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`US 20030093295AI
`
`(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: Us 2003/0093295 A1
`
`(43) Pub. Date:
`May 15, 2003
`Lilly ct al.
`
`(‘54) CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE 'I'RACKING
`SYSTEM AND METHOD
`
`(52) U5” Cl.
`
`.................................................................. 705m
`
`(76)
`
`Inventors: Ralph B. Lilly, Houston, TX (Us);
`J essc J. Boml‘mund. Houston. TX
`(US); .[cflmy A. Anon, Houston, TX
`(US)
`
`Corresmndcncc Address:
`WILLIAM E; JOHNSON, J R-
`THE MATTHEWS FIRM
`STE. 1800
`1900 WEST LOOP SOUTH
`HOUSTON, TX 77027 (US)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`10!062,251
`
`(22
`
`Filcd:
`
`Jan. 31, 2002
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(60)
`
`Provisional application No. 60/332,807, filed on Nov.
`14. 2001.
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51)
`
`Int. CI.7
`
`(inst: tar/an
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A method for tracking prescriptive medications is provided
`whereby a complete prescriptive medication history includ_
`ing active and inactive prescriptive medications is. storm] for
`a plurality of patients utilizing a plurality of pharmacies
`whcrcin thc pharmacies may be aflitiatctt or unatfiliatcd. The
`information may be selectively retrieved through a secure
`computer connection by cntilics such as hospitals, doctors,
`pharmacies. insurance companies, government agencies and
`the like. Thc information may bc utilized to benefit
`the
`patient whereby :1 doctor is abln to obtain an accurate View
`of the complete prescriptivc medication history of the
`patient including prescriptive medications by othcr doctors.
`Hospitals will be able to obtain, in accord with the invcntion,
`a proscriptivc mcdication history prior to treatment such as
`emergency treatment when: such information is not nor?
`mally available. The stored data for each prescriptive modi-
`cation transaction includes scamhablc data such as the
`patient's namc, addrem, doctor, pharmacy, aberrant use flag,
`and thc like.
`
`EB
`
`PHARMACEUTICAL
`cox RESEARCHERS
`
`1
`
`"
`
`14
`
`I
`
`GUVERNMENT
`t
`
`10
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`16 / a4
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`PATIENTS
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`V INSURANCE
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`80
`
`
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` PHYSICIANS
`
`18
`
`
`
`
`PHARMACEUTICAL
`APPLICATIEIN
`
`INFDRMATIDN
`PRODUCT AND
`
`
`CDNTRDL
`INDUSTRY
`SERVICE
`
`PRUVIDERS
`iURGANIZATIEIN
`
`
`
`
`28
`
`EITALS
`
`PHARMACIES
`
`HEAL TH DRG
`
`30
`
`726
`
`PAR1031
`
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`Patent Application Publication May 15, 2003
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`May 15, 2003
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`US 2003/0093295 A1
`
`May 15, 2003
`
`CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE TRACKING SYSTEM
`AND METHC'D
`
`[0001] This application claims the benefit of US. Provi-
`sional Application No. 60/332,807, tiled on Nov. 14, 2001.
`
`TECHNICAL HELD
`
`[0002] The present invention relates generally to methods
`for tracking controlled substances and, more specifically, to
`methods especially suitable for tracking and managing pre-
`scription information in aggregate
`
`BACKGROUND ART
`
`[0003] Although the exact frequency of premription drug
`abuse is unknown in the United States, it has been reported
`that more than fifty percent of all emergency room visits for
`drug-related problems are connected to prescription drug
`misuse or accidental overdose. It has also been estimated
`that
`in some communities, more than sixty percent of
`medical examiner cases are related to prescription drugs.
`
`It is estimated that more than four million people a
`[0004]
`year in the US. misuse or abuse prescription drugs. For
`instance, according to an August 1999 article in the Journal
`of the American Geriatrics Society. older Americans (age (15‘
`and older) currently account for ”5% of the total US
`population, but consume 25% of all prescription medica—
`tions. it is documented that 17% of the senior population
`misuscs medications, amounting for approximately 52 hi]—
`lion loss annually.
`
`[0005] The AMA estimates that 5% of physicians are
`grossly negligent and 1-150.- are dishonest in their prescrib-
`ing of pharmaceuticals. This would amount to a cost of $2.5
`billion annually.
`
`[0006] Three hundred fifty thousand adverse medication
`errors (probably far greater not reported) occur each year
`among one-half million nursing home residents in the
`United States. One employee in ten has a problem with
`alcoholi'drugs. Absenteeism is 66% higher among drug
`users.
`
`[0007] Among drug users, health benefit utilization is
`300% higher, disciplinary actions are 90% higher, and
`employee turnover is significantly higher. Forty-seven per-
`cent ol'workplacc accidents are drug related.
`
`In fact. it is clear that the Ilealthcare industry is
`[0008]
`facing a number of challenges today unlike ever faced
`before. An educated. consuming public has ever increasing
`expectations for exponential
`improvement
`in healthcare
`delivery, while at
`the same time. economic pressures are
`forcing tighter controls over cost, efficiency and quality.
`
`[0009] The industry has widely recognized a need for
`better efficiencies, but without notable success in many
`areas, including prescription abuse. For instance, the Health-
`care
`information Portability and Accountability Act
`(HIPAA) mandates making the exchange of information
`more ubiquitous, secure. and emetic-m but does not provide
`a solution with respect to prescription tracking and abuse.
`While it is well known that it would be desirable to reduce
`spiraling cost structures. mitigate health risks. provide more
`efficient billing and business modeling. eliminate redun-
`dancy, and improve informational flow, the solutions to such
`overwhelming problems are generally unavailable.
`
`in 1993, prescription drug sales were 525 billion.
`[0010]
`Since that
`time prescriptions have risen. more than 50%,
`totaling close to three billion prescriptions annually. With
`soaring costs.
`the sum of prescription drugs is currently
`greater that $50 loillion annually, with limited ability to
`control or manage those costs.
`
`[0011] These estimates are only for the cost ol~ drugs-
`themselves, and don't include many of the highly significant
`tangential costs associated with abuse, additional healtheare
`requirements and costs associated with drug interactions.
`insurance fraud resulting from purchase of class drugs for
`resale on the street, dispensing of wrong prescriptions due to
`misread prescriptions, and the like, which are proportionally
`of greater cost.
`
`It would be desirable to provide a healthcare utility
`[0012]
`that can assist substantially in reducing these misused and
`abused prescriptions. It would be desirable to provide major
`changes in the delivery of prescription drugs that produce
`measurable social and economic impacts on spending within
`the healtheare value chain including less abuse~relaled
`healtheare costs,
`fewer erroneous prescriptions, more
`accountability, and better tracking and management of prev
`scriptions.
`
`[0013] Patents that involve attempts to solve the above or
`related problems include the following:
`
`[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 6,067,524. issued May 23. 2000. to
`Byerly et al., discloses a method and system for generating
`advisory messages to pharmacy patients that
`includes
`appending patient-specific information to a data record
`containing normally transmitted information. The data
`record is transmitted between a third party computer and a
`pharmacy computer during a pharmacy transaction. The data
`record transmitted to the pharmacy computer is captured by
`an advisory computer as the data record is received by the
`pharmacy computer or after the data record is transmitted to
`the pharmacy computer, and the patient-specific information
`is extracted from the captured data record. The advisory
`computer generates an advisory message based on the
`extracted patient—specific information, and it transmits the
`generated advisory message to a pharmacy printer. The
`advisory computer includes a memory containing a data
`structure for storing the patient-specific information,
`the
`normally transmitted information, and the generated advi-
`sory message. A computer program product
`includes a
`computer storage medium and a computer program code
`mechanism embedded in the computer storage medium for
`causing a computer to generate an advisory message. The
`computer program code mechanism includes a first com-
`puter code device configured to append the patient-specific
`information, a second computer code device configured to
`capture the data record transmitted to the pharmacy com-
`puter, a third computer code device configured to extract the
`patient-specific information from the captured data record, a
`fourth oomputer code device configured to generate the
`advisory message based on the extracted patient specific
`information, and a fifth computer code device configured to
`transmit the generated advisory message to the pharmacy
`printer.
`
`[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 6,055,507. issued Apr. 25, 2000, to D.
`W. Cunningham, discloses a new and improved method of
`dispensing, tracking and managing pharmaceutical product
`samples by communicatively linking prescrihcrs and phar-
`
`PAR1031
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`May 15, 2003
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`macies to a central computing station. The method entails
`utilizing product
`trial media that
`is exchanged for actual
`pharmaceutical product, The media is encoded with infor—
`mation that identifies a particular pharmaceutical trial prod—
`uct, such an by magnetic encoding similar to that used with
`credit cards. The media is distributed to participating ntcdi‘
`cal doctors or prescribcrs who then activate the media via the
`central computing station. The prescribcr then transfers the
`activated media to patients who then present the media to
`participating pharmacies. Before filling the pharmaceutical
`trial product identified by the media, the pharmacy validates
`the media via a link with the central computing station.
`Then, the pharmacy dispenses the prescribed pharmaceutical
`trial product. The central computing station also includes a
`database that records data related to the use oi" the media so
`that all pharmaceutical trial products can be accounted tor.
`
`[0016] US. Pat. No. 5,542,420, issued Aug. 6, 1996, to
`Goldman or al.. discloses a health care system for specifying
`ediblcs to individual subjects. The personalized method and
`system for storage, communication. analysis and processing
`of health-related data comprises a storage containing data
`relating to health and edibles and is adapted to receive data
`on the conditions and characteristics of the individual sub-
`jectq. The health. care system further comprises input termi-
`nals adapted to be coupled to the storage means for provid-
`ing, data on the conditions and characteristics of
`the
`individual subjects, and a health computer for correlating the
`data relating to health and cdiblcs wiih the data on the
`condition and characteristics of an individual subject
`to
`provide a personalized prescription of edibtes.
`
`[0017] US. Pat. No. 5,628,530, issued May 13, 1997, to
`G. B. Thornton, discloses a method and system for collec—
`tively tracking demographics of physician prescribed starter
`drug samples dispensed to a plurality of patients from a
`plurality of different dispensing locations employs a multi-
`part product specific sample drug voucher, such as a smart
`card or a pre printed two part voucher, which has a marketing
`information portion and a separable prescription portion to
`he completed by the prescribing physician with starter drug
`sample quantity and dosage information along with patient
`demographic information. The prcecriplion portion is seg—
`regated from the marketing information portion at the phar-
`macy either electronically by a card reader, if it had been
`encoded on a smart card by the physician, or physically by
`separation along a perforation, il recorded on a two part
`voucher. and is electronically retreivnbly stored in the phar-
`macy computer from where this tracking information is
`electronically transmitted to a central remote computer, such
`as at
`the drug manufacturer, for subsequent rapid market
`analysis.
`
`[0018] vs. Pat. No. 5,737,539. issued Apr. 7, was, to
`Edetson el 211., discloses an electronic prescription creation
`system for use by professional prescribers at the point of
`care which has a prescription division subsystem permitting
`creation of a single prescription to be automatically divided
`into two components for fulfillment of one portion quickly
`and locally at higher cost and of another portion by remote
`mail order taking more time but providing a cost saving [or
`a major part of the prescription. The prescription creation
`system has an ability to access; remote source databases [or
`system presentation to the prescriber of relevant, authorized
`and current drug, drug fonnulary and patient history infor-
`mation, with dynamic creation of a transient virtual patient
`
`record, the information being presented to the prescribe!
`before completion of the prescription. permitting enhance-
`ment of the quality of prescribing decisions.
`
`[0019] US. Pat. No. 5,758,095, issued May 26, 1998, to
`Albaum et 31., discloses a system and method for ordering
`and prescribing drugs [or a patient. This system includes an
`improved process for facilitating and automating the process
`of drug order entry. The user may interact with the system
`in a variety of ways such as keyboard, mouse, pen-base entry
`or voice entry. The system includes a database containing
`medical prescribing and drug information which is both
`general and patientwspecitic. The ayatcm also permits the
`user to View current and previously prescribed medications
`for any patient. The system can alert the user to potentially
`adverse situations as a result of the prescribed medication
`based on information in the database. The system also can
`automatically determine product selection based on descrip-
`tions and can automatically communicate the order to a
`pharmacy. Further, the system includes a means for auto—
`matically displaying messages to the user relating to prede—
`termined situations. For example, such situations may
`include a medication which is not available in the formulury
`or the prescription of a non-recommended medication. The
`system streamlines the order entry process and makes infor-
`mation important to the drug ordering process easily avail-
`able.
`
`[0020] US. Pat. No. 5,845,255, issued Dec. 1, 1998, to C.
`Mayaud, discloses a wirctcssly dcployable, electronic pre-
`scription creation system for physician use that captures into
`a prescription a patient conditionwobjcctive of the prescribed
`treatment and provides for patient record assembly from
`source elements, with privacy controls for patient and dot:-
`tor, adverse indication review and online access to compre-
`hensive drug information including scientific literature.
`Extensions to novel multi-drng packages and dispensing
`devices, and an “intelligent network" remote data retrieval
`architecture as well as onscreen physician-to-pharmacy and
`physician-to-physician e-mail are also provided
`
`[0021] US. Pat. No. 5,991,73l, issued Nov. 23, 1999, to
`Colon et al., discloses a computer system and method for
`managing data used in conducting clinical studies concern-
`ing subjects at a plurality of participating, geographically
`distributed clinical sites, wherein each participating clinical
`site having a computer or inputting, transmitting and receiv-
`ing data over the Internet. An Internet network server
`computer is interfaced to a database host computer through
`a private network. The system communicates data over the
`Internet to determine patient eligibility, randomization and
`initial prescriptions, which can then be adjusted by the
`physician online. The final prescription is printed out for
`signature and sent electronically to a distribution center.
`Study data is maintained in a database in the host computer
`behind a firewall provided in the internet server computer.
`
`[0022] US. Pat. No, 5,832,449, issued Nov. 3, 1998, to D.
`W. Cunningham, discloses a new and improved method of
`dispensing, tracking and managing pharmaceutical product
`samples by communicativcly linking prescribers and pharv
`macics to a central computing station. The method entails
`utilizing product trial media that
`is exchanged for actual
`pharrn aceutica] product. The media is encoded with infor-
`mation that identifies a particular pharmaceutical trial prod—
`uct, such as by magnetic encoding similar to that used with
`
`PAR1031
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`US 2003/0093295 A1
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`May 15, 2003
`
`L»)
`
`credit cards. The media is distributed to participating mcdin
`cal doctors or prescrihers who then activate the media via the
`central computing station. The prescriber then transfers the
`activated media to patients who then present the media to
`participating pharmacies. Before filling the pharmaceutical
`trial product identified by the media, the pharmacy validates
`the media via a link with the central computing, station.
`Then, the pharmacy dispenses the prescribed pharmaceutical
`trial product. The central computing station also includes a
`database that records data related to the use of the media so
`that all pharmaceutical trial products can be accounted for.
`[0023]
`1.1.8. Pat. No. 6,068,156, issued May 30, 2pm, to
`Liff et 211., discloses an automated drug dispensing system
`that includes a cabinet adapted to store a variety ot‘prepack-
`aged pharmaceuticals in a plurality of bins for filling patient
`prescriptions. Each bin stores a particular variety of pack—
`aged multiple-dose pharmaceutical. Each variety of phar-
`maceutical is associated with a particular code. Aeontrollcr
`receives request signals and in response generates dispense
`signals. Each bin includes a dispenser coupled to the con—
`troller for dispensing the packaged pharmaceuticals there—
`from in response to a dispense signal sent from the control—
`ler. After a package is dispensed, a code reader determines
`the code of the dispensed package and verifies whether the
`code on the dispensed package matches the code of the
`requested package.
`
`to
`issued Jun. 6. 2600,
`[0024] US. Pat. No. 6,073,106.
`Rozen et al., discloses a method whereby via Internet
`communications or via phonetfaxfmail, a participant
`is
`prompted to provide a constant identifier and a selected
`password. Emergency and confidential categories of medical
`information are identified, and the part ieipant is prompted to
`provide personal information in each of the categories and a
`different personal identification number {ii—PIN, C—PIN) for
`each category. The participant is also prompted to provide an
`instruction to disclose or to not disclose the personal infor-
`mation in the emergency category in the event a requester of
`the information is an emergency medical facility and is
`unable to provide the participant’s E-PIN. Alteration of any
`of the participant’s medical
`information is enabled upon
`presentation of the participant’s identifier and password by
`the requester. The emergency information or the confidential
`information is disclosed upon presentation of the partici—
`pant’s identifier and E—PIN or C-I’IN.
`In addition,
`the
`emergency information is disclosed to an emergency medi-
`cal facility verified as such by a service provider in the event
`the participant has provided an instruction to disclose the
`emergency information. Storage and access to health related
`documents such as healthcare power of attorney. consent for
`treatment. and eyeglass prescription is also provided.
`
`[0025] us. Pat. No. 6,128,620. issued Oct. 3. 20m. to
`l’issanos at al., discloses a medical database and associated
`methods especially suited for compiling information in a
`medical malpractice situation. A general medical database is
`provided and specific medical information corresponding to
`a given situation is entered. Entry of the information auto—
`matically cross-references some terms of the entered data to
`definitions in the general medical database. Terms are
`readily looked up when reviewing specific medical infor-
`mation and definitions are easily inserted where desired. A
`drug reference display provides two-way lockup from drugs
`to their side effects (or contraindications or interactions) and
`back. Significant information from an entered medical chro~
`
`nology is easily copied to a significant information section
`when a reviewer finds the information important.
`
`[0026] Us. Pat. No. 6,195,612, issued Feb. 27,2001, lo ‘1‘.
`L. Pack—Harris, discloses a pharmacy benefit management
`system that includes a pharmacy computer for generating
`pharmacy claim information based on pharmacy activity of
`a medical group. Ahealth plan computer is responsive to the
`pharmacy claim information for generating pharmacy activ-
`it),r
`information for the medical group. A medical. group
`computer receives the pharmacy activity in formation from
`the health plan computer and stores the pharmacy activity
`information. The pharmacy activity information is processed
`to generate utilization information to enable the medical
`group to monitor the pharmacy activity.
`
`[0027] US. Pat. No. 6,215,104 Bl, issued Apr. 10, 20011,
`to Mosfcglti el al., discloses a Computer-based Patient
`Record (CPR) system including user equipment devices
`which are configured for speech synthesis in response to
`speech markup language text and which are connected via a
`network to a middle tier of a server system. The CPR system
`further includes a message delivery facility for delivery of
`textual messages to any of pager, electronic mail, or voice
`mail
`(after
`text-to-speech synthesis} message delivery
`vehicles. The server system accesses at user specific data
`store containing speech synthesis profiles which include
`prosodic information of the voices and speech of users. and
`message delivery profiles which specify which of the afore:
`mentioned message delivery vehicles are to he used and in
`what order. The stored speech synthesis information asso.
`ciated with an originator of a message and the stored
`message delivery information associated with the recipient
`of [message are provided by the server to user equipment or
`a reminder generator to produce speech markup files con-
`taining information needed to synthesi‘le the vocal and
`speech characteristics of the originator accompanied. by
`delivery instructions reflecting the message delivery prefer-
`ences of the recipient.
`
`[0028] US. Pat. No. 6.219.674 Bl. issued Apr. 17. 2001,
`to J. B. Classen, discloses systems and methods for creating
`and using product data to enhance the safety of a medical or
`non-medical products. The systems receive vast amounts of
`data regarding adverse events associated with a particular
`product and analyze the data in light of already known
`adverse events associated with the product. The system
`develops at least one proprietary database of newly discov-
`ered adverse event information and new uses for the product
`and may catalog, adverse event
`information for a large
`number of population subgroups. The system may also be
`programmed to incorporate the information into intellectual
`property and contract documents. Manufacturers can include
`the information in consumer product information which they
`provide to consumers or,
`in the case of certain medical
`products, prescrihers of the medical products.
`
`[0029] US. Pat. No. 6,230,142 B l. issued May 8, 2001, to
`Benigno et 511., discloses systems useful for analyzing data
`related to clinical pathways and perforating actions based
`upon the analyses. A selfvanalyzing system for suggesting
`default clinical pathways for various procedures. A self?
`analyzing system for suggesting deviation from a current
`clinical pathway and entry into an alternative clinical path—
`way based upon historical information about the results of
`actions. Statistical analysis systems based on clinical path-
`
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`ways. A rating system for care providers or proposed path-
`ways based on historical information. Systems for gathering
`clinical pathway information. Systems [or tracking clinical
`pathway outcomes based on data collected post-treatment. A
`system for prequaliftcation [or appropriate discharge and
`post-discharge handling of and communication with a new
`class of patient, those requiring stable acute care. A quest-
`tirtnnaire computer language and subsystem are used in
`various stages of the systems of the invention Correspond-
`ing methods are also disclosed.
`
`[0030] US. Pat. No. 6,283,322 Bl, issued Sep. 4, 2001, to
`Litl' at 21]., discloses an automated drug dispensing system
`that includes a cabinet adapted to store a variety of prepack-
`aged pharmaceuticals in a plurality of bins for filling patient
`prescriptions. Each bin stores a particular varietyr of pack-
`aged multiple-dose pharmaceutical. ljach variety of phar-
`maceutical is associated with a particular code. Acontroller
`receives request signals and in response generates dispense
`signals. Each bin includes a dispenser coupled to the con-
`trollcr for dispensing the packaged pharmaceuticals there—
`from in response to a dispense signal sent from the control—
`her. After a package is dispensed, a code reader determines
`the code of the dispensed package and verifies whether the
`code on the dispensed package matches the code of the
`requested package.
`
`[0031] US. Pat. No. 6,240,394 Bl. issued May 29. 2001,
`to Ucckcr et al., discloses a system for generating targeted
`advisory messages for pharmacy patients based on selected
`monitored data components of each transaction. When a
`pharmacy computer prints transaction data,
`the system
`monitors the data using printer data capture hardware inter-
`posed between the pharmacy computer and its printer. An
`additional processor compares selected components of the
`monitored transaction data with preselected combinations of
`the these components in a database. The database associates
`the preseiectcd combinations of transaction data compo-
`nents with advisory message components retrieved from the
`database and used to build an advisoryr message for output
`to a printer, which may be the pharmacy computer or an
`additional printer. Targeting of the advisory messages is
`based on selected combinations of the identity of the drug
`being dispensed to the patient, the patient’a age and gender,
`the new or renewal status of the prescription, and the identity
`of the party primarily responsible for payment to the phar-
`macy for the transaction.
`
`[0032] The above-cited patents do not solve the problem
`of misused and abused prescriptions discussed above. Cori—
`scquently, there remains a need for an improved system for
`tracking prescription drugs antltor controlled substances.
`Those of skill in the art will appreciate the present invention
`which addresses the above and other problems.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0033] An objective of the present invention is to provide
`an improved method for controlling information related to
`controlled substances andlor prescriptive medications.
`
`[0034] Another objective of the present invention is to
`provide a complete prescriptive medication history of
`patients for use by doctors, hospitals, pharmacists, and other
`health care workers.
`
`invention is to
`[0035] Another objective of the present
`provide a means for searching massive amounts of data for
`selected criteria to reduce costs involved with prescriptive
`medications.
`
`[0036] These and other objectives, features, and advan—
`tages of the present invention will become apparent from the
`drawings, the descriptions given herein, and the appended
`claims. I‘Iowever, it will be understood that the above-listed
`objectives of the invention are intended only as an aid in
`quickly understanding aspects of the invention. and are not
`intended to limit the invention in any way, and therefore do
`not form a comprehensive or restrictive list of objectives,
`andt'or features, andmr advantages.
`in one
`[0037] Accordingly,
`the invention comprises,
`embodiment
`thereof, a method [or
`tracking prescriptive
`medications. The method may comprise one or more steps
`such as, for instance, providing respective computer con—
`nections to a plurality of entities wherein the plurality of
`entities may comprise a plurality of unaffiliated auditor
`affiliated pharmacies, storing pharmaceutical computer data.
`relating to prescriptive medication purchases obtained by a
`plurality of prescriptive medication purchasers from the
`plurality of unallilialed pharmacies, and selectively trans-
`ferring the pharmaceutical computer data through the com-
`puter connections to at least one of the plurality of entities
`for obtaining a medication history of a selected prescriptive
`medication purchaser for all prescriptive medications pur~
`chased by the selected prescriptive medication purchaser
`from all of the plurality of unaffiliated pharmacies based on
`the transferred pharmaceutical computer data.
`
`[0038] The method may further comprise providing that
`the at
`least one of the plurality of entities comprises a
`physician’s office and the selected prescriptive medication
`purchaser is a patient of the physician such that the physi—
`cian’s oflice utilizes the pharmaceutical computer data to
`verify the medication history of the selected prescriptive
`medication purchaser.
`
`[0039] Other steps may further comprise providing that
`the at
`least one of the plurality of entities comprises a
`pharmacy with a pharmacist, such that when the selected
`prescriptive medication purchaser requests that the pharma‘
`cist till a new prescriptive medication then the pharmacist
`utilizes the pharmaceutical computer data to compare the
`new prescriptive medication with respect to the medication
`history of the selected prescriptive medication purchmser.
`The method may further comprise the pharmacist accepting
`or declining to fill the new prescriptive medication based on
`the medication history.
`
`[0040] Other steps may further comprise providing that at
`least one of the plurality ot'entitics comprises a hospital and
`the selected prescriptive medication purchaser is a patient of
`the hospital such that the hospital utilizes the pharmaceutical
`computer data to determine the medication history of the
`selected prescriptive medication purchaser.
`[0041] The method may further comprise providing that
`the pharmaceutical computer data for each of the prescrip-
`tive medication purchases comprises a name of a respective
`prescriptive medication purchaser, an address of the respec—
`tive prescriptive medication purchaser, a drug prescribed.
`the respective prescriptive medication purchaser, a quantity
`of the drug, a dosage of the drug, a pharmacist name, and a
`doctor name.
`
`PAR1031
`
`CBM of US. Patent No. 7,668,730
`Page 7 of 14
`
`
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`Page 7 of 14
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`US 2003/0093295 A1
`
`May 15, 2003
`
`[0042] The method may further comprise searching the
`stored pharmaceutical computer data based on one or more
`of the name of a respective prescriptive medication pur—
`chaser, the address of the respective prescriptive medication
`purchaser, the drug prescribed, the respective prescriptive
`medication purchaser, the quantity of the drug, the dosage of
`the drug, the pharmacist name, and the doctor name.
`
`[0043] Other steps may further comprise storing pharma-
`ceutical data related to whether a
`request
`for filling a
`prescriptive medication is filled or declined andjor provid ing
`that at
`least one of the plurality of entities comprises a
`government agency andtor storing, pharmaceutical computer
`data relating to aberrant use of prescriptive medications.
`
`[0044] The method of claim may further comprise pro-
`viding that the plurality of entities may comprise a plurality
`of hospitals, a plurality of doctors, and at least one govern
`menl agency, and selectively transferring the p