Method of dispensing pharmaceuticals

• US 8,666,758 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2004
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnicare Incorporated (CVS Health Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Omnicare Incorporated (CVS Health Corporation)
• Inventors: DiMaggio, John P., Potts-Hozlock, Mary Edith, Weiss, Thomas Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Najarian, Lena
• Application Number:
  US10/949,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20050187791A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,448 Days
• Field of Search: 705/2, 705/3
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

A method for electronically assisting in dispensing pharmaceuticals to long-term patient care facilities is provided. The method includes entering data associated with a prescription order into a system including an intervention database. Based on features of the order, an intervention from the intervention database is associated with the order, the intervention being associated with a route through the system. Data associated with the prescription order is routed along the route associated with the intervention.

Claims

1. A method for electronically assisting in dispensing pharmaceuticals to patient care facilities, the method comprising:

receiving a prescription order;

conducting a triage data entry on the prescription order, the triage data entry comprising the steps of;

determining if an intervention is associated with the prescription order, the intervention being clinical or non-clinical;

if there is no associated intervention, proceeding to order entry;

if there is an associated intervention, determining if the intervention is clinical or non-clinical, and if it is clinical, resolving the intervention with the assistance of a pharmacist and then proceeding to order entry;

if the intervention is non-clinical, passing the prescription order to a further work station for resolution of the non-clinical intervention, and once resolved, then proceeding to order entry;

conducting the order entry on the prescription order by entering data associated with the prescription order into a computer system including an intervention database;

based on features of the order, associating with the order an intervention from the intervention database, the intervention being associated with a route through the system; and

routing data associated with the prescription order along the route associated with the intervention;

wherein the intervention includes an identifier that identifies a route through the system, further comprising;

checking the prescription order, the step of checking comprising comparing the prescription order to the entered data;

once the prescription order is checked, generating a prescription label to be placed on a prescription medication in accordance with the prescription order, the prescription label including a first barcode identifying the medication, the patient and the patient care facility;

thereafter verifying the type and quantity of product identified in the prescription order, said step of verifying comprising;

scanning the first barcode and a second barcode disposed on the prescription medication to determine that the prescription medication is in conformity with the prescription order; and

if the first and second barcodes agree, placing the prescription medication in a delivery tote for delivery to the patient care facility; and

if not, redirecting the prescription medication for further review;

the delivery tote having a third barcode identifying the patient care facility, and if the first and second barcodes agree, scanning the third barcode to determine that the prescription order is correctly associated with the delivery tote.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is in the form of a numeric code.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the system comprises at least two networked computers.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of routing data associated with the prescription order comprises routing data associated with the prescription order from a first computer to a second computer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the data associated with the prescription order is entered into the system using a computer.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising verifying that the data entered is consistent with the associated prescription order.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising generating an electronic edit list for use in the step of verifying.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising tracking the order using barcode technology.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

based on the data, detecting discontinuation of medication to a patient; and

associating an intervention with the order if discontinuation of medication is detected.

10. A computer implemented process for dispensing pharmaceuticals to patient care facilities, the process comprising:

conducting a triage data entry on each prescription order of a batch of new prescription orders, comprising the steps of;

determining if an intervention is associated with each prescription order, the intervention being clinical or non-clinical;

if there is no associated intervention, proceeding to order entry;

if there is an associated intervention, determining if the intervention is clinical or non-clinical, and if it is clinical, resolving the intervention with the assistance of a pharmacist and then proceeding to order entry;

if the intervention is non-clinical passing the prescription order to a further work station for resolution of the non-clinical intervention, and once resolved, then proceeding to order entry;

conducting the order entry on each prescription order by entering data relating to the batch of new prescription orders into fields of a computer system, the fields receiving data relating to a pre-selected set of features of respective new prescription orders;

classifying the new prescription orders of the batch into a first class of new prescription orders and a second class of new prescription orders based on the data entered;

routing data associated with the first class of new prescription orders along a first route through the computer system; and

routing data associated with the second class of new prescription orders along a second route through the computer system, the second route being different than the first route,

wherein the first class of new prescription orders consists of new prescription orders having an associated clinical intervention; and

wherein the second class of new prescription orders comprises new prescription orders having an associated non-clinical intervention; and

further

wherein each intervention includes an identifier that identifies a route through the system;

further comprising;

checking the prescription order, the step of checking comprising comparing the prescription order to the entered data;

once the prescription order is checked, generating a prescription label to be placed on a prescription medication in accordance with the prescription order, the prescription label including a first barcode identifying the medication, the patient and the patient care facility;

thereafter verifying the type and quantity of product identified in the prescription order, said step of verifying comprising;

scanning the first barcode and a second barcode disposed on the prescription medication to determine that the prescription medication is in conformity with the prescription order; and

if the first and second barcodes agree, placing the prescription medication in a delivery tote for delivery to the patient care facility; and

if not, redirecting the prescription medication for further review;

the delivery tote having a third barcode identifying the patient care facility, and if the first and second barcodes agree, scanning the third barcode to determine that the prescription order is correctly associated with the delivery tote.

11. The process of claim 10, wherein the step of entering data is performed by a pharmacist.

12. The process of claim 10 further comprising determining whether to associate with respective new prescription orders one or more interventions based on the data.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising detecting discontinuation of medication to a patient.

14. The process of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first and second classes of new prescription orders consists of new prescription orders having no associated intervention.

15. The process of claim 10, wherein the step of entering data includes entering a note into the computer system, the note being associated with a respective new prescription order.

16. The process of claim 15, wherein the step of routing data associated with the first class of new prescription orders includes routing the note associated with the respective new prescription order.