Prescription Order Position Tracking System and Method

Abstract

An economical prescription order tracking system automatically monitors and tracks hand-carried prescription orders through a pharmacy. The system includes a tracking tag having a unique identifier associated with it secured near the prescription order such that it travels with the order through various locations within the pharmacy. Tag reading devices are positioned at key locations throughout the pharmacy to detect the location of each tag, and its associated attached prescription order. The detected locations are compiled via a computer system and associated with the customer, such that at any given time the location of the prescription order within the pharmacy can be determined, thereby facilitating the efficient operation of the pharmacy. The time each prescription order remains at each location and worker identity information at each location can be recorded and compiled to facilitate workflow and worker efficiency monitoring of the pharmacy.

Description

[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 715,439, filed on Nov. 16, 2000, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,672,859 on Mar. 2, 2010, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a system for tracking physical prescription orders being filled through a pharmacy. In particular, it includes an automated position sensing device for detecting and identifying the location of a physical prescription order as it travels within a pharmacy and ultimately is stored in a location for either customer pickup or filing.BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION[0003]A typical local retail pharmacy fills thousands of prescription orders per week. Moreover, as the general population ages and new beneficial drugs are introduced, prescription order volumes to be filled at retail pharmacies are expected to double within the next few years. This present and expected increase in order volume place...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This system reduces worker time spent on tracking, minimizes delays in locating orders, and optimizes pharmacy operations by providing real-time order location information, enhancing efficiency and productivity.

Problems solved by technology

This present and expected increase in order volume places enormous pressure on pharmacists and other pharmacy workers, who strive to fill each order efficiently, accurately and quickly.

Most customers have a limited view of how a typical retail pharmacy works.

However, in addition to increasing volume, the traditional retail pharmacist is now faced with a large variety of additional tasks, including obtaining proper insurance payment authorization, and in some cases verifying the refillabilty of a particular prescription order.

If the customer presents himself to another clerk at the pick-up window, while the first clerk is attempting to call the customer at home, the second clerk often has no way of knowing the current status of the prescription order, or where it is in the order filling process.

Similarly, should a prescription order be inadvertently misplaced within the pharmacy, it is often difficult to find, thereby needlessly delaying the filling process and wasting worker time to locate it.

However, such manual tracking systems require considerable pharmacy support worker time and attentiveness to be used effectively.

Moreover, should a worker fail to enter the location of a particular prescription order, any attempt to locate that prescription order using the available location information will lead a worker to only the last known location of the prescription order.

Accordingly, an inefficient manual tracking of the prescription order would still be required, rendering the manual location device useless.

While these types of devices facilitate the quick and efficient filling of prescription orders, they are expensive for use in a retail pharmacy environment, and they occupy a large amount of limited space within the pharmacy.

Moreover, they still require pharmacy workers to perform manual tasks such as verifying insurance and renewability of the prescription, and processing the various forms of prescription orders before and after they are entered into the automated system.

Accordingly, they do not permit the easy tracking of prescription orders as they travel within the automated pharmacy environment.

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