`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2004/0019794 A1
`Moradi et al.
`(43) Pub. Date: Jan. 29, 2004
`
`
`US 20040019794A1
`
`(54) METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DELIVERING
`PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE
`
`(76)
`
`Inventors: Ahmad Moradi, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
`(US); Donald Smiith, Fountain Valley,
`CA (US); Farshad R. Abadi, Ft.
`Lauderdale, FL (US)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`FLEIT KAIN GIBBONS GUTMAN &
`BONGINI
`COURVOISIER CENTRE II, SUITE 404
`601 BRICKELL KEY DRIVE
`MIAMI, FL 33131 (US)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`10/207,402
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Jul. 29, 2002
`
`fol—0
`
`Publication Classification
`
`Int. Cl.7 ....................................................... H04L 9/32
`(51)
`(52) U.S.Cl.
`........................... 713/185; 713/202; 382/115
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A system for securely providing prescription medication to
`patients. The system accepts prescriptions that are submitted
`from either a physician’s office or by the patient at a Kiosk.
`An electronic image of the prescription is created by scan-
`ning and is electronically communicated to a central server.
`The prescription is validated by the server and a point of
`delivery, such as a pharmacy is selected based upon the
`patient’s location. The prescription image is then transferred
`to the point of delivery and the prescribed medicine is
`delivered to the patient. A confirmation of delivery is then
`communicated back to the central server.
`
`/— 302
`
`
`Physician
`Completes
`
`
`Prescription Form
`
`
`K— 306
`
`Enter Patient
`
`
`Registration ID
`
`
`\.
`
`
`Physician's Office Scans
`
`304
`/Patient \\/'
`and Submits Prescription,
`
`then Adds Stamp to image
`
`
`\Registy,
`r- 308
`
`
`
`Register Patient
`
`Transmit Scan to
`
`
`CSS
`
`Kiosk scans and
`Patient Submits
`
`
`
`stamps
`Prescription at
`Kiosk
`
`
`Prescription
`
`Find Pharmacy
`
`and Relay
`
`Prescription
`
`
`
`Verify Prescription
`at POD
`
`316
`
`
`Give Ordered Medicine to
`Delivery Person for Hand
`Delivery
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Delivery Person Returns with Patient‘s
`
`
`Signature, Stamps Prescription
`Signifying Delivery, Update POD
`System
`
`
`Route to Admin Office for
`Further Action
`
`PAR103O
`
`CBM of US. Patent No. 7,668,730
`Page 1 of 31
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`Page 1 of 31
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 1 0f 12
`
`US 2004/0019794 A1
`
`FIG. 1
`
`
`
`
`
`Point Of Care (POC)
`Ph sician's Office or Kiosk
`y
`
`104
`J
`
`&
`
`New & Refill
`Prescription
`
`110
`
`
`
`120
`
`was
`
`
`
`
`VOiCG
`Respone
`
`
`Interactive
`
`Central Service Station
`
`(CSS)
`
`102
`
`—/
`
`/
`
`New & Refill
`Prescription
`
`114
`_/
`.
`.
`Prescription
`
`
`__A/
`
`
`
`Profile
`112 / Orders
`
` K
`
`Point Of Delivery (POD)
`Pharmacy
`
`106
`
`108
`
`Patient Profile Program (PPP)
`
`PAR1030
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 2 0f 12
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`US 2004/0019794 A1
`
`20
`
`K214(- 212 r218 K216
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`PODP
`
`POCP
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`iii i
`
`AT-P
`
`Registration
`
`Logon
`Authentication
`
`
`K— 208
`
`
`
`
`
`Application
`Authorization
`
`Pharmacy for delivery)
`
`204
`
`CSS Database
`
`Pharmacy Router
`(Calculate nearest
`
`FIG. 2
`
`PAR1030
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 3 0f 12
`
`US 2004/0019794 A1
`
`00
`
`K 306
`
`
` Enter Patient
`Registration ID
`
`\
`
`
`Physician's Office Scans
`
` Physician
`
`and Submits Prescription,
`Patient
`304
`Completes
`then Adds Stamp to image
`
`
`
`Prescription Form
`figisterey/
`
`
`
`Register Patient
`
`Transmit Scan to
`
`C88
`
`Kiosk scans and
`Patient Submits
`
`
`stamps
`Prescription at
`Prescription
`
`
`
`Kiosk
`
`
`
`Find Pharmacy
`and Relay
`Prescription
`
`314
`
`
`
`
`
`Verify Prescription
`at POD
`
`
`Give Ordered Medicine to
`Delivery Person for Hand
`Delivery
`
`
`
`
`
`Route to Admin Office for
`
`
`Further Action
`
`320
`
`Delivery Person Returns with Patient's
`Signature, Stamps Prescription
`Signifying Delivery, Update POD
`System
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 3
`
`PAR1030
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 4 0f 12
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`US 2004/0019794 A1
`
`FIG. 4
`
`fl
`
`402
`
`404
`
`J
`
`406
`
`J
`
`PAR1030
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 5 0f 12
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`US 2004/0019794 A1
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`(37>
`
`502
`
`
`
`522
`
`
`
`
`
`Display patients
`Prescription profile for the
`last 60 days
`
`/is Refill Rx\x
`fin Profile?/
`\\|/” \
`Yes
`524
`
`504
`Patient
`receives J
`
`Prescription
`
`
`Patient Request
`506
`Prescription to be
`
`
`Filled by the
`System
`
`
`POC User Receives
`
`
`Patient‘s SSN, Send
`information to 033.
`retrieve patients profile
`
`
`
`
`508
`
`
`
`NO
`
`
`’ Existing
`
`Patient?
`
`
`
`The FCC user
`
`
`
`completes new
`
`
`patient form, Sends
`Info to 083, New
`
`Patient Record
`
`Created
`
`The POC user
`confirms the
`profile with the
`patient
`
`
`
`
`
`
`4” Scan Rx
`
`Determine
`
`
`Pharmacy, Save
`
`
`Patient Data with
`Pharmacy in CSS
`
`Database
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`V T
`
`he FCC user selects
`the rx to be refilled
`from the patient's rx
`profile
`
`
`
`
`\5
`
`26
`
`
`
`PAR103O
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`CBM of US. Patent No. 7,668,730
`Page 6 of 31
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`Page 6 of 31
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`
`
`The rx is saved to the
`
`CSS database
`
`
`
`
`
`536
`
`/
`
`
`/Is patients
`\pharmacy onlline?
`A
`538
`
`The rx is held in holding queue
`4b and a Customer Service Rep
`(CSR) is notified
`No
`
`
`
`
`
`
`‘,-_—_
`i, %The CSR can call the deSIgnated
`pharmacy or release rx to
`another pharmacy
`
`No
`
`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 6 0f 12
`
`US 2004/0019794 A1
`
`500
`
`securely transmit the scanned rx
`to the 083
`
`r
`530
`
` i The FCC userpressessend to
`
`
`
`
`
`532
`
`Is Order
`Authentic?//
`’
`
`No
`
`Yes
`j
`
`
`
`Alert lT Department of
`possible fraudulent Order
`
`”79—..—
`534
`
`
`
`540 —:
`
`
`
`/'
`
`542
`
`FIG. 5B
`
`)
`\
`/’/ \
`\.
`Designated
`pharmacy logs in?,/'
`,
`
`K—
`544
`
`
`/
`No
`/\\
`Yes /
`/CSR assigns new
`pharmacy to rx?
`
`Yes
`
`’
`
`Securely send rx to the
`/— CSS for the designated
`546
`pharmacy
`
`54s \//'
`
`PAR1030
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`Page 7 of 31
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 7 0f 12
`
`US 2004/0019794 A1
`
`00
`
`W6
`
`02
`
`
`The user starts up an
`application (PODP, POCP,
`Registration, etc).
`
`
`
`
`
` Prompt for
`username &
`
`password
`
`
`
`
`Send error message
`5 Login button
`
`
`back to user notifying
`pressed?
`
`
`
`them that their userame
`
`—\
`
` or pwd is invalid
`606
`
`”0
`
`Is Cancel
`bufion
`
`
`pressed?
` 610
`
`Yes
`
`Shutdown
`Application
`
`612
`
`
`
`
`Securely send username,
`pwd and Registration Key
`
`
`to 088 for Authentication
`
`
`
` ls user
`
`Authentic?A
`616
`
`
`
`)\
`{5 user
`
`Authorized to
`use app? \
`
`618
`
`Yes
`
`,,
`, v
`The application
`starts up and
`-
`awaits user
`
`input
`
`—
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Send
`
`> unauthorized
`
`“0 message back
`
`620
`to user
`7
`
`
`
`
`
`Shutdown
`
`
`APPNCEUOH
`622
`
`\6
`
`24
`
`PAR1030
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`CBM of US. Patent No. 7,668,730
`Page 8 of 31
`
`FIG. 6
`
`628
`
`
`
`
`Continue
`'
`'
`Application
`
`
`‘
`
`
`
`
`
`Page 8 of 31
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 8 0f 12
`
`US 2004/0019794 A1
`
`Start
`\___1
`
`Open System Web
`
`Page
`
`4’
`
`the Pharmacist
`The user clicke on
`Link then on
`
`\
`702
`
`7 0
`__
`
`FIG 7
`
`
`
`
`Regis ration
`
`\04
`
`Display
`Physiolan
`Registration
`Page
`
`
`Redirect user back \
`
`t0 .SyStem
`71 2
`Physrcran Page
`i
`
`Yes
`
`50 t
`on Inu\e
`
`g\\\
`
`// ,
`Display error
`.
`message with
`field In error
`
`\Pressed?fl
`pressed?é
`/A V
`710
`es
`Y
`
`
`
`<5BultonTB—No><CancelslButton\2
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`-
`Display error
`
`message wrlh
`
`
`
`field in error
`\
`724
`
`Client-side
`Validation? \/
`
`71 4
`Yes
`IL 720
`Securely send
`
`reglslraggrisdata to
`732
`
`Put this
`//
`"
`
`physician
`Display
`.
`
`
`
`record into the
`successful
`”N35? @2211?
`11
`Registration to
`physrcian
`e
`legr‘r:
`'
`
`
`
`
`user
`Registration
`0
`queue
`
`
`uccessfu
`
`4—4 Serveriside
`73D
`
`Validation?
`End
`>
`
`No
`
`722
`
`Save
`
`Physician info
`in CSS
`
`database
`
`
`726
`
`/
`
`PAR1030
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`CBM of US. Patent No. 7,668,730
`Page 9 of 31
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`
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`Page 9 of 31
`
`
`
`r
`
`
`
`The user clicks on
`
`
`
`the Patient Link
`
`then on
`
`Registration
`
`
`//IK\
`s
`AfiNOWHCEI Button/X
`t
`\{resserfl
`\/
`
`
`
`
`
`806
`
`Display Patient
`Registration
`Page, Enter Data
`
`804
`
`7 ,
`ls Continue
`QM)” pressefi/
`\ /\
`\i/
`808
`Yes
`
`/ Successful
`
`Client—side
`Validation?
`
`.
`
`Display
`error
`message
`Wlth field In
`error
`
`
`
`816
`
`T
`N07
`
`//4
`.
`Display error
`message with \
`field in error
`820
`
`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 9 0f 12
`
`US 2004/0019794 A1
`
`Start
`
`
`
`The user navigates
`to System Home
`
`Page
`
`Redirect user back
`to System Patient
`
`Page
`
`
`810
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`W YeSfl
`
`Securely send
`registration \
`data to CSS
`812
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`4essful
`
`
`No———/ Server-side
`Yes
`Validation?
`A
`818
`
`Save
`Patient Info
`
`in (:88
`database \
`
`
`822
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Put this
`
`
`patient
`Display
`Notify Admin of
`
`
`
`4|
`successful
`K— record into
`new
`
`Registration
`824
`the Patient
`Registration \
`
`
`
`Registration
`to user
`form
`
`queue
`828
`
`
`
`
`End
`
`FIG. 8
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`CBM of US. Patent
`
`PAR1030
`
`No. 7,668,730
`Page 10 of 31
`
`
`
`Page 10 of 31
`
`
`
`/
`
`messa e with
`
`\X
`K
`
`
`
`910
`/4JccessfuI\
`¢N04
`Client—side
`\ Validation? /
`\
`//
`\{/
`Yes
`
`0
`
`N
`
`#
`
`
`
`Info in CSS
`
`
`
`918
`Save J
`
`Pharmacist
`database
`
`
`920
`h' J
`
`PU“ '5:
`pharmaCIst
`record into the
`Pharmacist
`Registration
`queue
`
`
`
`
`
`Yes
`
`
`
`4
`
`91
`
`916
`
`
`
`
`Securely send
`registration
`data to 053
`922
`
`Display successful J
`
`
`3P.Net Registration
`to user
`
`
`/
`\
`fluccessfufi
`
`,/
`Server-side
`
`Notify Admin of new
`ValidatW
`Registration form
`
`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 10 0f 12
`
`US 2004/0019794 A1
`
`FIG. 9 w
`
`Start
`
`
`
`90
`
`
`
`928
`
`
`902
`Th
`
`
`
`navigeaLtggrto _/
`The user clicks on
`4
`.
`r
`the Pharmacist Link '47 the sys‘em 4—?
`
`then on RegIstratIon
`Home Page
`
`//L
`
`
`/
`Display Pharmacist
`Registration Page
`Enter Data
`
`906
`
`Redirect user
`
`
`back to
`Pharmacist
`
`page
`
`iYes
`\\\
`
`\ 926
`
`'5 \
`\\ 908
`Cancel Button
`Display error 92/
`'3 ContInue\{ No \ //
`field irgerror
`/
`Pressed?
`\Button pressed?
`\/
`/
`/
`
`30
`
`No
`1v9
`/1s/Search\\
`/Name Button
`\Pressed?
`
`N0
`/*\
`
`932
`
`ls Search \\
`NABP Button
`
`Pressed?n>
`\/
`
`\
`
`//
`
`924
`
`PAR103O
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`Page 11 of 31
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`Page 11 of 31
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`
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 11 0f 12
`
`US 2004/0019794 A1
`
`
`
`Rx Order
`for delivery
`is received
`from 088
`
`m
`
`K
`
`1010
`
`
`,,
`Securely retrieve and display
`any pending Rxs from the
`CSS for this pharmacy
`Acknowledgment
`
`is sent back to
`
`C88 that Rx Order
`was received
`
`C Start
`7
`
`1002
`
`1004
`J
`
`4
`
`fl,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`K1012
`
`NO
`
`
`
`The Phamtacy
`v
`1006
`..
`.2 Pharmacist r Processe: “)8
`
`
`Await Rx to
`Prints Rx and]
`R; ”m“ 9"
`10-24
`or presses 0k
`harmacy
`Process
`Mgmt System
`button
`
`‘ k
`L
`1022 K— The Pharmacy
`/i\ 1014
`/ Rx
`\x/
`fills the order
`and prepares it
`«
`selected for \
`
`for delivery
`\ rocessing?
`
`
`P\/
`Yes
`
`*
`Send Order
`Processing J
`Notification to
`C88
`
`
`1016
`
`
`
`
`
`l
`1018
`_ r/
`Update Rx in
`CSS database
`to “Processed"
`
`[
`
`1020
`
`Display details —/
`of Rx Order to
`pharmacist
`
`
`
`
`
`1026
`
`L
`The Rx is
`K delivered to
`1028
`the patient.
`,,
`
`Update Rx
`Status in css
`database to
`“Delivered"
`
`1030
`
`
`
`< End
`7
`
`FIG.1 0
`
`PAR1030
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`Page 12 of 31
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 12 0f 12
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`US 2004/0019794 A1
`
`NO
`
`Is Date Found
`
`Within Window?
`
`1104
`
`YES
`
`
`
`Notify Patient of
`Upcoming Refill
`
`Did Patient Order
`Refill?
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Transmit Order to
`
`Notify Physician of
`1112
`Decision not to Refill
` POD
`
`1110
`
`FIG. 11
`
`PAR1030
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`Page 13 of 31
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`Page 13 of 31
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`US 2004/0019794 A1
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`Jan. 29, 2004
`
`METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DELIVERING
`PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`[0001] Not Applicable
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0002]
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`[0003] This invention generally relates to the field of
`prescription delivery systems, and more particularly to the
`field of automated prescription handling.
`
`[0004]
`
`2. Description of the Related Art
`
`[0005] Delivery of prescription medication has changed
`little in recent times. Conventional prescription medication
`delivery begins by a prescription being first issued by a
`physician and then the patient is required to present that
`prescription to a pharmacist. The pharmacist then prepares
`the prescribed medication and delivers it to the patient. This
`process requires the patient to visit the pharmacist and to
`either wait at the pharmacist’s facility or to return to the
`pharmacist’s facility when the prescription is ready. This is
`often inconvenient for the patient.
`
`[0006] Delivery of prescription medication by mail is also
`possible. Current systems require the prescription to be
`provided to a pharmacy and the pharmacy then mails the
`medication. This technique has a delay in the initial fulfill-
`ment of a new prescription because the prescription is often
`mailed to the pharmacy, and there is also a delay in mailing
`the prescription. This technique is better used for prescrip-
`tion refills, including maintenance prescriptions that have
`routinely refilled prescriptions for medication for which the
`patient has a recurring therapeutic need. In the case of a refill
`prescription, there is usually time available to accommodate
`the delays of this technique. This technique is also open to
`fraud since the individual patient typically does not person—
`ally present his or her prescription to the pharmacy. This
`technique can also lead to an improper person receiving the
`prescription, such as when a child that is living with the
`recipient retrieves mail that contains the mailed prescription.
`
`[0007] Self service medication dispensing Kiosks have
`been developed that give a patient greater flexibility in the
`delivery of prescribed medication. These Kiosks often con-
`tain an inventory of hundreds to over one thousand different
`types of prescribed medication. These Kiosk distribution
`systems can operate in conjunction with a mail order or
`Internet based “Cyber” pharmacy where the patient sends
`his or her prescription to the pharmacist by mail or elec-
`tronically,
`including by facsimile or secure e-mail. The
`pharmacist
`then verifies the prescription and enters the
`prescription into a secure database that is used to authorize
`distribution of medication at one or more Kiosks. Some of
`these systems require the pharmacist to enter an identifica—
`tion to authenticate the pharmacist as a person authorized the
`distribute prescription medication. The patient that is to
`receive the prescribed medication is given a patient identi—
`fication that the patient provides at the Kiosk in order to
`receive the prescribed medication. The patient enters his or
`her patient
`identification into the Kiosk and the Kiosk
`accesses the secure database to determine if there is a
`prescription associated with that patient ID. If there is,
`
`instructions to dispense the medication are retrieved from
`the database. After payment arrangements are made,
`the
`Kiosk uses these instructions to dispense the medication.
`After dispensing the medication,
`the secure database is
`updated to indicate that the medication was dispensed.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0008] Briefly, according to an aspect of the present inven-
`tion, a method and system for delivering prescription medi-
`cine provides method of performing prescription medicine
`delivery that
`issues a prescription to a person and also
`accepts an identification of that person. The method then
`transmits a first set of data to a central server. This first set
`of data contains the accepted identification of the person and
`a representation of the prescription. The method then trans-
`mits a second set of data from the central server to a point
`of delivery. This second set of data is derived from the first
`set of data. The method then delivers the medicine that was
`prescribed by the prescription to the person.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0009] The subject matter which is regarded as the inven-
`tion is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the
`claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing
`and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention
`will be apparent from the following detailed description
`taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
`
`[0010] FIG. 1 is a system architecture of an automatic
`prescription delivery system, in accordance with an exem-
`plary embodiment of the present invention.
`
`[0011] FIG. 2 is a software component diagram of an
`automatic prescription delivery system, in accordance with
`an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
`
`[0012] FIG. 3 is a top level processing flow diagram of an
`automatic prescription delivery system, in accordance with
`an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
`
`[0013] FIG. 4 is a view of the scanning area of an image
`scanner that is used to capture images for electronic trans-
`mission, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of
`the present invention.
`
`[0014] FIGS. 5A and 5B are a processing flow diagram
`for a point of care system of an automatic prescription
`delivery system, in accordance with an exemplary embodi-
`ment of the present invention.
`
`[0015] FIG. 6 is a user logon processing flow diagram
`used by several components of an automatic prescription
`delivery system, in accordance with an exemplary embodi-
`ment of the present invention.
`
`[0016] FIG. 7 is a processing flow diagram for registering
`a physician to use an automatic prescription delivery system,
`in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
`invention.
`
`[0017] FIG. 8 is a processing flow diagram for registering
`a patient to use an automatic prescription delivery system, in
`accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
`invention.
`
`[0018] FIG. 9 is a processing flow diagram for registering
`a pharmacist
`to use an automatic prescription delivery
`system, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the
`present invention.
`
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`[0019] FIG. 10 is a processing flow diagram for a point of
`delivery system of an automatic prescription delivery sys-
`tem, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the
`present invention.
`
`[0020] FIG. 11 is a processing flow diagram for process-
`ing automatic prescription refill data, in accordance with an
`exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN
`EMBODIMENT
`
`[0021] Preferred embodiments of the present invention
`will be described in detail hereinbelow with reference to the
`attached drawings.
`
`[0022] The present invention is embodied within a system
`designated by the trademark 3P.NET. An automated pre-
`scription delivery system 100 according to an exemplary
`embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1.
`The system 100 includes several processing components that
`are located at various physical locations. The various physi-
`cal locations, which may each have one or more computers
`or processing devices, are connected via electronic commu-
`nications, such as the Internet. Multiple computers that are
`in a single location can be alternatively connected via other
`electronic communications means. A central component of
`the system architecture 100 is the Central Service Station
`(CSS) 102. The CSS 102 maintains databases that contain
`information used by the exemplary system and administers
`the operation of the automated prescription delivery system.
`The CSS 102 is typically maintained at a central or geo-
`graphically distributed facility that is operated by the pro-
`vider of the automated prescription delivery system.
`
`[0023] Another component of the system architecture 100
`is the Point of Care (POC) system 104. The POC system 104
`can be operated either in a physician’s office or within a
`Kiosk. A Kiosk that operates the POC System 104 can be
`located at locations that are conveniently located for patients
`that can process the transmission of the prescriptions to be
`filled, such as within a professional building. APOC System
`104 that operates in a physician’s office is typically used to
`scan or enter medication prescription information during the
`patient’s visit in which the prescription is written. The POC
`System 104 of the exemplary embodiment communicates
`prescription orders for new and refill prescriptions to the
`CSS 102 via a POC electronic communications interface
`110. The CSS 102 has a data input to receive data transmit-
`ted by the POC system 104. The exemplary embodiment of
`the present invention electronically communicates a data set
`that contains a scanned image of a prescription via the POC
`electronic communications interface 110. Other embodi-
`ments of the present invention can use any of a variety of
`electronic communications interfaces for the POC electronic
`communications interface 110, including direct facsimile or
`other authenticated data transfers. The communications link
`used by the POC electronic communications interface 110 is
`able to be any suitable electronic communications interface,
`such as wired, wireless, satellite or other data communica—
`tions technique.
`
`[0024] The system 100 further contains a Point of Deliv-
`ery (POD) system 106. The POD system 106 typically
`operates at a pharmacy that will issue the prescription in the
`exemplary embodiment. The POD system 106 receives
`verified and validated prescription orders from the CSS 102
`
`and returns to the CSS 102 status information either indi-
`
`the prescription was delivered or notice that
`cating that
`delivery was not possible. The POD system 106 of the
`exemplary embodiment of the present invention receives the
`prescription order in the form of a dataset that contains a
`scanned image of the prescription along with data about the
`recipient of the prescribed medication, such as the recipi-
`ent’s address, name and other relevant data. Data are com-
`municated between the POD 106 and the CSS 102 via the
`POD electronic communications interface 112.
`
`[0025] The system architecture 100 also contains a Patient
`Profile Program (PPP) 108. The PPP 108 maintains patient
`profile data for the system. The PPP 108 of the exemplary
`embodiment includes a preference input that allows patients
`to review and modify their profile information, including the
`patient’s demographic and insurance information and pref-
`erences in receiving services from the automated prescrip-
`tion delivery system 100. The PPP 108 of the exemplary
`embodiment allows a patient to view his or her history of
`prescriptions that were delivered by the system and to also
`view scanned images of previously entered prescriptions.
`The PPP 108 of the exemplary embodiment further allows
`patients to enroll in other system services, such as receiving
`automatic refill reminders. The PPP 108 of the exemplary
`embodiment is implemented via a web-based application
`that allows patients to use this function from any computer
`with an Internet connection.
`
`[0026] The system architecture 100 of the exemplary
`embodiment includes an interactive voice response (IVR)
`system 120. The IVR system 120 of the exemplary embodi-
`ment is connected to the CSS system 102. The IVR system
`120 of the exemplary embodiment
`is a “text—to—voice”
`converter that allows software in the CSS system 102 to
`generate text data that is communicated to the IVR system
`120 to be converted into an analog voice signal for output on
`a telephone connection. The IVR system 120 includes the
`capability to dial telephone numbers and to output the voice
`signal onto the telephone line. The IVR system 120 further
`includes a DTMF decoder that allows interpretation of
`DTMF codes entered on the telephone by the recipient of the
`telephone call placed by the IVR system 120. This allows the
`recipient of the call to provide input to the IVR system 120,
`which then communicates that input to the CSS 102.
`
`[0027] The Software Processing Architecture 200 of the
`exemplary embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 2. The soft-
`ware processing architecture shows a CSS program 202,
`which is the processing software that executes on the CSS
`102, that consists of several components. The CSS program
`202 contains a CSS database 204 that contains pending and
`issued prescription information, physician account status
`and other physician information, information concerning
`patients that are registered with the automated prescription
`delivery system and other data used in the operation of the
`automated prescription delivery system. The CSS program
`202 has a Logon Authentication component 206 that man-
`ages logging on of Point of Care users, such as system users
`in a physician’s office, and the logging on of Point of
`Delivery users, such as users in a pharmacy. The automated
`prescription delivery system 100 uses several application
`programs and access to those application programs is
`restricted according to the type of user that is attempting to
`access an application as well as according to the services to
`
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`which the user subscribes. The Application Authorization
`component 208 controls access to the various application
`programs.
`
`[0028] The PODP software 212 is the software that oper-
`ates on a computer associated with the POD system 106. The
`PODP software 212 performs the processing to allow dis-
`pensing of prescribed medication. The PODP software 212
`typically operates at a pharmacy and is used by a pharmacist
`or a pharmacist’s assistant.
`
`[0029] The POCP software 214 is the software that oper-
`ates on a computer associated with the POC System 104.
`The POCP software 214 performs the processing to allow
`entry of patient data and prescription information. The
`POCP software 214 typically operates on a computer located
`either within a Kiosk or in a physician’s office. When
`operating within a Kiosk, the patient is the user of the POCP
`software 214. When operating on a computer in a physi-
`cian’s oflice, a physician or a member of the physician’s staff
`operates the POCP software 214.
`
`[0030] The Software Processing Architecture 200 contains
`an AT-P Software Component 216 that provides interfaces
`for system administrators and for technical support person-
`nel. The system administrator interfaces within the AT-P
`software component include overall system reporting and
`management tools. The technical support interfaces include
`interfaces for technical support personnel
`to enter new
`registrations, prescription error recoveries, prescription error
`re-routing and other operational inputs.
`
`[0031] The Software Processing Architecture 200 also
`contains a Registration software component 218. The Reg—
`istration software component 218 performs the processing to
`register patients, physicians, pharmacists and other users of
`the automated prescription delivery system 100. The Reg-
`istration software component 218 of the exemplary embodi-
`ment of the present invention includes the Point of Care
`Registration (POCR) component,
`the Point of Delivery
`Registration (PODR) component and the Patient Profile
`Program (PPP) component that each enters and maintains
`the Point of Care data, Point of Delivery data and Patient
`personal data, respectively. The registration software com-
`ponent 218 further maintains and allows modification of
`these registrations. The components of the registration soft-
`ware component 218, as with all of the software components
`of the automated prescription delivery system 100, are able
`to operate on separate computers or be distributed over
`several computers or processors that are interconnected via
`a communications link. These components are similarly able
`to operate on parallel processing systems as well as distrib-
`uted processing systems that use high speed interconnec—
`tions between multiple processors that are located in prox-
`imity to each other.
`
`[0032] Patients are able to register to use the automated
`prescription delivery system 100 by providing their infor-
`mation, such as name, address, payment information and
`other information used by the system. The exemplary
`embodiment of the present
`invention distributes printed
`information brochures that
`include a registration form
`printed on a detachable portion of each brochure. The patient
`is able to fill in his or her registration data on the registration
`form with either handwritten or typed information and use
`this form to register with the system when the patient or
`other operator of a POC 104 is submitting the patient’s first
`
`prescription to be filled, as is described below. This provides
`added convenience to the patient by allowing more impul-
`sive registration and use of the automated prescription
`delivery system 100.
`
`[0033] A top level processing flow 300 of the exemplary
`embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 3.
`The top level processing flow 300 illustrates the processing
`that is performed by the several components of the auto-
`mated prescription delivery system 100. The top level pro-
`cessing flow 300 starts with one of two steps depending
`upon whether the Point of Care (POC) System 104 is within
`a Kiosk or in a physician’s office. If the POC System 104 is
`within a Kiosk,
`the processing begins with the patient’s
`submitting, at step 330, the prescription to the equipment
`within the Kiosk and by the equipment within the Kiosk
`accepting that prescription. The prescription may be a new
`prescription issued by a physician or a refill prescription.
`The prescription is accepted by the Kiosks of the exemplary
`embodiment by an automatic paper feeder or other image
`scanner device input that takes the paper prescription and
`presents the paper to an image scanner. The processing then
`continues by scanning and stamping, at step 332, the paper
`prescription that is presented by the patient at the Kiosk.
`This processing step utilizes an image scanner that is incor-
`porated into the Kiosk to create a digitized image of the
`paper prescription presented by the patient. The Kiosk
`processing “stamps” the prescription by adding a digital
`signature to the scanned image to allow for enhanced
`validation of the prescription image during later processing
`at other facilities. The digital signature of the exemplary
`embodiment includes an indication of the day and time when
`the prescription was submitted to the system.
`
`[0034] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention
`include Kiosk POC systems 104 that allow the patient to
`register with the automated prescription delivery system.
`These Kiosks allow the patient to scan the completed paper
`registration form along with the prescription form as a single
`image. This single image is then communicated to the CSS
`102 in a process similar to that described below for the
`physician’s office POC system.
`
`If the POC System 104 is in a physician’s office,
`[0035]
`the processing begins instead with the physician completing,
`at step 302, the prescription form. The prescription can be a
`new prescription or a prescription for a refill. The processing
`next determines, at step 304, whether the patient is regis-
`tered with the automated prescription delivery system 100.
`The exemplary embodiment of the present invention has the
`patient tell the physician’s office staif whether or not he or
`she is registered with the system. If the patient is registered,
`the processing continues with the POCP operator’s entering
`the patient’s identification into the POC system 104. The
`patient’s identification in the exemplary embodiment of the
`present invention is the patient’s name and social security
`number. Alternative embodiments utilize different patient
`identification techniques,
`including identification cards
`encoded with printed or magnetically readable identification
`numbers or data, biometric identification devices and other
`identification devices that provide a unique identification of
`the patient. If the patient is not registered, the processing
`continues instead by registering the patient, at step 308, by
`collecting patient information and entering it into the POC
`system 104 and relaying it
`to the CSS 102. The patient
`information can be entered either manually into the POC
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`system 104 or by scanning a form that is completed by the
`patient, as is described below.
`
`[0036] After the patient is either registered or has his or
`her identification entered into the system, the POCP operator
`then scans and submits, at step 310, the prescription for the
`patient. The prescription is scanned by an image scanner that
`is part of the POC system 104. The POCP processing also
`adds a digital signature to the scanned prescription image
`data to indicate that the prescription has been submitted to
`the automated prescription delivery system 100.
`
`is utilized by
`[0037] An image scanner face 400 that
`exemplary embodiments of the present invention is illus-
`trated i