Dispensing support system, dispensing support device, and method for providing dispensing-related information

Abstract

This will enable us to support the best possible dispensing of medications from the perspective of patient medication adherence. [Solution] The system includes a dispensing history management unit 11 that collects and manages dispensing history information, including prescription information and dispensing information performed by the dispensing pharmacy, from multiple pharmacy terminals 2; a dispensing schedule information acquisition unit 13 that acquires dispensing schedule information, including prescription information and information on planned dispensing, from the pharmacy terminals 2 to which information will be provided; and an information provision unit 14 that compares the dispensing schedule information of the target dispensing pharmacy with the dispensing history information of other dispensing pharmacies and provides the target dispensing pharmacy with dispensing-related information identified according to the similarities and differences between the dispensing schedule information and the dispensing history information. This allows the target dispensing pharmacy to make a final decision on the content of dispensing, taking into account the patient's medication adherence, by referring to dispensing-related information acquired from the dispensing support device 1, even for the same prescription, where there is a range of choices in the content of dispensing performed by the dispensing pharmacy.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a dispensing support system, a dispensing support device, and a dispensing-related information providing method, and is particularly suitable for use in a system that provides information related to the dispensing of prescription drugs to a dispensing pharmacy.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, a patient who has received a prescription at a medical institution receives the dispensing of prescription drugs at a dispensing pharmacy. In the prescription, the specific trade name of the drug may not be specified, and a general name (the name of the active ingredient) may be specified. This is called a generic prescription. In the case of a generic prescription, at the dispensing pharmacy, it is possible to freely select a drug and perform dispensing as long as the drugs have the same active ingredient and efficacy. At this time, the pharmacist selects an appropriate drug and performs dispensing based on his or her own judgment. Conventionally, there is a known system that supports the best dispensing by considering combinations and duplicates of drugs based on the patient's dispensing history, etc. (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

[0003] In the medication support computer system described in Patent Document 1, one or more dispensing histories based on one or more prescriptions for a patient are compared with the information of the received prescription, and it is determined whether there is a drug that should not be dispensed to the patient (whether there is an overlap between the dispensed drugs listed in the dispensing history and the dispensed drugs listed in the prescription, or whether there are drugs that cannot be combined with each other), and the determination result is transmitted to the communication terminal of the dispensing pharmacy.

[0004] In the drug information management support device described in Patent Document 2, by referring to a disease name database related to the correspondence between the drug name and the disease name and a contraindication database related to the correspondence between the drug name and the contraindication, for each patient, the contraindication corresponding to the drug name prescribed by the medical institution is specified, and if any of the disease names diagnosed by the medical institution is related to the contraindication specified based on the drug name, the drug name having the contraindication is output.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2015-84132 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6469913 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] The systems described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 above can support pharmacists in making the best possible prescriptions from a pharmaceutical perspective. However, they cannot support pharmacists in making the best possible prescriptions from the perspective of improving patient medication adherence (the patient's ability to take their medication properly).

[0007] This invention was made to solve these problems and aims to provide a system that supports pharmacists in making the best possible prescriptions from the perspective of improving patients' medication adherence. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention collects dispensing history information, including prescription information and information on dispensing performed by pharmacies for said prescriptions, from terminals at multiple pharmacies and manages it as a dispensing history database. Furthermore, the present invention acquires dispensing plan information, including prescription information and information on dispensing to be performed for said prescriptions, from the terminal of the target pharmacy that is the target of information provision. The acquired dispensing plan information of the target pharmacy is compared with dispensing history information of other pharmacies managed by the dispensing history management unit, and dispensing-related information identified according to the differences between the dispensing plan information and the dispensing history information is provided to the target pharmacy. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] As described above, the present invention provides a range of dispensing options for the same prescription, and dispensing-related information is provided to the target pharmacy, which is identified based on the similarities and differences between the dispensing information the target pharmacy plans to use for the prescription and the dispensing records of other pharmacies. The target pharmacy can then refer to the acquired dispensing-related information and make a final decision on the dispensing content, taking into account the patient's medication adherence. Thus, the present invention can support pharmacists in making the best possible dispensing decisions from the perspective of improving patient medication adherence. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This figure shows an example configuration of the dispensing support system according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of a dispensing support device according to this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a dispensing support system according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the dispensing support system of this embodiment is configured to include a dispensing support device 1, a pharmacy terminal 2 and a printer 3 used in a dispensing pharmacy, and a patient terminal 4 used by patients. The dispensing support device 1, the pharmacy terminal 2, the printer 3, and the patient terminal 4 are connected via a communication network 100. The communication network 100 is, for example, the Internet and is constructed including a public communication network or a mobile phone network. A wireless communication channel or a LAN (Local Area Network) may also be included as part of the communication network 100.

[0012] The dispensing support device 1 is a server device logically implemented by a general-purpose computer such as a workstation or personal computer, or by cloud computing. The dispensing support device 1 may consist of a single server device or a combination of multiple server devices. The dispensing support device 1 performs processing to provide dispensing-related information regarding the dispensing of prescription drugs to the dispensing pharmacy (pharmacy terminal 2 and printer 3). Details of this will be described later with reference to Figure 2.

[0013] Pharmacy terminal 2 consists of, for example, a personal computer, tablet, or smartphone, and is installed in the dispensing pharmacy. Pharmacy terminal 2 provides dispensing support device 1 with information on prescriptions received from patients, information on the dispensing to be performed for those prescriptions, and information on the dispensing that has actually been performed, and receives dispensing-related information from dispensing support device 1, as described later. Although only one pharmacy terminal 2 is shown in Figure 1, there are actually multiple terminals. That is, pharmacy terminal 2 is installed in each of the multiple dispensing pharmacies that utilize the dispensing support system of this embodiment.

[0014] Pharmacy terminal 2 includes a claims processing computer (receipt computer). The receipt computer is a computer system used to create claims (reimbursement statements) for pharmacies to claim dispensing fees from payment organizations such as health insurance associations. When a pharmacy receives a prescription from a patient and dispenses the medication, it inputs various pieces of information indicated on the prescription into the receipt computer. Pharmacy terminal 2 transmits the prescription information entered into the receipt computer to the dispensing support device 1.

[0015] The prescription information transmitted from the pharmacy terminal 2 to the dispensing support device 1 only needs to include at least patient information and prescribed drug information from the various information entered into the prescription computer. Patient information only needs to be information that uniquely identifies each patient, such as the patient's name. In addition to this, it may also include at least one of the following: the patient's date of birth, gender, health insurance eligibility information (symbol, number, sub-number and insurer number, etc.), and personal identification information from the medication record app used by the patient. The prescription drug information transmitted from the pharmacy terminal 2 to the dispensing support device 1 only needs to be information that identifies the type of drug prescribed by the doctor, such as the generic name or brand name of the drug. In addition to this, it may also include at least one of the following: various codes assigned to the drug, dosage and administration, duration of administration, and dosage form.

[0016] Here, we have shown an example in which prescription information entered by pharmacy staff into the prescription computer is transmitted to the dispensing support device 1, but this is not the only example. For example, if a prescription reception machine is installed in the pharmacy, the prescription information may be generated by OCR processing of the scanned image of the prescription generated by the prescription reception machine, and the pharmacy terminal 2 may obtain the generated prescription information from the prescription reception machine. Also, if it is possible to make a dispensing reservation from the medication record app on the patient terminal 4 via a dispensing reservation system connected to a wide area network such as the internet and a mobile phone network, the server device of the dispensing reservation system may be generated by OCR processing of the photographed image of the prescription received from the patient terminal 4, and the pharmacy terminal 2 may obtain the generated prescription information from the server device. Furthermore, if the patient has chosen to use an electronic prescription, the pharmacy terminal 2 may obtain the prescription information by analyzing the electronic prescription downloaded from the electronic prescription management server.

[0017] Along with the prescription information described above, dispensing information is transmitted from pharmacy terminal 2 to dispensing support device 1. Before dispensing medication for a prescription received from a patient, the pharmacy inputs information indicating the content of the dispensing that the pharmacist plans to perform into pharmacy terminal 2 and transmits it to dispensing support device 1. After the pharmacist has actually dispensed the medication, they input information indicating the content of the dispensing that was performed into pharmacy terminal 2 and transmit it to dispensing support device 1. After pharmacy terminal 2 transmits the information of the planned dispensing to dispensing support device 1, it receives dispensing-related information from dispensing support device 1, as described above. The pharmacist can refer to this dispensing-related information to make a final decision on the content of the dispensing, given that there is a range of choices for the content of the dispensing even for the same prescription.

[0018] The dispensing information transmitted from the pharmacy terminal 2 to the dispensing support device 1 includes information on the brand name (product name), dosage form, dispensing amount, size, mass, color, presence or absence of a score line, and taste of the medication selected by the pharmacist for the medication (generic name or brand name) indicated on the prescription. Medications include all types of medications, such as oral medications (tablets, capsules, powders, granules, oral solutions, syrups, etc.), topical medications (ointments, creams, topical solutions, eye drops, nasal sprays, suppositories, patches, etc.), and injectable medications.

[0019] In the case of a "generic name prescription," where the generic name (name of the active ingredient) of the drug is written on the prescription, it is possible to freely select and dispense any drug that has the same active ingredient and efficacy, regardless of whether it is a brand-name drug or a generic drug. In the case of a "brand-name prescription," where the brand name of the drug is written on the prescription, it is possible to dispense a generic drug with a different strength or a similar dosage form under certain conditions.

[0020] The printing machine 3 is a device that performs printing on items to be handed over to patients, such as medicine bags, medicine information provision sheets, and medicine-taking guidance sheets, and is installed in a dispensing pharmacy. The printing machine 3 receives dispensing-related information (printing information) described later from the dispensing support device 1, and executes printing on the items to be handed over using the received printing information. Although only one printing machine 3 is illustrated in FIG. 1, actually there are a plurality of them. That is, the printing machine 3 is installed in each of a plurality of dispensing pharmacies that utilize the dispensing support system of the present embodiment.

[0021] The patient terminal 4 is a computer used by a patient who has received a prescription for medicine from a medical institution, and is composed of, for example, a smartphone, a tablet, a personal computer, or the like. A so-called medicine notebook application is installed in the patient terminal 4, and it is possible to access the dispensing support device 1 via the communication network 100 by the medicine notebook application or a web browser executed on the patient terminal 4.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration example of the dispensing support device 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the dispensing support device 1 of the present embodiment includes, as functional configurations, a dispensing history management unit 11, an administration information acquisition unit 12, a dispensing schedule information acquisition unit 13, and an information provision unit 14. In addition, the dispensing support device 1 of the present embodiment includes a dispensing history storage unit 10 as a storage medium.

[0023] <000,0096>The above functional blocks 11 to 14 execute the following-described processing by the cooperation of hardware and software. For example, the processing of the above functional blocks 11 to 14 is executed by the operation of a program stored in a storage medium such as a RAM, a ROM, a hard disk, or a semiconductor memory, under the control of a processor by a microcomputer configured to include a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like. In addition to the microcomputer, a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) or the like may be provided.

[0024] The dispensing history management unit 11 collects dispensing performance information, including prescription information and information on the dispensing performed by the pharmacy for that prescription, from the pharmacy terminals 2 of multiple pharmacies, and stores and manages it in the dispensing history storage unit 10 as a dispensing history database. As described above, after a pharmacist actually dispenses medication based on a prescription received from a patient, the pharmacy transmits the prescription information and the information on the dispensing performed as dispensing performance information to the dispensing support device 1. The dispensing history management unit 11 sequentially stores the dispensing performance information transmitted in this way from the pharmacy terminals 2 of each pharmacy in the dispensing history storage unit 10 as a dispensing history database.

[0025] The administration information acquisition unit 12 acquires administration information from the patient terminal 4, which shows the administration status of the dispensed medication indicated in the dispensing record information. The medication record app installed on the patient terminal 4 can use the patient's login ID, etc., to access the dispensing history database stored in the dispensing history storage unit 10 and check the dispensed medication and prescription details (drug name, usage / dosage, etc.) that were prescribed to the patient by a medical institution and dispensed at any pharmacy. In addition, in this embodiment, the medication record app has a function to input information showing the circumstances when the patient actually administered the dispensed medication and register it with the dispensing support device 1.

[0026] The administration information transmitted from the patient terminal 4 to the dispensing support device 1 can be, for example, information selected by the patient from a pre-prepared set of options. These options can include, for example, "administered normally," "difficult to administer," or "administered and discontinued." "Administered normally" indicates a positive administration situation, while "difficult to administer" and "administered and discontinued" indicate negative administration situations. In the case of negative administration situations, the reason may also be entered as an option or free-text before being transmitted to the dispensing support device 1.

[0027] The dispensing history management unit 11 manages the administration information acquired by the administration information acquisition unit 12 in association with the patient's dispensing history information. For example, the dispensing history management unit 11 refers to a user management database (not shown) that records patient information in association with the login ID of the medication record app, identifies the patient using the medication record app that sent the administration information acquired by the administration information acquisition unit 12, and stores the administration information in the dispensing history storage unit 10 in association with that patient's dispensing history information.

[0028] The dispensing schedule information acquisition unit 13 acquires dispensing schedule information, including prescription information and information on the dispensing to be performed, from the pharmacy terminal 2 of the dispensing pharmacy that is the target of dispensing-related information provision (hereinafter referred to as the target dispensing pharmacy). As described above, in a dispensing pharmacy, before a pharmacist dispenses medication based on a prescription received from a patient, the prescription information and information on the dispensing to be performed are transmitted to the dispensing support device 1 as dispensing schedule information. The dispensing schedule information acquisition unit 13 acquires the dispensing schedule information transmitted from the pharmacy terminal 2 of the target dispensing pharmacy in this manner.

[0029] The information provision unit 14 compares the dispensing schedule information of the target pharmacy acquired by the dispensing schedule information acquisition unit 13 with the dispensing history information of other pharmacies stored and managed in the dispensing history storage unit 10 by the dispensing history management unit 11, and provides the target pharmacy with dispensing-related information identified according to the similarities and differences between the dispensing schedule information and the dispensing history information. The destination for providing the dispensing-related information to the target pharmacy is the pharmacy terminal 2 or the printer 3.

[0030] For example, the information provision unit 14 provides dispensing-related information to the target pharmacy when the patient and prescription drug information included in the dispensing schedule information is the same as the patient and prescription drug information included in the dispensing record information, and the dispensing information included in the dispensing schedule information is different from the dispensing information included in the dispensing record information.

[0031] As an example, the information provision unit 14 may provide dispensing-related information to the target pharmacy if the patient and prescription drug information included in the dispensing schedule information is the same as the patient and prescription drug information included in the dispensing record information, and if, after comparing the dispensing information included in the dispensing schedule information with the dispensing record information, at least one of the following is different: dosage form, quantity, size, mass, color, presence or absence of a score line, taste, and brand name of the drug to be dispensed. In this case, the dispensing-related information provided by the information provision unit 14 may include a message informing the target pharmacy that the content of the dispensing it plans to perform differs from the content of dispensing performed by other pharmacies. This message is provided to the pharmacy terminal 2.

[0032] Furthermore, the information provision unit 14 may provide dispensing-related information to the target dispensing pharmacy if the patient and dispensing information included in the dispensing schedule information is the same as the patient and dispensing information included in the dispensing record information, and the administration information associated with the dispensing record information includes information indicating a negative administration status regarding the administration of the dispensed drug (information indicating discontinuation of administration or difficulty in administration). In this case, the dispensing-related information provided by the information provision unit 14 may include a message informing the pharmacy that there is a negative administration status regarding the administration of the dispensed drug. This message is provided to the pharmacy terminal 2.

[0033] Here, "identical" means that the prescription drug information included in the dispensing plan information and the prescription drug information included in the dispensing record information are identical, for example, that the generic names of the prescription drugs are the same. Furthermore, "identical" means that the dispensing information included in the dispensing plan information and the dispensing information included in the dispensing record information are identical, or they may be identical in all applicable aspects such as the dosage form, dispensing amount, size, mass, color, presence or absence of a score line, taste, and brand name of the drug, or they may be identical in some aspects.

[0034] The dispensing-related information provided by the information provision unit 14 may include information to be printed on hand-delivered items (for example, at least one of a medicine bag, a drug information sheet, and a medication guidance sheet) that the target dispensing pharmacy hands over to the patient along with the dispensed medicine. This printable information is provided to the printer 3. The printer 3 displays the printable information received from the dispensing support device 1 on a confirmation screen for the pharmacist to confirm, and then prints the information on the hand-delivered items after receiving a print execution instruction. The information to be printed on the hand-delivered items can include, for example, information to draw attention to the fact that any or all of the following aspects of the medicine—dosage form, dispensing amount, size, mass, color, presence or absence of a score line, taste, and brand name—are different from when it was dispensed at another dispensing pharmacy in the past.

[0035] The information provision unit 14 may set a rank based on the importance of the information provided, according to the similarities and differences between the planned dispensing information and the actual dispensing information, and determine the dispensing-related information based on the set rank. Alternatively, the information provision unit 14 may set a rank based on the importance of the information provided, according to the similarities and differences between the planned dispensing information and the actual dispensing information, and determine the dispensing-related information and the hand-delivered items to be printed based on the set rank.

[0036] For example, if the patient and dispensing information included in the dispensing schedule information is the same as the patient and dispensing information included in the dispensing record information, and the administration information associated with the dispensing record information includes information indicating a negative administration situation regarding the administration of the dispensed drug, the information provision unit 14 sets the highest rank S for information provision importance and provides a warning message to the pharmacy terminal 2 informing them that there is a negative administration situation regarding the administration of the dispensed drug. If the reason for the negative administration is also recorded as administration information, the information of the reason may also be provided to the pharmacy terminal 2. Upon receiving this warning message, the target pharmacy can change the content of the planned dispensing, taking into account the patient's medication adherence.

[0037] Furthermore, the information provision unit 14 sets the importance of providing information to rank A, the second highest rank, when the general names of the patient and prescribed drug included in the dispensing plan information are the same as the general names of the patient and prescribed drug included in the dispensing record information, and the dosage form of the dispensed drug included in the dispensing plan information is different from the dosage form of the dispensed drug included in the dispensing record information. It then provides the printer 3 with printable information to alert the patient that the dosage form of the drug that the target pharmacy plans to dispense is different from the dosage form of the drug dispensed by other pharmacies, and prints this information on the medicine bag that the patient will definitely see when taking the medicine.

[0038] Furthermore, the information provision unit 14 sets the lowest importance level for information provision to rank B if the generic names of the patient and prescribed drug included in the dispensing plan information are the same as the generic names of the patient and prescribed drug included in the dispensing record information, and at least one of the following is different: quantity, size, mass, color, presence or absence of a score line, taste, and brand name of the dispensed drug. The unit provides the printer 3 with printable information to warn that the dispensing content planned by the target pharmacy differs from the dispensing content performed by other pharmacies, and prints this information on at least one of the drug information sheet and the medication guidance sheet.

[0039] As explained in detail above, according to this embodiment, even with the same prescription, there is a range of choices in the content of dispensing performed by a dispensing pharmacy. Dispensing-related information is provided to the target dispensing pharmacy, which is identified based on the differences between the dispensing information that the target dispensing pharmacy plans to perform for the prescription and the dispensing results of other dispensing pharmacies, as well as the patient's medication administration status. Therefore, the target dispensing pharmacy can refer to the acquired dispensing-related information and make a final decision on the content of dispensing while taking into account the patient's medication adherence. Thus, according to this embodiment, it is possible to support pharmacists in performing the best possible dispensing from the perspective of improving the patient's medication adherence.

[0040] It should be noted that the above embodiments are merely examples of how the present invention can be implemented, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited by them. In other words, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from its gist or its main features. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0041] 1. Dispensing support device 2 Pharmacy terminal 3 printing machine 4. Patient terminal 10. Dispensing history storage unit 11. Dispensing History Management Department 12. Administration Information Acquisition Unit 13. Dispensing Schedule Information Acquisition Department 14 Information Provision Department

Claims

1. A dispensing support system that provides dispensing pharmacies with information regarding the dispensing of prescription drugs, The dispensing history management unit collects dispensing history information, including prescription information and information on dispensing performed by pharmacies for those prescriptions, from terminals at multiple pharmacies and manages it as a dispensing history database. A dispensing schedule information acquisition unit acquires dispensing schedule information, including prescription information and information on the dispensing to be performed, from the terminal of the target dispensing pharmacy that is the target of information provision. The system comprises an information provision unit that compares the dispensing schedule information of the target pharmacy obtained by the dispensing schedule information acquisition unit with the dispensing history information of other pharmacies managed by the dispensing history management unit, and provides the target pharmacy with dispensing-related information identified according to the similarities and differences between the dispensing schedule information and the dispensing history information. A dispensing support system characterized by the following features.

2. The dispensing support system according to claim 1, characterized in that the information provision unit provides the dispensing-related information to the target dispensing pharmacy when the patient and prescription drug information included in the dispensing schedule information is the same as the patient and prescription drug information included in the dispensing record information, and the dispensing information included in the dispensing schedule information is different from the dispensing record information.

3. The dispensing support system according to claim 2, characterized in that the information provision unit compares the dispensing information included in the dispensing schedule information with the dispensing information included in the dispensing record information, and provides the dispensing-related information to the target dispensing pharmacy if at least one of the following is different: dosage form, quantity, size, mass, color, presence or absence of a score line, taste, and brand name of the drug to be dispensed.

4. The system further includes an administration information acquisition unit that acquires administration information showing the patient's administration status of the dispensed drug indicated in the above dispensing record information. The above dispensing history management unit manages the above administration information obtained by the above administration information acquisition unit in association with the above dispensing performance information. The dispensing support system according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 3, characterized in that the information provision unit provides the dispensing-related information to the target dispensing pharmacy when the patient and dispensing information included in the dispensing schedule information and the patient and dispensing information included in the dispensing record information are the same, and the administration information associated with the dispensing record information includes information indicating a negative administration status regarding the administration of the dispensed drug.

5. The dispensing support system according to claim 4, characterized in that the above-mentioned information provision unit provides the above-mentioned dispensing-related information to the above-mentioned target dispensing pharmacy when the above-mentioned administration information indicates discontinuation of administration or difficulty in administration.

6. The dispensing support system according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the above dispensing-related information includes information on dispensing performed by the above-mentioned other dispensing pharmacies.

7. The dispensing support system according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the above dispensing-related information includes a message indicating that the content of the dispensing planned by the target dispensing pharmacy differs from the content of the dispensing performed by the other dispensing pharmacy.

8. The dispensing support system according to claim 4, characterized in that the above dispensing-related information includes a message indicating that there is a negative administration situation regarding the administration of the above-mentioned dispensing drug.

9. The dispensing support system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the above dispensing-related information includes information to be printed on a handout that the above-mentioned target dispensing pharmacy hands over to the patient along with the dispensed medicine.

10. The dispensing support system according to claim 9, characterized in that the above-mentioned items handed over include at least one of a medicine bag, a drug information sheet, and a medication instruction sheet.

11. The dispensing support system according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 8, characterized in that the above-mentioned information provision unit sets a rank based on the importance of information provision according to the differences and similarities between the above-mentioned dispensing schedule information and the above-mentioned dispensing performance information, and determines the above-mentioned dispensing-related information based on the set rank.

12. The dispensing support system according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the above-mentioned information provision unit sets a rank based on the importance of information provision according to the differences between the above-mentioned dispensing schedule information and the above-mentioned dispensing performance information, and determines the above-mentioned dispensing-related information and the above-mentioned hand-delivered items based on the set rank.

13. A dispensing support device that provides dispensing information to a dispensing pharmacy regarding the dispensing of prescription drugs, The dispensing history management unit collects dispensing history information, including prescription information and information on dispensing performed by pharmacies for those prescriptions, from terminals at multiple pharmacies and manages it as a dispensing history database. A dispensing schedule information acquisition unit acquires dispensing schedule information, including prescription information and information on the dispensing to be performed, from the terminal of the target dispensing pharmacy that is the target of information provision. The system comprises an information provision unit that compares the dispensing schedule information of the target pharmacy obtained by the dispensing schedule information acquisition unit with the dispensing history information of other pharmacies managed by the dispensing history management unit, and provides the target pharmacy with dispensing-related information identified according to the similarities and differences between the dispensing schedule information and the dispensing history information. A dispensing support device characterized by the following features.

14. The dispensing history management unit of the dispensing support device collects dispensing performance information, including prescription information and information on dispensing performed by pharmacies for said prescriptions, from terminals at multiple pharmacies and manages it as a dispensing history database. The dispensing support device's dispensing schedule information acquisition unit acquires dispensing schedule information, including prescription information and information on the dispensing to be performed, from the terminal of the target dispensing pharmacy that is the target of information provision. The dispensing support device has the following steps: the information provision unit compares the dispensing schedule information of the target pharmacy acquired by the dispensing schedule information acquisition unit with the dispensing history information of other pharmacies managed by the dispensing history management unit, and provides the target pharmacy with dispensing-related information identified according to the similarities and differences between the dispensing schedule information and the dispensing history information. A method for providing dispensing-related information characterized by the following features.

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