System and method for verifying and assembling a multiple prescription package

• US 8,266,878 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2007
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edge Medical Properties, LLC
• Original Assignee: Edge Medical Properties, LLC
• Inventors: Luciano, Robert A. Jr., Baker, Leslie, Luciano, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong, Thanh
• Application Number:
  US11/923,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20080312957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,791 Days
• Field of Search: 531/54, 534/93, 534/73, 533/96, 221/92, 221/123, 221/124, 221/133, 705/2, 235/375, 700/216, 700/219, 700/244
• US Class Current: 53/473
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0069 Trays for holding or distributing medicines display trays A47F3/14; serving trays A47G23/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0454 for dispensing of multiple drugs
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/103 for packaging pills or tablets
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2577/2083 in container flange
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/36 one sheet or blank being recessed and the other formed of relatively stiff flat sheet material, e.g. blister packages , the recess or recesses being preformed B65D73/0057, B65D73/0092 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/527 Tear-lines for separating a package into individual packages B65D1/30, B65D21/0206, B65D75/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/5888 Tear-lines for removing successive sections of a package for separating package into individual packages B65D75/527
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

A method for verifying a multiple prescription order having a plurality of different medications is described. The method comprises receiving a prescription order that includes a first medication that is different from a second medication. Additionally, the prescription order indicates that the first medication and second medication are to be taken at regular intervals. After entering the prescription order into a graphical user interface, the method verifies the entered prescription order by comparing the entered prescription order to the multiple prescription order. Multiple prescription packages are generated that combines the first medication and second medication in the same package that are intended to be taken at the prescribed interval. Each multiple prescription package is then inspected, and a verification process is initiated that confirms that the first medication and second medication are within each multiple prescription package. The multiple prescription packages are then placed into a container that is sealed.

Claims

1. A method for verifying a filled prescription order for a plurality of different medications, said method comprising:

enabling a pharmacy management system to receive a digitized copy of a prescription order;

generating a verified multiple prescription order at the pharmacy management system, wherein the verified multiple prescription order is associated with a particular patient, the verified multiple prescription order comprising a plurality of medications including a first medication that is different from a second medication, wherein the first medication and second medication are configured to be taken by the patient at a same time;

generating a patient bar code associated with the particular patient, said patient bar code comprising of patient information such as patient'"'"'s name, patient'"'"'s address or patient'"'"'s date of birth;

producing a plurality of labels with a printer coupled to a computer, the labels associated with the prescription order;

validating the plurality of labels by comparing the labels to the multiple prescription order;

generating a multiple prescription order label bar code disposed on at least one label that is associated with the multiple prescription order, said multiple prescription order label bar code comprising of prescription information such as types of medications in the order, amounts of medication or dosage information;

receiving the verified multiple prescription order at a filling system;

generating a plurality of packages at the filling system, the plurality of packages configured to hold the first medication and the second medication in each package of the plurality of packages;

counting a number of medications dispensed in each package with a sensor after the medications have been dispensed;

generating a package bar code that is associated with at least one of the plurality of packages;

applying one of the labels and at least one of the bar codes to at least one secondary package configured for dispensing the packages;

placing the packages into the secondary package; and

scanning each of the bar codes to verify that the correct plurality of packages, the secondary package and labels are associated with the correct prescription.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising labeling the secondary package to indicate a same time for consuming the medications.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the same time for consuming the medications is selected from the group consisting of:

morning, noon, evening, bedtime, AM and PM.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising verifying a tablet ID.

5. A system for verifying a filled prescription order for a plurality of different medications, comprising:

a pharmacy management system configured to receive and verify a digitized copy of a prescription order to produce a verified multiple prescription order that is associated with a particular patient, the verified multiple prescription order having a first medication that is different from a second medication, wherein the first medication and second medication are to be taken by the patient at a same time, the pharmacy management system further comprising;

a patient bar code associated with the particular patient, said patient bar code comprising of patient information such as patient'"'"'s name, patient'"'"'s address or patient'"'"'s date of birth;

a printer coupled to a computer that is configured to produce a plurality of labels associated with the verified multiple prescription order, the labels validated by comparison to the multiple prescription order;

a multiple prescription order label bar code disposed on at least one label associated with the verified multiple prescription order said multiple prescription order label bar code comprising of prescription information such as types of medications in the order, amounts of medication or dosage information;

a filling system that receives the verified multiple prescription order from the pharmacy management system, the filling system includes,

a plurality of packages configured to receive the first medication and the second medication in each package of the plurality of packages,

a sensor configured to count a number of medications dispensed in each package after the medications have been dispensed;

a package bar code associated with at least one of the plurality of packages,

at least one secondary package configured to dispense the plurality of packages, the at least one-secondary package having one of the labels applied; and

a means for scanning each package bar code to verify that the correct plurality of packages, the secondary package and labels are associated with a correctly filled verified multiple prescription order.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the at least one secondary package includes a label indicating a same time for consuming the medications.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the same time for consuming the medications is selected from the group consisting of:

morning, noon, evening, bedtime, AM and PM.

8. The system of claim 5 further comprising a tablet ID that is verified.

9. A system for verifying a filled prescription order for a plurality of different medications, comprising:

a means for pharmacy management that includes,

a digitized copy of a prescription order,

a means for receiving a verified multiple prescription order that is associated with a particular patient, the verified multiple prescription order having a first medication that is different from a second medication, wherein the first medication and second medication are configured to be taken by the patient at a same time,

a patient bar code associated with the particular patient, said patient bar code comprising of patient information such as patient'"'"'s name, patient'"'"'s address or patient'"'"'s date of birth;

a printer coupled to a computer that is configured to produce a plurality of labels associated with the prescription order, the labels validated by comparison to the multiple prescription order,

a multiple prescription order label bar code disposed on at least one label associated with the multiple prescription order, said multiple prescription order label bar code comprising of prescription information such as types of medications in the order, amounts of medication or dosage information;

a filling means that receives the verified multiple prescription order form the pharmacy management means, the filling means includes,

a plurality of packages configured to receive the first medication and the second medication in each package of the plurality of packages,

a sensor configured to count a number of medications dispensed in each package after the medications have been dispensed;

a package bar code associated with at least one of the plurality of packages,

at least one secondary package configured to receive the plurality of packages, the at least one secondary package having one of the labels applied; and

a means for scanning each of the bar codes to verify that the correct plurality of packages, the secondary package and labels are associated with the correct prescription.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the at least one secondary package includes a label indicating a same time for consuming the medications.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the same time for consuming the medications is selected from the group consisting of:

morning, noon, evening, bedtime, AM and PM.

12. The system of claim 9 further comprising a tablet ID that is verified.