PHARMACY WORKFLOW

• US 20140278466A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: CVS Pharmacy Incorporated (CVS Health Corporation)
• Original Assignee: CVS Pharmacy Incorporated (CVS Health Corporation)
• Inventors: Simmons, Peter D., Danko, Lorna A.
• Application Number:
  US13/836,820
• Publication Number:
  US 20140278466A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

A method for managing workflow in a pharmacy includes receiving a pharmaceutical prescription and assigning to it a priority and a time at which the prescription is to be filled. The prescription and assigned information are entered into a first “triage queue”; high-priority prescriptions are selected from this queue for filling. These prescriptions may then be entered into a second “production queue.”

Claims

1. A method for managing workflow in a pharmacy, the method comprising:

receiving electronic data comprising a pharmaceutical prescription;

storing the electronic data in a computer memory;

assigning to the received pharmaceutical prescription, based on the electronic data, (i) a priority and (ii) a time at which the prescription is to be filled;

selecting a prescription having the highest priority from a plurality of prescriptions; and

indicating, to a user, via an electronic display, that the selected prescription is to be filled by the time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic data comprises an online data transmission, fax, or voicemail.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the prescription comprises entering the received prescription into a triage queue comprising other prescriptions.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning the time comprises computing the time based on a type of drug indicated in the prescription.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the drugs are typed as acute or maintenance, and wherein acute drugs have a time occurring earlier than maintenance drugs.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning the time comprises computing the time based on a channel from which the prescription was received.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning the time comprises applying a time communicated from a customer or third party.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving prescriptions from in-store drop-off, drive-through drop-off, or a prescriber telephone call.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected prescription comprises an issue preventing its filling and is assigned a new priority or time.

10. A system for managing workflow in a pharmacy, the system comprising:

an input port for receiving data comprising a pharmaceutical prescription;

a processor for executing instructions stored in a computer memory, the computer memory comprising;

i. a queue manager module for assigning to the prescription, based on the received data, (i) a priority and (ii) a time at which the prescription is to be filled;

ii. a triage queue for storing a plurality of pending prescriptions each having a priority and a time at which it is to be filled;

iii. a production queue for receiving, from the triage queue, a highest-priority prescription; and

a computer display for indicating, to a user, that the received prescription is to be filled by its assigned time.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the computer memory further comprises a verification queue for indicating which of a plurality of filled prescriptions is to be verified for correctness.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising a terminal for entering the data comprising the prescription.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the priority queue comprises a triage time indicating a time at which the prescription leaves the triage queue.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein assigning the time comprises computing the time based on a type of drug indicated in the prescription.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the drugs are typed as acute or maintenance, and wherein acute drugs have a time occurring earlier than maintenance drugs.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising a storage device for storing information related to the types of drugs.