Multi-path electronic prescription processing system

Abstract

An electronic prescription processing system which is capable of direct two-way electronic communication between the physician and the pharmacist, in one example, uses a multi-path clearinghouse between the physician's office practice management system and a pharmacy computer system. In one example, the multi path electronic prescription processing system allows a physician to create electronic prescriptions using an electronic signature, and using the multi-path clearinghouse, allow for interface with the pharmacy computer system such that an image of an electronic prescription and prescription information are directly auto-populated into an entry screen of the pharmacy computer system.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 014,218 filed Dec. 17, 2007, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The field relates to electronic prescription systems.BACKGROUND[0003]Currently, many pharmacists or technicians contact the physician directly through telephone or facsimile, if they have questions with a particular prescription but such a process is time consuming and can be expensive.[0004]U.S. Pat. No. 5,883,370, describes how the physician writes a prescription by entering the prescription into a computer which prints out a bar-coded prescription that may be taken by the patient to the pharmacy, or a future modem path, which would enable the physician to send the prescription directly to a particular pharmacy computer. However, the pharmacist would have to scan the bar code on the prescription and manually enter the p...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018]An additional advantage is that once the physician determines which pharmacy the patient uses, the physician may use the actual uploaded drug file information from the selected pharmacy when choosing the patient's medication. Yet another advantage is that the doctor and patient may be informed about the cost of a prescribed medication to the patient and may be provided with lower cost alternatives.

[0019]Another advantage is there is no need to have a pharmacy point of sale computer because the electronic prescription system is capable of going directly to and from the physician's practice management system and the pharmacy computer system. All of the normal checks and verifications, such as checking multiple prescriptions for a patient having known adverse interactions may be checked on the pharmacy's computer system. Another advantage is that needless phone calls may be avoided, allowing the pharmacist's question to be resolved, and allowing the prescription to be dispensed.

[0020]Another advantage is that failure of a physician to timely response, such as within two hours, to a query may flag a query as having an increased urgency. Yet another advantage is that the system may alert a physician of an urgent query, such as by an audible, vibrational, visual or other alarm.

[0021]Yet another advantage is that the electronic prescription system allow

Problems solved by technology

Currently, many pharmacists or technicians contact the physician directly through telephone or facsimile, if they have questions with a particular prescription but such a process is time consuming and can be expensive.

Prior art systems, such as the one described in this reference, do not provide for seamless, automated two-way communications between a prescriber

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