Apparatus and method for accessing pharmacy information and ordering prescriptions

• US 7,769,601 B1
• Filed: 11/15/2000
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walgreen Co. (Walgreens Boots Alliance Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Walgreen Co. (Walgreens Boots Alliance Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bleser, Michael, McCauley, Tim, Weinert, Ron, Roesner, Randy, Riedl, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Morgan; Robert W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Porter; Rachel L
• Application Number:
  US09/715,872
• Time in Patent Office: 3,548 Days
• Field of Search: 705/2, 705/20, 705/3
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/40 relating to drugs, e.g. their side effects or intended usage

Abstract

A method and system for implementing an on-line pharmacy website that allows customers of a particular pharmacy company to order new prescriptions, refill prescriptions and transfer existing prescription. The method and system also afford a user access to personal information such as their prescription history. Integration of an internet server hosting the website with a pharmacy company'"'"'s intranet server and customer database allows a customer full on-line access to their information stored by the pharmacy company, as well as access to drug information. A further feature includes allowing the user to format and print their prescription history and records. Another feature of the system and method includes a “click-free” registration of customers with the website by entry of customer data by company personnel at any company location connected to the intranet server, such as at a pharmacy store. Personnel solicit information from the customer including, for example, an e-mail address. Registration of the customer is then performed by the company personnel and website access information is, in turn, communicated to the customer via e-mail.

Claims

1. A system for accessing pharmacy data and ordering prescriptions via a network comprising:

a network server connected to the network that is accessible by one or more customers via the network;

a database containing information concerning drugs and personal information concerning one or more of the customers, wherein the personal information includes a prescription drug history of each respective one of the one or more customers; and

an intranet server that is connected to at least a plurality of member pharmacies and one or more shipping facilities;

an application server connected to the network server, the database and the intranet server to integrate the network server, the database, and the intranet server,

wherein the application server is configured to;

receive a username and password from a customer;

cause a browser to display to the customer the information concerning drugs and personal information concerning that customer if the username and password are confirmed, and

cause the browser to display an option to transmit a prescription order to;

at least one of the plurality of member pharmacies or one of the one or more shipping facilities,

receive the prescription order and perform a prescription drug interaction check;

receive an indication of a choice from the customer relative to the option;

when the customer chooses the option to transmit the prescription order to the one or more shipping facilities, execute a command to the one of the one or more shipping facilities via the intranet server, so that at least one prescription drug associated with the prescription order is shipped from the one of the one or more shipping facilities; and

when the customer chooses the option to transmit the prescription order to one of the plurality of member pharmacies for pick-up by the customer, transmit via the intranet server the prescription order to one of the plurality of member pharmacies to be processed so that at least one prescription drug associated with the prescription order is filled at the one of the plurality of member pharmacies.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the network server is configured to format display of the prescription history of each respective one of the one or more customers according to a plurality of selectable display formats that are selected by the respective one of the one or more customers.

3. The system as defined in claim 2, wherein the network server is configured to allow each respective one of the one or more customers to print each particular selectable display format of the prescription history that is selected by the respective one of the one or more customers.

4. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the prescription order includes at least one of ordering a new prescription, refilling an existing prescription and transferring a previous prescription from another entity previously filling the previous prescription.

5. The system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a link to a quiz concerning health issues.

6. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the application server is further configured to display to the customer a name of a doctor that prescribed the at least one prescription drug, and display to the customer a generic alternative for the at least one prescription drug.

7. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the application server is further configured to display to the customer the number of refills left for the prescription order.

8. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the application server is further configured to send the customer a refill reminder email to remind the customer to refill the prescription.

9. The system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a hyperlinked image of a drug associated with the prescription order.

10. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the application server is further configured to display a status of the prescription order.

12. The method as defined in claim 9, wherein registering the customer further comprises:

prompting the customer to enter personal profile information;

transmitting an entered username, password and personal profile information to a network server;

storing the username, password and personal profile information in the network server; and

enabling the customer to access at least portions of the website by subsequent entry of the entered username and password.

11. A method enabling one or more customers to order prescriptions and access pharmacy data via a network comprising:

accessing a network server hosting a network website via the network;

registering a customer with the network website including prompting the customer to enter a username and password;

displaying to the customer on the website a prescription order selection;

displaying to the customer on the website a pharmacy data access selection;

when the customer selects the prescription order selection;

displaying one or more prescription order displays to the customer on the website;

receiving from the customer a particular prescription order;

performing a prescription drug interaction check for the particular prescription order;

sending the customer a confirmation email corresponding to the received particular prescription order,

when the customer selects to pick up at least one prescription drug from one of the plurality of member pharmacies, transmitting, via an intranet server that is connected to at least a plurality of member pharmacies and one or more shipping facilities, the particular prescription order so that the at least one prescription drug associated with the particular prescription order is filled at the one of the plurality of member pharmacies;

when the customer selects to have at least one prescription drug shipped from one of the one or more shipping facilities, transmitting, via the intranet server that is connected to at least the plurality of member pharmacies and the one or more shipping facilities, the particular prescription order so that the at least one prescription drug associated with the particular prescription order is shipped from the one of the one or more shipping facilities; and

when the customer selects the pharmacy data access selection, displaying one or more pharmacy data access displays to the customer wherein the customer is allowed to access one of a personal prescription history and specific drug information from a database.

13. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the personal prescription history includes each of the current prescription, name of prescribing doctor, dosage, strength, drug name, a link to drug information, and the drug'"'"'s price.

14. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

assigning the customer a personal identification number subsequent to the step of registering the user;

communicating the personal identification number to the customer via a secured communication; and

prompting the customer to enter the personal identification number to allow the customer to access secured portions of the website.

15. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the step of registering the customer further comprises:

manually entering customer contact information and at least one of the username, the password and a customer personal profile concerning the customer into a connection to an intranet server located in one of any one of a plurality of member pharmacies and one or more centralized company locations;

associating the customer to a network server; and

communicating at least a username and password, which enable the customer to access the network website, to the user via a secured communication using the customer contact information.

16. The method as defined in claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

enabling the customer to select one or more display formats for the personal prescription history; and

enabling a customer to print a specific format selected by the customer from the one or more display formats.

17. The method as defined in claim 11, wherein the particular prescription order includes a selectable designation by the customer to communicate that the prescription will one of:

a) be manually picked up at a selected pharmacy store location;

or

b) be shipped to a designated postal address.

18. A system for accessing pharmacy data and ordering prescriptions via a network comprising:

a database containing information concerning prescription drugs and personal information concerning a portion of a plurality of customers; and

an intranet server that is connected to a first member pharmacy, a second member pharmacy, and a shipping facility;

an application server connected to the database and the intranet server to integrate the database and the intranet server,

wherein the application server is configured to;

receive a username and a password from a customer;

allow the customer to access the information concerning prescription drugs and personal information concerning that customer if the username and the password are confirmed,

provide each of the one or more customers with an option to;

transmit a prescription order to the first member pharmacy or the shipping facility if the username and the password are confirmed;

receive the prescription order and perform a prescription drug interaction check;

receive an indication of a choice from the customer relative to the option to transmit the prescription order to the first member pharmacy or the shipping facility;

send an email confirmation to the customer confirming the prescription order;

cause a browser to display a status of the order;

when the customer chooses the option to transmit the prescription order to the shipping facility, transmit, via the intranet server, the prescription order to the shipping facility so that at least one prescription drug associated with the prescription order is shipped from the shipping facility; and

when the customer chooses the option to transmit the prescription order to the first member pharmacy, transmit, via the intranet server, the prescription order to the first member pharmacy so that at least one prescription drug associated with the prescription order is filled at the first member pharmacy.

19. A method enabling a customer to order prescriptions and access pharmacy data via a network comprising:

providing a network server hosting a network website via the network;

registering a customer with the network website that includes prompting the customer to input a username and password;

displaying to the customer on the website a prescription order selection;

displaying to the customer on the website a pharmacy data access selection;

when the customer selects the prescription order selection and the username and password are confirmed;

displaying a prescription order display to the customer on the website;

receiving from the customer a particular prescription order for a prescription drug;

performing a prescription drug interaction check;

wherein the particular prescription order includes a selectable designation by the customer to communicate via the intranet server that the prescription will one of;

a) be manually picked up at a selected pharmacy store location;

or

b) be shipped to a designated postal address;

sending a confirmation email to the customer for the prescription order;

receiving and storing medical insurance information for the customer;

displaying to the customer pricing information for a drug in the prescription order;

displaying to the customer a name of a doctor that prescribed the drug; and

displaying a pharmacy data access display to the customer when the customer selects the pharmacy data access selection and when the username and password are confirmed, and providing the customer access to one of a personal prescription history and specific drug information from a database.

20. A pharmacy system, comprising:

means for accessing a network server hosting a network website;

means for registering a customer with the network website;

means for displaying to the customer on the website a prescription order selection;

means for displaying to the customer on the website a pharmacy data access selection;

means for displaying one or more prescription order displays to the customer on the website when the customer selects the prescription order selection;

means for receiving from the customer a particular prescription order;

means for performing a prescription drug interaction check for the particular prescription order, and

means for sending the customer a confirmation email corresponding to the received particular prescription order;

means for displaying to the customer pricing information for a drug in the prescription order;

means for displaying to the customer a name of a doctor that prescribed the drug;

means for displaying to the customer a generic alternative for the prescribed drug;

means for transmitting the prescription order to a member pharmacy or a shipping facility, so that at least one prescription drug associated with the prescription order is filled at the member pharmacy or is shipped from the shipping facility; and

means for displaying one or more pharmacy data access displays to the customer when the customer selects the pharmacy data access selection wherein the customer is allowed to access one of a personal prescription history and specific drug information from a database.