Method and system for electronic assistance in dispensing pharmaceuticals

• US 8,831,775 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2003
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Karmis, Stefanos
• Assistant Examiner(s): Butler, Michael E
• Application Number:
  US10/610,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20050004700A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,087 Days
• Field of Search: 700/237, 700/244
• US Class Current: 700/244
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

A system and method for electronic assistance in dispensing pharmaceuticals, utilizing software, hardware and barcode technology to yield error free, clinically correct, adjudicated prescriptions. The system is adaptive to the preferences of an authorized user, by being configurable on the basis of when and what type of warnings are given in particular circumstances, based on entries in a field, and whether the order can proceed. Additionally, the invention allows for automated and electronically assisted refilling of orders. The invention allows for tracking and monitoring of prescription orders through barcode labeling and scanning.

Claims

1. A method for electronically assisting in dispensing a refill of a prescription comprising the steps of:

establishing an automatic refill date for a prescription refill order;

automatically entering data for said prescription refill order on said automatic refill date by said system;

automatically performing checks on said data entered for said prescription refill order and determining if any clinical warnings and financial warnings exist, and if any interventions are required on said automatic refill date by said system;

automatically generating a report listing all prescription refill orders said system selects to fill;

automatically generating a report listing all prescription refill orders that did not pass all checks;

allowing a user to reprocess and edit said reports so that the list of prescription refill orders contained therein are selected to be filled by said system;

indicating to said system, by said user, that said list of prescription refill orders is ready to be refilled; and

automatically refilling said prescription refill orders on said list, and storing information pertaining to said prescription refill orders, and displaying next time said prescription refill orders are due to be refilled.

2. A method for electronically assisting in dispensing a refill of a prescription comprising the steps of:

entering a prescription number of a prescription refill order into a system;

performing checks on said prescription refill order and determining if any clinical warnings and financial warnings exist, and if any interventions are required;

determining with the assistance of the system if there are no said clinical warnings and no said financial warnings, and no said interventions are required in response to the checks;

implementing a course of action, including to cause an investigation related to any of said warnings and said interventions with the assistance of the system; and

refilling said prescription refill order, and storing information pertaining to said prescription refill order into said system, and adjusting a number of fills field in said system if no said clinical warnings exist and no said financial warnings exist, and if no said interventions are required, wherein the number of fills field represents the remaining number of refills available for the prescription refill order;

and further comprising the steps of;

determining if said prescription refill order has a stop date that is beyond its refill date if said system determines that said prescription refill order has been discontinued;

allowing to be refilled said prescription refill order if said system determines that said prescription refill order has a said stop date that is beyond its said refill date, but defaulting the days supply to the number of days remaining until said prescription refill order is due to stop; and

stopping the said prescription refill order if said system determines that said prescription refill order does not have a said stop date that is beyond its said refill date.

3. A method for electronically assisting in dispensing a refill of a prescription comprising the steps of:

entering a prescription number of a prescription refill order into a system;

performing checks on said prescription refill order and determining if any clinical warnings and financial warnings exist, and if any interventions are required;

determining with the assistance of the system if there are no said clinical warnings and no said financial warnings, and no said interventions are required in response to the checks;

implementing a course of action, including to cause an investigation related to any of said warnings and said interventions with the assistance of the system; and

refilling said prescription refill order, and storing information pertaining to said prescription refill order into said system, and adjusting a number of fills field in said system if no said clinical warnings exist and no said financial warnings exist, and if no said interventions are required, wherein the number of fills field represents the remaining number of refills available for the prescription refill order;

and further comprising the step of;

entering said prescription number into said system using a barcode scanning apparatus.

4. A method for electronic assistance in dispensing a refill of a prescription comprising the steps of:

entering a prescription number of a prescription refill order into a system;

performing checks on said prescription refill order and determining if any clinical warnings and financial warnings exist, and if any interventions are required;

determining with the assistance of the system if there are no said clinical warnings and no said financial warnings, and no said interventions are required in response to the checks;

implementing a course of action, including putting said prescription refill order on hold in case any of said clinical warnings and said financial warnings exist, and if said interventions are required; and

automatically refilling said prescription refill order, and storing information pertaining to said prescription refill order, and adjusting number of fills field in said system if no said clinical warnings exist and no said financial warnings exist, and if no said interventions are required, wherein the number of fills field represents the remaining number of refills available for the prescription refill order;

wherein;

entering said prescription number into said system using a barcode scanning apparatus.