Automated pharmacy

• US 6,202,923 B1
• Filed: 08/23/1999
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Innovation Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Innovation Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Boyer, James P., Boyer, Joseph H., Bennett, William S.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US09/379,891
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/383, 235/385, 364/479-1-4, 364/479-6-4, 364/479-1-4, 364/478-7-4, 364/478.01, 221/75, 221/7, 221/2, 221/13, 221/200, 221/258, 53/53--55
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/66 Trinkets, e.g. shirt buttons or jewellery items recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

A method and an automated pharmacy system to alleviate the risk posed by a queue of printed labels for prescription vials that occurs at the printer. The method and system eliminate the need for physically transferring paperwork from one site (the imaging station) to another site (the filling station). Elimination of the physical transferring step smooths the flow of the dispensing operation, and hence, improves the throughput of the automated pharmacy, and further, helps to prevent the association of the wrong paperwork with a given prescription.

Claims

1. A system for operating a pharmacy, comprising:

a data entry workstation for processing data relating to a prescription for medication, said data entry workstation having means for generating a prescription number associated with said prescription;

means for introducing said prescription to said data entry workstation;

a filling workstation operatively connected to said data entry workstation for dispensing a drug type into a container;

means disposed at said data entry workstation for sending said data and said prescription number to said filling workstation; and

a printer, operatively connected to said filling workstation, for printing a label to be affixed to said container.

2. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

i) means for generating an original prescription image;

ii) a display on which said original prescription appears; and

iii) a checking workstation at which a pharmacist checks the filled container against said data and an image on said display of the appropriate drug type in order to validate that the correct prescription has been dispensed.

3. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 2, further comprising means for preventing label printing until said prescription is ready to be filled at said filling workstation.

4. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 3, wherein said checking workstation comprises a digital camera for transmitting an image of said container and its contents thereto for archival purposes.

5. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 1, wherein said data entry workstation comprises means for generating a code representative of said prescription number.

6. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 5, wherein said code comprises a barcode.

7. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 1, wherein said container is a vial.

8. A system for operating a pharmacy, comprising:

a data entry workstation for processing data relating to a prescription for medication, said data entry workstation having means for generating a prescription number associated with said prescription;

means for introducing said prescription to said data entry workstation;

a filling workstation operatively connected to said data entry workstation for dispensing a drug type into a container; and

a printer, operatively connected to said filling workstation, for printing a label to be affixed to said container.

9. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 8, further comprising:

i) means for generating an original prescription image;

ii) a display on which said original prescription appears; and

iii) a checking workstation at which a pharmacist checks the filled container against said data and an image on said display of the appropriate drug type in order to validate that the correct prescription has been dispensed.

10. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 8, wherein said data entry workstation comprises means for generating a code representative of a prescription number.

11. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 8, further comprising a counseling workstation for providing information to a customer.

12. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 8, further comprising a point-of-sale (POS) workstation for providing a filled prescription to a customer and for receiving payment therefor.

13. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 10, wherein said code comprises a barcode.

14. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 9, further comprising means for preventing label printing until said prescription is ready to be filled at said filling workstation.

15. A method of operating a pharmacy, comprising the steps of:

a) associating a prescription number or a code representative thereof with a prescription;

b) proximate a filling workstation, printing a label comprising said prescription number or said code representative thereof;

c) affixing said printed label to a container; and

d) using said prescription number or said code representative thereof to control dispensing of a drug type into said container.

16. The method in accordance with claim 15, wherein said dispensing control step (d) further comprises the step of:

i) verifying that said information disposed on said label corresponds to said drug type to be dispensed.

17. The method in accordance with claim 15, further comprising the step of:

e) verifying that the drug type disposed in said container is correct in accordance with said prescription number or said code representative thereof and in accordance with said original prescription.

18. The method in accordance with claim 17, wherein said label printing step (b) comprises printing additional information on said label and verifying the accuracy thereof.

19. The method in accordance with claim 17, wherein said verifying step (e) further comprises the step of:

i) comparing said drug type in said container with an image of the correct drug type in accordance with said prescription number or said code representative thereof.

20. The method in accordance with claim 15, wherein said prescription number or said code representative thereof comprises a barcode.

21. The method in accordance with claim 16, wherein said dispensing control step (d) further comprises the step of:

ii) using an algorithm to control dispensing means to dispense a proper quantity and size of drug type for filling said container.

22. A method of operating a pharmacy, comprising the steps of:

a) associating a prescription number or a code representative thereof with a prescription;

b) proximate a filling workstation, printing a label comprising said prescription number or said code representative thereof;

c) affixing said printed label to a container; and

d) using said prescription number or said code representative thereof as a control for dispensing a drug type into said container.

23. The method in accordance with claim 22, wherein said step (d) further comprises the step of:

i) verifying that said information disposed on said label corresponds to said drug type to be dispensed.

24. The method in accordance with claim 22, further comprising the step of:

e) verifying that the drug type disposed in said container is correct in accordance with said prescription number or said code representative thereof and in accordance with said original prescription.

25. The method in accordance with claim 24, wherein said label printing step (b) comprises printing additional information on said label and verifying the accuracy thereof.

26. A pharmacy management system for operating a pharmacy, comprising:

a data entry workstation for processing data relating to a prescription for medication;

means for introducing said prescription to said data entry workstation;

a filling workstation at which a drug type is dispensed into a container; and

a printer, operatively connected to said filling workstation, for printing a label to be affixed to said container.

27. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 26, further comprising:

i) means for generating an original prescription image;

ii) a display on which an image of said original prescription appears; and

iii) a checking workstation at which a pharmacist checks the filled container against said data in order to validate that the correct prescription has been dispensed.

28. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 26, wherein said data entry workstation comprises means for generating a code representative of a prescription number.

29. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 26, further comprising a counseling workstation for providing information to a customer or to a pharmacist for purposes of counseling said customer.

30. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 26, further comprising a point-of-sale (POS) workstation for providing a filled prescription to a customer and for receiving payment therefor.

31. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 28, wherein said code comprises a barcode.

32. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 27, further comprising means for preventing label printing until said prescription is ready to be filled at said filling workstation.

33. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 26, further comprising a counseling workstation and a second printer for printing patient information.

34. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 33, wherein said second printer is adapted to print auxiliary labels.

35. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 26, wherein said data entry workstation is adapted to receive electronically transmitted prescriptions from physicians or from other pharmacies or from other sources holding prescriptions for at least one predetermined patient.

36. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 26, further comprising an electrical switching device for switching peripheral equipment from said pharmacy management system computer to any of said workstations and from any of said workstations to said pharmacy management system computer.

37. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 33, wherein any of said workstations comprises a software display window for emulating a terminal into said pharmacy management system.

38. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 26, further comprising a point-of-sale terminal comprising a barcode reader for identifying prescriptions for which payment is to be made.

39. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 38, wherein said point-of-sale terminal further comprises a signature pad for recording an image of the signature of a patient.

40. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 27, wherein said means for introducing said prescription image comprises a digital camera.

41. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 33, further comprising a display operatively connected to one of said workstations for displaying a list of prescriptions to be filled, said list of prescriptions being presented in the order in which said prescriptions are to be filled.

42. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 41, wherein said order of said list of prescriptions may be modified by an operator.

43. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 26, further comprising a database server for accepting database entries and changes thereto from any of said workstations, and for providing data thereto, upon request.

44. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 26, in which a pharmacist may perform a drug utilization review, an adjudication with an insurance company or HMO, a formulary drug substitution, a price check, or other pharmacy management system function.

45. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 26, further comprising means for accessing the Internet for tutorial material to be provided to a patient.

46. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 26, further comprising means for screening the blood pressure of a patient and recording the results thereof in a database record for said patient.

47. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 26, further comprising means for videoconferencing with third parties for obtaining information useful to a patient.

48. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 27, further comprising means for allowing a patient to view said display to verify that a prescription, as dispensed, contains correct medication.

49. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 27, wherein said display is also adapted to display recipes or instructions for compounding drugs or reconstituting drugs.

50. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 33, wherein said counseling workstation further comprises a signature pad for recording an image of the signature of a patient.

51. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 33, wherein any of said workstations stores a database of patient information, prescriptions and medication.

52. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 33, further comprising a database server for storing a database of patient information, prescriptions and medication.

53. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 26, further comprising a display on which said data and an image of said prescription appears.

54. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 26, further comprising a display on which said data and an image of a drug type appears.

55. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 26, further comprising means to allow any workstation to do the work of any other workstation.

56. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 27, further comprising a display at the checking workstation displaying a clinical description in words of the drug called for in the prescription being checked.

57. The system for operating a pharmacy in accordance with claim 56, further comprising a display at the checking workstation displaying a clinical description in words, said clinical description comprising the size, type, shape, color, and markings of the medication being checked.