Pharmacy network management system and method for searching for a pharmacy store location

• US 8,055,513 B1
• Filed: 07/12/2010
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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
• Assistant Examiner(s): KANAAN, MAROUN P
• Application Number:
  US12/834,458
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 705/2, 705/3
• US Class Current: 705/2
• 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 enabling one or more customers to search for a pharmacy store location. The method and system includes an application server connected to a network server, an intranet server, and a database, the application server configured access a network server hosting a network website via the network; display to the customer via the website at least one of a prescription order selection or a pharmacy data access selection; display one or more prescription order displays to the customer via the website when the customer selects the prescription order selection; receive from the customer a particular prescription order via a communication network that connects a plurality of member pharmacies; and determine a pharmacy store location based on at least one of: i) if the store location is a drive through store location; ii) if the store location is within a search radius to the customers.

Claims

1. A system for searching for a pharmacy store location with a drive through window to pick up a prescription item ordered from a network website comprising:

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

an application server connected to the network server;

one or more databases connected to the application server, at least one of the one or more databases 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 the application server;

wherein the application server is configured to;

cause a browser to display to a customer personal information corresponding to the customer;

cause the browser to display an option for a drug associated with a prescription order to be picked up at a pharmacy store location;

search a database to determine the pharmacy store location based on at least one of the following;

i) if the store location is a drive through store location;

or

ii) if the store location is within a search radius to the customer;

cause the browser to display to the customer at least one pharmacy store location found in the search; and

receive from the customer a selection of one of the displayed pharmacy store locations at which the customer may pick up the prescription item ordered from the network website.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the application server is configured to search the database for the pharmacy store location based on whether the store location is a 24 hour store location.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the application server is configured to receive user input information to aid with the search of the database to determine the pharmacy store location desired by the user.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the user input information includes at least one of address information, state information, city information, zip code information, or search radius information.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the user input information includes a search radius selected from various amounts of distance.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to allow each respective one of the one or more customers to view more details concerning the selected store.

7. A method in a computer system for enabling one or more customers to search for a pharmacy store location comprising:

connecting a network server to an application server;

hosting a network website on the network server displaying to the customer on the network website at least one of a prescription order selection or a pharmacy data access selection;

displaying one or more prescription order displays to the customer via the network website when the customer selects the prescription order selection;

receiving from the customer a particular prescription order via the application server connected to an intranet server, the intranet server connecting a plurality of member pharmacies;

retrieving personal information concerning the customer associated with the particular prescription order from a database connected to the application server;

obtaining geographic information corresponding to the customer, wherein the geographic information includes at least one of;

an address,

a city

a state, or

a zip code;

searching for a pharmacy store location based on at least one of;

i) if the pharmacy store location is a drive through store location; and

ii) if the pharmacy store location is within a search radius to the received geographic information; and

displaying to the customer via the website the pharmacy store locations found in the search.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

retrieving driving directions corresponding to the store location via the application server.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

searching the database for the pharmacy store location via the application server based on whether the store location is a 24 hour store location.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving user input information to aid with the search of the database via the application server to determine the pharmacy store location desired by the user.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the user input information received via the application server includes at least one of address information, state information, city information, zip code information, or search radius information.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

allowing each respective one of the one or more customers to select a store via the network server to view more details concerning the store.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising performing a prescription drug interaction check for the customer'"'"'s ordered prescription.

14. The method of claim 7, further comprising displaying one or more pharmacy data access displays to the customer via the application server when the customer selects the pharmacy data access selection wherein the customer is allowed to access one of a personal prescription history and specific information from the database.

15. A pharmacy network system comprising an application server connected to a network server, an intranet server, and a database, the application server configured to store and execute computer executable instructions to search for a pharmacy store location, the computer executable instructions comprising instructions to:

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

display to the customer via the website at least one of a prescription order selection or a pharmacy data access selection;

display one or more prescription order displays to the customer via the website when the customer selects the prescription order selection;

receive from the customer a particular prescription order via a communication network that connects a plurality of member pharmacies; and

determine a pharmacy store location based on at least one of;

i) if the store location is a drive through store location;

ii) if the store location is within a search radius to the customers.

16. The pharmacy store locator of claim 15, the computer executable instructions comprising further instructions to format display of shipping preferences 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.

17. The pharmacy store locator of claim 15, the computer executable instructions comprising further instructions to allow each respective one of the one or more customers to print each particular selectable display format of the driving directions that is selected by the respective one of the one or more customers.

18. The pharmacy store locator of claim 15, the computer executable instructions comprising further instructions to allow each respective one of the one or more customers to select a store to view more details concerning the store.

19. The pharmacy store locator of claim 15, the computer executable instructions comprising further instructions to search the database to determine the pharmacy store location based on whether the store location is a 24 hour store location.

20. The pharmacy store locator of claim 15, the computer executable instructions comprising further instructions to retrieve driving instructions corresponding to the store location.