable medicine cartridge.