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 via a computer the raw electronic prescription order to produce a processed, fill-ready prescription order;
computing a marginal cost of filling the fill-ready prescription order at a central filling facility;
wherein the central filling facility is connected to the network of pharmacy resources via the pharmacy computing network; and
wherein the central filling facility is a non-retail pharmacy resource separate and distinct from any pharmacy retail store;
computing a marginal cost of filling the fill-ready prescription order at the first pharmacy retail store;
wherein the first pharmacy retail store is connected to the network of pharmacy resources via the pharmacy computing network;
routing the processed, fill-ready prescription order to the central filling facility when the computed marginal cost of filling the fill-ready prescription at the central filling facility is less than the computed marginal cost of filling the fill-ready prescription at the first pharmacy retail store;
routing the processed, fill-ready prescription order to the first pharmacy retail store when the computed marginal cost of filling the fill-ready prescription at the first pharmacy retail store is less than the computed marginal cost of filling the fill-ready prescription at the central filling facility;
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.
112 Citations
20 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 via a computer the raw electronic prescription order to produce a processed, fill-ready prescription order; computing a marginal cost of filling the fill-ready prescription order at a central filling facility; wherein the central filling facility is connected to the network of pharmacy resources via the pharmacy computing network; and wherein the central filling facility is a non-retail pharmacy resource separate and distinct from any pharmacy retail store; computing a marginal cost of filling the fill-ready prescription order at the first pharmacy retail store; wherein the first pharmacy retail store is connected to the network of pharmacy resources via the pharmacy computing network; routing the processed, fill-ready prescription order to the central filling facility when the computed marginal cost of filling the fill-ready prescription at the central filling facility is less than the computed marginal cost of filling the fill-ready prescription at the first pharmacy retail store; routing the processed, fill-ready prescription order to the first pharmacy retail store when the computed marginal cost of filling the fill-ready prescription at the first pharmacy retail store is less than the computed marginal cost of filling the fill-ready prescription at the central filling facility; 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)
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15. 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; computing a marginal cost of filling an electronic prescription order of the plurality of electronic prescription orders at the non-retail central filling facility; computing a marginal cost of filling the electronic prescription order at a first pharmacy retail store of the plurality of pharmacy retail stores; routing the electronic prescription order to the non-retail central filling facility when the computed marginal cost of filling the electronic prescription at the non-retail central filling facility is less than the computed marginal cost of filling the electronic prescription at the first pharmacy retail store of the plurality of pharmacy retail stores; routing the electronic prescription order to the first pharmacy retail store when the computed marginal cost of filling the electronic prescription at the first pharmacy retail store is less than the computed marginal cost of filling the electronic prescription at the non-retail central filling facility; 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 for release to a customer.
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16. 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 computer at 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 computer at a second pharmacy retail store communicatively coupled to the network, wherein the second pharmacy retail store physically releases pharmacy products directly to customers; a central filling facility computer at a 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; compute a marginal cost of filling the electronic prescription order at the central filling facility, and compute a marginal cost of filling the electronic prescription order at the first pharmacy retail store; route the electronic prescription order to the central filling facility when the computed marginal cost of filling the electronic prescription at the central filling facility is less than the computed marginal cost of filling the electronic prescription at the first pharmacy retail store; routing the electronic prescription order to the first pharmacy retail store when the computed marginal cost of filling the electronic prescription at the first pharmacy retail store is less than the computed marginal cost of filling the electronic prescription at the central filling facility. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification