Prescription management system

• US 8,639,554 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2009
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Express Scripts Strategic Development, Inc. (The Cigna Group)
• Original Assignee: Medco Health Solutions Incorporated (The Cigna Group)
• Inventors: Helmus, Scott M., Rosen, Donna L., Bressman, Leo H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rines, David
• Application Number:
  US12/372,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20090164254A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,806 Days
• Field of Search: 705/2, 705/3
• US Class Current: 705/7.26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients

Abstract

An imaging and workflow method, system, computer readable medium and user interface for processing information efficiently for the processing of medical prescription orders. The system includes support for document scanning, automated rules-based order processing, statistical reporting, document generation and document storage and retrieval. The present invention takes advantage of imaging technology to assist the user in scanning information into the system and software modules to improve the processing of orders. The present invention also includes database tables that identify to application processing logic the types and sequences of actions to be implemented for orders.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a computer processor;

a display connected to the computer processor to display order images associated with a medical prescription order;

an order receiving module executable by the computer processor to receive the medical prescription order;

an image quality control processing module, executable by the computer processor, to determine whether the medical prescription order requires conversion to an image, to monitor the quality of captures of the order images, and to selectively accept and/or reject the order images captured by a scanner responsive to monitored image quality;

an order header processing module executable by the computer processor to review and receive non-clinical data associated with the medical prescription order;

an order completion processing module executable by the computer processor to receive and review clinical data associated with the medical prescription order;

a protocol resolution processing module executable by the computer processor to resolve applicable protocols associated with the medical prescription order; and

a command and control processing module to monitor and determine whether the medical prescription order remains in any one of a plurality of system queues longer than a predefined value.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a print prescription order label set module executable by the computer processor;

a product dispensing module executable by the computer processor;

a product verification module by the computer processor;

a product packing module executable by the computer processor;

an auto manifest module executable by the computer processor to create a shipping manifest associated with a patient, the patient being associate with the medical prescription order; and

a shipping module executable by the computer processor.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an order completion module to process prescription elements including the order images captured by a process, verify data associated with the medical prescription order against imaged documents, and prevent any further updates upon verification;

a printing module to receive the prescription elements from the order completion module and to print the prescription elements on labels for prescription containers; and

an order dispensing station for dispensing drugs into the prescription containers when the order completion module verifies the correctness of all associated prescription elements and transmits the prescription elements to an order dispensing station.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a scanner connected to the computer processor to scan documents associated with medical prescription order.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the non-clinical data includes the number of prescriptions included in medical prescription order, the prescription classification of the medical prescription order, a member number of a member associated with the medical prescription order, an amount and type of payment associated with the medical prescription order, the prescriber name of the medical prescription order, and a prescription issue date of the medical prescription order.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the clinical data includes drug information, drug strength, drug usage directions, number of allowed refills, quantity of medication to dispense, and dosage per day.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the command and control processing module is configured to use routing logic rules to determine a pharmacy that will dispense drugs associated with the medical prescription order.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the application protocols include a prescription drug mismatch protocol, a drug interaction protocol, a refill too soon protocol, and a doctor call protocol.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein receipt and review of the non-clinical data associated with the medical prescription order by the order header processing module includes:

verifying a total number of prescriptions present in the medical prescription order;

reviewing each prescription of the medical prescription order to ensure assignment to a correct prescription classification;

verifying the medical prescription order has been assigned to a correct benefit plan member number, group number, and sub-group number;

verifying an amount and type of payment;

verifying a number of times a prescription of the medical prescription order is to be renewed or refilled;

verifying a prescriber name associated with the medical prescription order;

verifying a patient name associated with the medical prescription order; and

verifying the prescription issue date of each prescription of the medical prescription order.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein receipt and review of the clinical data associated with the medical prescription order by the order completion processing module includes:

reviewing drug information associated with the medical prescription order for correctness;

reviewing drug indicated strength associated with the medical prescription order for correctness; and

reviewing directions for drug usage associated with the medical prescription order for correctness.