(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2004/0019794 A1
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Jan. 29, 2004
`Moradi ct al.
`
`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
`
`Publication Classi?cation
`
`(51) Int. Cl? ..................................................... .. H04L 9/32
`(52) US. 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 con?rmation of delivery is then
`communicated back to the central server.
`
`3%
`
`K- 306
`
`Y
`
`Enter Patient
`Registration ID
`
`310
`% K
`
`302
`/—
`
`\
`\'
`Patient
`Registered’;
`' <
`“inmates
`Prescription Form \
`
`1
`
`304
`K- 308
`
`Register Patient
`
`Physician's Office Scans
`and Submits Prescription,
`then Adds Stamp to image
`
`ii /‘ 312
`
`Transmit Scan to
`C85
`
`i
`Find Pharmacy
`f and Relay
`Prescription
`
`314
`
`N
`
`Patient Submits
`Prescription at
`Kiosk
`k
`330
`
`=
`
`Kiosk scans and
`stamps
`Prescription
`‘\
`332
`
`i
`//\\
`/
`Give Ordered Medicine to
`/ V
`_
`.
`Veri Prescription
`Delivery Person for Hand <——< Prescription 0K?/\»<— fyat POD
`Delivery
`Y
`Q
`
`\
`322
`
`/
`N
`
`318 \
`316
`
`Route to Admin Office for
`Further Action
`
`/_ s24
`
`‘
`
`& 320
`
`Delivery Person Returns with Patient‘s
`Signature, Stamps Prescription
`Signifying Delivery, Update POD
`System
`
` PAR1030
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 7,668,730
` Page 1 of 31
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 1 0f 12
`
`US 2004/0019794 A1
`
`FIG. 1
`
`m
`
`Point Of Care (POC)
`Ph sician's Office or Kiosk
`V
`
`104
`J
`
`110
`
`New & Re?ll
`Prescription
`Orders
`
`120
`
`_/
`
`<__—>
`
`-
`Interactlve
`Voice
`Respone
`
`.
`
`102
`
`Central Service Station J
`((335)
`
`New & Re?ll
`
`Prescription
`Orders
`
`112
`
`114
`_/
`Prescrlptlon
`.
`.
`Pro?le
`
`‘/
`Point of De'ivery
`Pharmac y
`
`106
`_/
`
`101‘ Patient Profile Program (PPP)
`
` PAR1030
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 7,668,730
` Page 2 of 31
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 2 0f 12
`
`US 2004/0019794 A1
`
`LL
`
`{- 212
`
`K214
`
`K216
`
`K218
`
`PODP
`
`POCP
`
`AT-P
`
`Registration
`
`A
`
`A
`
`A
`
`k
`
`K- 206
`
`Logon
`Authentication
`
`K- 208
`
`Application
`Authorization
`
`204
`
`K- 210
`
`Pharmacy Router
`(Calculate nearest
`Pharmacy for delivery)
`
`FIG. 2
`
`202
`_/
`
` PAR1030
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 7,668,730
` Page 3 of 31
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 3 0f 12
`
`US 2004/0019794 A1
`
`302
`K
`Ph .
`.
`cor?jlfgtags
`Prescription Form
`
`_@
`
`Y
`
`f 306
`
`Enter Patient
`Registration ID
`
`/ \
`patient \r 304
`Registerey
`K- 308
`
`Register Patient
`
`N
`
`Patient Submits
`Prescription at
`Kiosk
`k 330
`
`>
`
`Kiosk scans and
`stamps
`Prescription
`k 332
`
`1
`r 3 O
`
`‘
`Physician's Office Scans
`and Submits Prescription,
`then Adds Stamp to Image
`
`‘ K- 312
`
`Transmit Scan to
`>
`CSS
`
`+
`Find Pharmacy
`[ and Relay
`Prescription
`314
`
`Give Ordered Medicine to
`/
`-
`-
`-
`Delivery Person for Hand <——< Prescr|pt|0n OK? ><_ enfyaitngegglphon
`Delivery
`Y \
`/
`
`i
`
`.
`
`///\
`
`+
`
`V
`
`K 322
`
`318
`
`\ 316
`
`N
`
`Route to Admin Of?ce for
`Further Action
`
`/_ 324
`
`‘
`
`\ 320
`
`Delivery Person Returns with Patient's
`Signature, Stamps Prescription
`Signifying Delivery, Update POD
`System
`
`FIG. 3
`
` PAR1030
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 7,668,730
` Page 4 of 31
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 4 0f 12
`
`US 2004/0019794 A1
`
`FIG. 4
`
`i
`
`402
`
`404
`J
`
`406
`J
`
` PAR1030
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 7,668,730
` Page 5 of 31
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 5 of 12
`
`US 2004/0019794 A1
`
`'
`
`522
`
`Display patients
`Prescription pro?le for the
`last 60 days
`
`"/ls Refill R><\x
`?n Profile? /
`\/”D
`
`524
`
`Yes
`V
`The POC user selects
`the rx to be refilled
`from the patient's rx
`profile
`\
`526
`
`(YD
`
`502
`
`Patient
`504
`receives _/
`Prescription
`
`Patient Request
`Prescription to be
`Filled by the
`System
`
`506
`
`POC User Receives
`Patient’s SSN, Send
`information to C88,
`retrieve patients profile
`
`508
`
`Yes
`
`The POC user
`2512
`con?rms the
`/ pro?le with the
`516
`patient
`
`No
`
`NO
`
`Pro?le
`on?rmed'7
`
`518
`
`4
`51
`
`Yes
`
`The POO user
`corhpletes new
`patient form, Sends
`Info to 088, New
`Patient Record
`Created
`
`Determine
`Pharmacy, Save
`Patient Data with
`Pharmacy in CSS
`Database
`
`Scan Rx <—
`
`520
`
`’
`
`a
`
`Yes——>
`
` PAR1030
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 7,668,730
` Page 6 of 31
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 6 0f 12
`
`US 2004/0019794 A1
`
`The POC user presses send to
`securely transmit the scanned rx
`to the 088
`
`K,
`530
`
`Alert lT Department of
`possible fraudulent Order
`
`M7;_._
`534
`
`The rx is saved to the
`CS8 database
`
`540
`
`536
`
`The rx is held in holding queue
`[—> and a Customer Service Rep
`(CSR) is notified
`
`No
`
`
`
`Is patients \pharmacy onlline?
`
`K’
`538
`
`Yes
`
`Yesi”
`
`/'
`542
`
`The CSR can call the designated
`pharmacy or release rx to
`another pharmacy
`)
`\
`// \
`/
`\
`Designated \}
`’
`pharmacy logs in?,/'
`F
`/
`544
`/
`No
`
`No
`
`K- Securely send rx to the
`CSS for the designated <—
`pharmacy
`Yes
`
`546
`
`FIG.
`
`End >
`
`‘
`
`pharmacy to rx‘?
`
`/’CSR assigns my
`543 \ /l/
`
` PAR1030
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 7,668,730
` Page 7 of 31
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 7 0f 12
`
`US 2004/0019794 A1
`
`00
`
`Y
`
`The user starts up an -\
`application (PODP, POCP,
`Registration, etc).
`
`602
`
`if
`/ Prompt for
`username & \
`password
`604
`
`/
`5 Login button
`pressed?
`
`Send error message
`back to user notifying
`them that their userame
`or pwd is invalid _\
`608
`
`/
`'5 Cancel
`button
`pressed?
`
`N0
`
`610
`
`+
`
`Yes
`
`Securely send username,
`pwd and Registration Key
`to CSS for Authentication
`
`éhutdown
`(App?cation
`
`-\ _i
`
`614
`
`612
`
`FIG. 6
`
`628
`
`f
`Continue
`Application
`
`is user
`Authentic? A
`616
`
`Yes
`Send
`)\
`unauthorized
`l5 user
`NO message back
`Authorized to
`use app? \ to user i
`
`620
`
`Yes
`
`,7
`v
`The application
`starts up and
`awaits user
`input
`
`618
`
`_\
`624
`
`‘
`
`Shutm
`Application
`622
`
` PAR1030
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 7,668,730
` Page 8 of 31
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 8 0f 12
`
`US 2004/0019794 A1
`
`( Start
`
`Open Sggézm Web
`
`x
`
`702
`
`i
`
`The user clicks on
`the Pharmacist
`Link then on
`Registration \
`
`700
`
`—
`
`‘
`I , 7
`
`704 f
`
`to System
`Physician Page
`
`712
`
`Display
`Physician
`Registration
`Page
`
`06
`7
`
`\
`s Contink
`Button
`/——No*> Cancel Button 2
`pressecgg
`\f?ir?A
`/
`Display error \/
`710
`708
`message with
`Yes
`?eld in error
`
`T /®
`
`N0
`
`716
`
`Display error
`message with
`?eld in error
`
`Client-side
`Validation? \
`71 4
`
`/
`
`Yes
`_ L 720
`
`Put this
`physician
`record ‘into the
`physician
`Registration
`queue
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`/
`
`Display
`successful
`Registration to
`user
`
`.
`
`.
`
`732
`
`.
`Notlfy Aqmm .Of
`
`new Registration
`
`form
`
`728
`
`730
`
`/
`
`E d
`
`n
`
`>
`
`\ Securely send
`72 4
`registration data in
`CSS
`
`N0
`
`ucc-essfu
`4————/ Server-side
`Validation?
`
`722
`
`Save
`Physician info
`in CSS
`database
`
`726
`
` PAR1030
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 7,668,730
` Page 9 of 31
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 9 0f 12
`
`US 2004/0019794 A1
`
`O
`l
`
`802
`
`The user navigates
`to System Home
`Page
`
`A
`
`The user clicks on
`the Patient Link
`then on
`i
`t.
`Reglstra'on \
`,
`304
`.
`/-
`Display Patlent
`Registration
`Page, Enter Data
`
`806
`
`Redirect user back
`to System Patient
`Page
`
`//j\
`
`Displa
`error
`message
`with ?eld in
`error
`
`816
`
`T
`
`/
`.
`Dlsplay error
`message with x
`?eld in error
`820
`
`ls Continue
`@tton presse$/
`\ A
`
`7
`
`e?No
`
`Yes
`
`808
`
`ls \S
`/
`Cancel Button
`\Qessed?<
`/
`
`/
`
`810
`
`Securely send
`W YesAv registration x
`data to C88
`812
`l
`
`//
`
`/ Successful
`Client-side
`Validation?
`
`814
`
`gcessful
`
`No———< Server-side
`Validation?
`
`Yes
`
`818
`
`Save
`Patient Info
`in CSS
`database \
`822
`
`Put this
`patient
`/_ record into
`824
`the Patient
`Registration
`queue
`
`Display
`successful
`Registration
`to user
`
`Notify Admin of
`new
`Registration
`form
`
`826
`
`End
`
`828
`
`8
`
` PAR1030
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 7,668,730
` Page 10 of 31
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 10 0f 12 US 2004/0019794 A1
`
`FIG. 9
`
`@Q
`
`The user clicks on
`K the Pharmacist Link ‘
`then on Registratlon
`
`'
`
`'
`
`904
`
`4-4
`
`902
`Th ‘
`naviealizzrto _/
`the gystem ‘
`Home Page
`
`/ if
`/ Display Pharmacist
`Registration Page.
`Enter Data
`
`906
`
`928
`
`Redirect user
`pss?ggist
`page
`
`/
`
`Display error
`message with
`?eld in error
`
`\\\
`A
`
`/J\\\
`'8 \
`90s
`\
`Cancel Button
`// \
`Pressed'y
`/ , g NO
`/
`'5 cont'nue
`I \ /
`\\Button pressed?
`\/
`\
`
`\
`\\
`
`912
`
`/
`
`Yes
`
`'eYes
`
`926
`
`No
`
`930
`
`\
`
`<\ Name Button
`
`\
`/€Search\\
`\Pressed'; x/
`
`/
`/ Successful
`No% Client-side
`( \ Validation? //
`\
`//
`No
`\/
`Yes
`v
`Securely send
`
`Yes
`4
`
`910
`
`registration )1
`
`data to C88
`
`916
`
`/
`/
`
`?uccessful
`Sewer-side
`\ ValidatV
`
`932
`
`N0
`/+\
`/@Search \
`NABP Button\\
`\Pressed’i/
`\/
`
`918
`Save -/
`Pharmacist
`"g0 '"bCSS
`ata ase
`
`920
`I J
`Pu‘ th'sf
`pharmacist
`record into the
`Pharmacist
`Registration
`queue
`
`/
`922
`Display successful J
`3P.Net Registration
`to user
`
`924
`J
`
`Notify Admin of new
`Registration form
`
` PAR1030
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 7,668,730
` Page 11 of 31
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 11 0f 12
`
`US 2004/0019794 A1
`
`Rx Order
`for delivery
`is received
`from 088
`\ 1010
`
`Acknowledgment
`is sent back to
`C88 that Rx Order
`was received
`
`1012
`
`1004
`
`.
`
`.
`
`‘J
`
`Securely retrieve and dlsplay
`any pending Rxs from the 4
`CSS for this pharmacy
`
`The Pharmacy
`1006
`J Pharmacist / procFesses the
`Prints Rx and! 1024
`RX mm the"
`or presses Ok
`Pharmacy
`button
`Mgmt System
`
`\ ‘T4
`1022 K‘ The Pharmacy
`fills the order
`1026 and prepares it
`for delivery
`
`Await Rx to
`Process
`
`F,
`
`No
`
`/+\\ 1014
`/
`RX \/
`/
`4 selected for \
`\ r0cessing?/
`
`/
`
`P\/
`
`1016
`
`Yes
`i
`Send Order
`Processing J
`Notification to
`C88
`
`l
`
`The Rx is
`f delivered to
`1028
`the patient.
`2
`
`1
`Update Rx
`1030/‘ Status in css
`database to
`“Dem/Bred"
`
`v
`
`< End
`
`7
`
`1 O
`
`‘
`
`1018
`
`_
`Update RX In
`CSS database
`to "Processed"
`
`‘
`
`1020
`
`Display details —/
`of Rx Order to
`pharmacist
`L__#
`
` PAR1030
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 7,668,730
` Page 12 of 31
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 12 0f 12 US 2004/0019794 A1
`
`1100
`
`Start
`
`)
`
`Sean Re?ll Date Table
`
`1102
`
`NO
`
`ls Date Found
`Within Window?
`
`1104
`
`YES
`i
`
`Notify Patient of
`Upcoming Re?ll
`
`1106
`
`Did Patient Order
`Refill?
`
`NO
`
`YES i
`
`1108
`
`Transmit Order to
`POD
`
`Notify Physician of \
`Decision not to Re?ll
`1112
`
`K-
`1110
`
`@
`FIG. 11
`
` PAR1030
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 7,668,730
` Page 13 of 31
`
`

`

`US 2004/0019794 A1
`
`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 ?eld of
`prescription delivery systems, and more particularly to the
`?eld 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 ?rst 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 ful?ll
`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 re?lls, including maintenance prescriptions that have
`routinely re?lled prescriptions for medication for Which the
`patient has a recurring therapeutic need. In the case of a re?ll
`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 ?exibility 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 veri?es 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 identi?ca
`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
`?cation that the patient provides at the Kiosk in order to
`receive the prescribed medication. The patient enters his or
`her patient identi?cation 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] Brie?y, 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 identi?cation of that person. The method then
`transmits a ?rst set of data to a central server. This ?rst set
`of data contains the accepted identi?cation 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 ?rst
`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 speci?cation. 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 ?oW 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 ?oW 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 ?oW 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 ?oW 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 ?oW 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 ?oW diagram for registering
`a pharmacist to use an automatic prescription delivery
`system, in accordance With an exemplary embodiment of the
`present invention.
`
` PAR1030
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 7,668,730
` Page 14 of 31
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`

`US 2004/0019794 A1
`
`Jan. 29, 2004
`
`[0019] FIG. 10 is a processing ?oW 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 ?oW diagram for process
`ing automatic prescription re?ll 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 of?ce 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
`?lled, such as Within a professional building. A POC System
`104 that operates in a physician’s of?ce 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 re?ll 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
`veri?ed and validated prescription orders from the CSS 102
`
`and returns to the CSS 102 status information either indi
`cating that the prescription Was delivered or notice 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
`Pro?le Program (PPP) 108. The PPP 108 maintains patient
`pro?le data for the system. The PPP 108 of the exemplary
`embodiment includes a preference input that alloWs patients
`to revieW and modify their pro?le 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 re?ll 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 of?ce, 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
`
` PAR1030
`IPR of U.S. Patent No. 7,668,730
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`

`US 2004/0019794 A1
`
`Jan. 29, 2004
`
`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 of?ce. 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 of?ce, 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 Pro?le
`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 modi?cation 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 ?ll 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 ?rst
`
`prescription to be ?lled, 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 How 300 of the exemplary
`embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 3.
`The top level processing How 300 illustrates the processing
`that is performed by the several components of the auto
`mated prescription delivery system 100. The top level pro
`cessing How 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 of?ce. 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 re?ll 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 of?ce POC system.
`
`[0035] If the POC System 104 is in a physician’s of?ce,
`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 re?ll. 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 staff 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 identi?cation into the POC system 104. The
`patient’s identi?cation in the exemplary embodiment of the
`present invention is the patient’s name and social s