Information processing device and information processing method

Abstract

The system will be able to provide medication guidance and prescription drugs in accordance with the user's desired medication guidance schedule. [Solution] The information processing device 1 includes a reception unit 131 that receives prescription information indicating a prescription issued by a medical institution to the user and receives the user's request for medication guidance regarding the prescribed drug corresponding to the prescription information; a determination unit 132 that determines a pharmacy that will provide the prescribed drug based on information indicating whether or not the pharmacy can provide the prescribed drug, and determines a guidance pharmacy that will provide the medication guidance in response to the user's request for medication guidance; and a notification unit 133 that notifies the determined pharmacy that will provide the medication guidance that it is a guidance pharmacy, and notifies the determined pharmacy that will provide the prescribed drug that it is a provision pharmacy.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and an information processing method.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, medical services have been provided online. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a system for remotely performing a patient examination by a doctor and giving a patient medication guidance by a pharmacist, and delivering the prescribed medicine dispensed to the patient after the medication guidance.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the conventional technology, a patient who is a user of the system reserves a pharmacy when making a reservation for medication guidance, the pharmacy conducts the medication guidance at the time of reservation for the medication guidance, and delivers the prescribed medicine to the user after the medication guidance. However, depending on the situation of the pharmacy, there is a problem that it may not be able to respond to the schedule of medication guidance desired by the user, or may not be able to provide the prescribed medicine to the user after the medication guidance due to stock shortages or the like.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of these points, and an object thereof is to be able to perform medication guidance and provide prescribed medicine in response to the schedule of medication guidance desired by the user.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An information processing device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes: a receiving unit that receives prescription information indicating a prescription issued by a medical institution to a user and receives the user's request for medication guidance regarding the prescribed drug corresponding to the prescription information; a determination unit that determines a providing pharmacy that will provide the prescribed drug based on information indicating whether or not a pharmacy can provide the prescribed drug, and determines a guidance pharmacy that will provide the medication guidance in response to the user's request for medication guidance; and a notification unit that notifies the pharmacy that will provide the medication guidance determined by the determination unit that it is the guidance pharmacy, and notifies the pharmacy that will provide the prescribed drug determined by the determination unit that it is the providing pharmacy.

[0007] The decision-making unit may determine the providing pharmacy by inquiring with the pharmacy whether or not they can provide the prescribed drug.

[0008] The decision-making unit may determine the providing pharmacy by inquiring with multiple pharmacies about their ability to provide the prescribed drug.

[0009] The decision-making unit may determine the dispensing pharmacy by inquiring about the availability of the prescription drug from pharmacies with the highest priority.

[0010] The decision unit may determine which pharmacy will provide medication guidance in response to the user's request for medication guidance by presenting the user with one or more pharmacy guidance services that the user has previously selected.

[0011]

[0012]

[0013]

[0014]

[0015]

[0016] A second aspect of the present invention relates to an information processing method which includes the steps of: receiving prescription information issued by a medical institution to a user, and receiving a request from the user for medication guidance regarding a prescribed drug corresponding to the prescription information, based on information indicating whether or not a pharmacy can provide the prescribed drug, determining a pharmacy that will provide the prescribed drug, determining a pharmacy that will provide medication guidance in response to the user's request for medication guidance, and notifying the determined pharmacy that will provide the medication guidance that it is the pharmacy that provides the guidance, and notifying the determined pharmacy that will provide the prescribed drug that it is the pharmacy that provides the prescription drug. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide medication guidance and prescription drugs in accordance with the user's desired medication guidance schedule. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0018] [Figure 1] This is a diagram illustrating the overview of an information processing device. [Figure 2] This diagram shows the functional configuration of an information processing device. [Figure 3] This is an example of prescription history information. [Figure 4] This is a sequence diagram illustrating the process for determining which pharmacies provide supervision and which do not provide healthcare services. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0019] [Overview of Information Processing Device 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of the information processing apparatus 1. The information processing apparatus 1 is a computer for providing a healthcare service that enables a user as a patient in a medical institution to receive a prescription drug corresponding to a prescription issued to the user at a store such as a convenience store. The information processing apparatus 1 is at least communicably connected to a user terminal 2 used by the user, a pharmacy terminal 3 provided at a pharmacy such as an online pharmacy that is a delivery source for delivering the prescription drug, and a delivery destination terminal 4 provided at the delivery destination of the prescription drug.

[0020] In the present embodiment, for simplicity of explanation, as the pharmacy terminal 3, pharmacy terminals 3A provided at Pharmacy A, pharmacy terminals 3B provided at Pharmacy B, and pharmacy terminals 3C provided at Pharmacy C are shown. In the following description, when the pharmacy terminals 3A, 3B, and 3C are not distinguished, these pharmacy terminals are also referred to as the pharmacy terminal 3. Note that the pharmacy terminal 3 is assumed to be provided at the location of the online pharmacy, but it is not limited thereto, and it may be provided at a location different from the location of the online pharmacy, such as the location of a qualified person who works remotely at the online pharmacy.

[0021] First, when the user visits a medical institution, a prescription is issued at the medical institution ((1) and (2) in FIG. 1), and an exchange number as prescription information indicating the prescription is notified to the user ((3) in FIG. 1).

[0022] The user uses the user terminal 2 that the user uses to transmit to the information processing apparatus 1 an exchange number as prescription information and a medication guidance request for receiving medication guidance regarding the prescription drug corresponding to the prescription ((4) in FIG. 1). The information processing apparatus 1 receives the exchange number and the medication guidance request.

[0023] When the information processing device 1 receives an exchange number and a request for medication guidance, it queries the pharmacy terminals 3 of each of the multiple pharmacies that provide medication guidance and dispense prescription drugs, asking whether they can provide the prescription drug corresponding to the prescription information indicated by the exchange number and whether they can respond to the request for medication guidance (Figure 1, (5)). The information processing device 1 receives responses from each of the multiple pharmacies' terminals 3 regarding whether they can provide the prescription drug and whether they can respond to the request for medication guidance (Figure 1, (6)). In the example shown in Figure 1, the information processing device 1 receives a response from pharmacy terminal 3A of pharmacy A stating that the prescription drug can be provided but the request for medication guidance cannot be made, a response from pharmacy terminal 3B of pharmacy B stating that the prescription drug cannot be provided but the request for medication guidance can be made, and a response from pharmacy terminal 3C of pharmacy C stating that the prescription drug can be provided and the request for medication guidance can be made.

[0024] The information processing device 1 determines, based on the responses from each of the multiple pharmacies, which pharmacies will provide medication guidance to the user, and which pharmacies will provide the prescribed medications corresponding to the prescription information. In the example shown in Figure 1, since pharmacy C responded that it can provide both prescribed medications and medication guidance, the information processing device 1 determines pharmacy C to be both the guidance pharmacy and the providing pharmacy.

[0025] The information processing device 1 then notifies the pharmacy that will provide the medication guidance that it is a guidance pharmacy, and also notifies the pharmacy that will provide the prescribed medication that it is a supplying pharmacy. In the example shown in Figure 1, the information processing device 1 transmits medication guidance reservation information indicating that pharmacy C has been designated as a guidance pharmacy, and delivery instruction information indicating that pharmacy C has been designated as a supplying pharmacy and instructing delivery of the prescribed medication to the delivery destination to the pharmacy terminal 3C (Figure 1 (7)). In this way, the information processing device 1 determines a pharmacy that can deliver medication and a pharmacy that can provide medication guidance in accordance with the user's desired medication guidance schedule, so that medication guidance and provision of prescribed medication can be carried out in accordance with the user's desired medication guidance schedule.

[0026] Subsequently, Pharmacy C delivers the prescribed medication to the delivery destination (Figure 1, (8)). The user then visits the store and uses the delivery destination terminal 4 installed in the store to receive medication guidance from a qualified person at Pharmacy C who responds to the medication guidance request (Figure 1, (9)). After that, the user can pick up the prescribed medication delivered to the store once the medication guidance is complete (Figure 1, (10)).

[0027] [Functional configuration of the information processing device 1] Next, the functions of the information processing device 1 will be explained. Figure 2 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the information processing device 1. The information processing device 1 includes a communication unit 11, a storage unit 12, and a control unit 13.

[0028] The communication unit 11 is a communication interface for sending and receiving data with external devices such as the user terminal 2, pharmacy terminal 3, and delivery destination terminal 4 via a communication network such as the internet or a mobile phone line.

[0029] The memory unit 12 is a storage medium for storing various types of data, and includes ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), and hard disks. The memory unit 12 stores programs to be executed by the control unit 13. The memory unit 12 also stores programs that cause the control unit 13 to function as a receiving unit 131, a decision unit 132, a notification unit 133, and an acquisition unit 134.

[0030] Furthermore, the storage unit 12 stores prescription history information, which includes prescription information previously received from users and shows the history of deliveries of prescribed drugs to users based on said prescription information. Figure 3 shows an example of prescription history information. As shown in Figure 3, it is information that associates at least a user ID as user identification information for identifying the user, a reception date and time indicating the date and time when the information processing device 1 received the prescription information, prescription information, prescription drug information indicating the prescribed drug, and a delivery date and time indicating the date and time when the prescribed drug was delivered to the user. Prescription information includes, for example, an exchange number, patient information, prescription details, and prescribing physician information indicating information about the prescribing physician.

[0031] The control unit 13 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 13 functions as a receiving unit 131, a decision unit 132, a notification unit 133, and an acquisition unit 134 by executing a program stored in the storage unit 12.

[0032] The reception unit 131 receives prescription information from the user, showing the prescription issued by the medical institution, and also receives a request for medication guidance, which is a request from the user to receive medication guidance regarding the prescribed drug corresponding to the said prescription.

[0033] For example, when a user visits a medical institution, a prescription is issued at the medical institution. In this embodiment, the medical institution issues an electronic prescription and an exchange number to identify the electronic prescription, and the exchange number is notified to the user.

[0034] After a prescription is issued, if a pre-installed healthcare service application or a healthcare service web application is executed on the user terminal 2, the user terminal 2 sends a request to the information processing device 1 to display a reception screen that accepts prescription information and the date and time of the medication guidance requested by the user. The display request includes the user ID assigned to the user in the healthcare service to identify the user.

[0035] When the reception unit 131 receives a display request, it displays a reception screen on the user terminal 2. On the reception screen, the user can enter an exchange number as prescription information, and can also select the date and time the user wishes to receive medication guidance, as well as the location where the user can receive medication guidance.

[0036] The medication guidance location is, for example, a location where a terminal is installed that allows for online consultations with qualified professionals such as pharmacists, and where the prescribed medication can be handed over to the user. This location is the delivery destination for the prescribed medication corresponding to the prescription indicated by the prescription information, and is, for example, a convenience store. In this embodiment, an online pharmacy provides medication guidance, but it is not limited to this, and a pharmacy with a physical store may also provide medication guidance. In this case, the medication guidance location is the pharmacy, and the location for handing over the prescribed medication may be the pharmacy or another store such as the nearest convenience store. In this embodiment, the delivery destination for the prescribed medication is not the user's home. Furthermore, while the medication guidance is conducted using a terminal installed in a store such as a convenience store where the prescribed medication can be handed over to the user, it is not limited to this, and may also be conducted using user terminal 2. In this case, the medication guidance location and the location for handing over the prescribed medication may be different.

[0037] The reception unit 131 selects multiple candidate locations for medication guidance based on the user's address information and other data associated with the user ID, and displays a reception screen containing the selected candidates on the user terminal 2.

[0038] The reception unit 131 accepts the input of an exchange number as prescription information from the user terminal 2 via a reception screen. The reception unit 131 also accepts the user's selection of the desired date and time for medication guidance via the reception screen, and accepts the selection of a medication guidance location from one or more delivery destinations for medication guidance where the prescribed medication can be delivered, thereby accepting the medication guidance request. The reception unit 131 accepts the medication guidance request, which includes the exchange number, the selected date and time for medication guidance, and delivery destination information indicating the selected medication guidance location, and requests a reservation for medication guidance.

[0039] Here, the reception unit 131 may accept the date and time of medication guidance as the desired date and time for delivery of the prescribed medication to the medication guidance location. In addition, although the reception unit 131 accepts the selection of the date and time of medication guidance via the reception screen, it is not limited to this, and may also accept from the user that the date and time of medication guidance be any time.

[0040] When the reception unit 131 obtains an exchange number by receiving a medication guidance request, it retrieves prescription details, patient information, and prescribing physician information associated with the exchange number. For example, when a prescription is issued at a medical institution, the prescription information for that prescription is stored in a management server (not shown) that manages prescription information. The reception unit 131 refers to the management server and retrieves prescription details, patient information, and prescribing physician information associated with the received exchange number.

[0041] The reception unit 131 received the exchange number as prescription information from the user terminal 2, but is not limited to this; it may also receive the exchange number as prescription information from the terminal of the medical institution that generated the prescription information. In this case, the reception unit 131 may also receive, in addition to the exchange number, the user ID, prescription details information for the prescription corresponding to the exchange number, patient information, and prescribing physician information.

[0042] Furthermore, the reception unit 131 obtains delivery destination information indicating the delivery address of the prescribed medication from the user terminal 2, but is not limited to this. The reception unit 131 may also obtain delivery destination information indicating the delivery address from the terminal of the medical institution that generated the prescription information, or from a management device that manages the delivery address corresponding to the user. In this case, the user shall register in advance on the medical institution's terminal or management device an association between their user ID and the delivery destination information corresponding to the user. Here, the management device is, for example, a server that manages My Number cards, and is a server for linking and managing the user's personal information to the My Number card. The reception unit 131 then obtains the delivery destination information stored on the medical institution's terminal or management device in association with the user ID of the user included in the request to display the reception screen. By doing so, the user does not need to select the delivery destination information each time they request medication guidance, thus reducing the burden on the user.

[0043] The reception unit 131 associates the user ID with the acquired exchange number, prescription details, patient information, and prescribing physician information, i.e., prescription information, and stores it in the storage unit 12 as part of the prescription history information.

[0044] The decision unit 132 inquires with multiple pharmacies that provide medication guidance and dispense prescription drugs about their ability to provide prescription drugs corresponding to the prescription information and their ability to respond to requests for medication guidance. Based on the responses to the inquiries, the decision unit 132 determines which pharmacies will provide medication guidance to the user (guidance pharmacies) and which pharmacies will provide prescription drugs corresponding to the prescription information (supply pharmacies).

[0045] Specifically, the decision unit 132 queries each of the pharmacy terminals 3 of multiple online pharmacies that provide medication guidance and dispense prescription drugs, asking whether they can provide prescription drugs corresponding to the prescription information, and whether they can respond to requests for medication guidance. Here, the multiple online pharmacies provide medication guidance and dispense prescription drugs, but are not limited to this; they may provide either medication guidance or dispense prescription drugs.

[0046] For example, the decision unit 132 sends information regarding the availability of the prescription drug corresponding to the prescription information to each pharmacy terminal 3 of multiple online pharmacies that provide medication guidance and dispense prescription drugs, thereby inquiring about the availability of the guidance and the availability of the medication guidance request.

[0047] The information regarding availability of prescription drugs is used to inquire about the availability of prescription drugs corresponding to the prescription information. For example, it includes the date and time of medication guidance for the prescription drugs received by the reception department 131 as the desired delivery date and time, and delivery address information indicating the delivery destination. The information regarding availability of guidance is used to inquire about the availability of responding to a request for medication guidance. For example, it includes the date and time of medication guidance selected by the user. If the user selects an arbitrary date and time for the medication guidance, it includes information indicating that the date and time of the medication guidance can be any date and time.

[0048] When the decision unit 132 inquires with multiple pharmacies that provide medication guidance and dispense prescription drugs about whether they can provide prescription drugs and whether they can respond to requests for medication guidance, it inquires with multiple pharmacies based on a predetermined priority order of pharmacies, for example. For example, the memory unit 12 stores priority information indicating the priority order of inquiries to each of the multiple pharmacies. This priority order is, for example, a ranking predetermined by the user, and the memory unit 12 stores priority information that associates the user's user ID with the priority order of inquiries to each of the multiple pharmacies specified by that user.

[0049] The decision unit 132 refers to the priority information stored in the memory unit 12 and identifies the priority of each of the multiple pharmacies associated with the user ID of the user corresponding to the prescription information received by the reception unit 131. Based on the identified priority, the decision unit 132 sequentially queries the multiple pharmacies regarding whether they can provide the prescribed medication and whether they can respond to the request for medication guidance.

[0050] For example, the decision unit 132 first sends information regarding the availability of the product and the availability of guidance to the pharmacy terminal 3 of the pharmacy with the highest priority, and receives a response to each inquiry within a predetermined time.

[0051] When the decision unit 132 receives a response indicating that the prescription drug can be provided in response to the availability inquiry information, it determines that the pharmacy at the pharmacy terminal 3 is the providing pharmacy. On the other hand, when the decision unit 132 receives a response indicating that the prescription drug cannot be provided, it sends the availability inquiry information to the pharmacy terminal 3 of the next highest priority pharmacy and receives a response.

[0052] When the decision unit 132 receives a response indicating that medication guidance can be provided in response to the information regarding the feasibility of providing guidance, it determines that the pharmacy at the pharmacy terminal 3 is the providing pharmacy. On the other hand, when the decision unit 132 receives a response indicating that medication guidance cannot be provided, it sends the information regarding the feasibility of providing guidance to the pharmacy terminal 3 of the next highest priority pharmacy and receives a response. In this way, the decision unit 132 inquires with multiple pharmacies in order of priority about whether they can provide the prescribed medication and whether they can respond to the request for medication guidance.

[0053] While the priority order is to be specified in advance by the user, it is not limited to this. The priority order may be determined based on the user's past pharmacy usage history; for example, pharmacies that have been used relatively more frequently may have a higher priority. Alternatively, the priority order may be determined based on the type of business operator that operates the pharmacy. In this case, the type of business operator that operates the pharmacy may include, for example, a type indicating a directly managed store of a business operator that provides healthcare services, i.e., a business operator that provides information processing equipment, and a type indicating a partner store that can provide healthcare services. The priority order may be set higher for pharmacies of the directly managed store type than for pharmacies of the partner store type. In this way, directly managed stores will be given priority in providing services, and if either medication guidance or prescription drug provision is not possible at a directly managed store, the user can request medication guidance or prescription drug provision at a partner store that the directly managed store cannot provide.

[0054] Furthermore, while it is assumed that at least some of the multiple pharmacies that the decision unit 132 inquires about regarding the availability of prescription drugs and the multiple pharmacies that it inquires about regarding the availability of medication guidance requests are the same pharmacy, it is not limited to this. For example, the multiple pharmacies that the decision unit 132 inquires about regarding the availability of prescription drugs and the multiple pharmacies that it inquires about regarding the availability of medication guidance requests may be different pharmacies.

[0055] Alternatively, the decision unit 132 may simultaneously inquire with each of the pharmacy terminals 3 of multiple pharmacies about whether they can provide the prescribed medication corresponding to the prescription information and whether they can respond to the request for medication guidance. From among the one or more pharmacies that respond to the inquiry within a predetermined time, the decision unit 132 may determine which pharmacies will provide guidance and which pharmacies will provide the medication.

[0056] In this case, the decision unit 132 simultaneously transmits information regarding the availability of medication and information regarding the availability of guidance to each of the multiple pharmacies' pharmacy terminals 3, and receives responses to the inquiries from each of the multiple pharmacies within a predetermined time. The decision unit 132 then determines at least one of the pharmacies that responded relatively quickly to each inquiry to be either a guidance pharmacy or a provision pharmacy. Specifically, the decision unit 132 determines the pharmacy with the pharmacy terminal 3 that responded the fastest to the availability of medication inquiry information as the provision pharmacy, and determines the pharmacy with the pharmacy terminal 3 that responded the fastest to the guidance inquiry information as the guidance pharmacy.

[0057] Furthermore, when the decision unit 132 simultaneously inquires with multiple pharmacies about the availability of prescription drugs corresponding to the prescription information and the availability of medication guidance requests, it may present to the user's user terminal 2 which pharmacies are capable of providing medication guidance or prescription drugs, based on the responses from one or more pharmacies. In this case, the decision unit 132 may prioritize presenting to the user pharmacies that are capable of providing both medication guidance and prescription drugs, among pharmacies capable of providing at least one of these services. The decision unit 132 may also prioritize presenting to the user pharmacies that have been previously selected by the user as guidance pharmacies or providing pharmacies.

[0058] The decision unit 132 then accepts the user's selection of a supervising pharmacy and a providing pharmacy, and may determine the pharmacy selected by the user as the supervising pharmacy as the supervising pharmacy, and the pharmacy selected by the user as the providing pharmacy as the providing pharmacy. In this way, the user can decide which pharmacy of their choice will be the providing pharmacy and the supervising pharmacy.

[0059] Furthermore, when the decision unit 132 inquires with multiple pharmacies in parallel about whether they can provide the prescribed drug corresponding to the prescription information and whether they can respond to the request for medication guidance, it may prioritize designating pharmacies that respond that they can provide medication guidance and the prescribed drug within a predetermined time as the guidance pharmacy and the providing pharmacy. By prioritizing the designation of pharmacies that respond that they can provide medication guidance and the prescribed drug as the guidance pharmacy and the providing pharmacy in this way, coordination work between pharmacies becomes unnecessary, as would be the case if two different pharmacies were designated as the guidance pharmacy and the providing pharmacy, thus enabling efficient provision of medication guidance and prescribed drugs.

[0060] Furthermore, when the decision unit 132 simultaneously inquires with multiple pharmacies about the availability of prescription drugs corresponding to the prescription information and the availability of medication guidance, and the reception unit 131 receives a date and time for medication guidance from the user as an arbitrary date and time, the decision unit 132 may obtain date and time information indicating the date and time when medication guidance is available from each of the one or more pharmacies that can provide medication guidance. The decision unit 132 may then determine the pharmacy with the relatively earliest date and time when medication guidance is available from among the one or more pharmacies that can provide medication guidance as the guidance pharmacy. In this way, the information processing device 1 can promptly provide medication guidance to the user.

[0061] The notification unit 133 notifies the pharmacy that the decision unit 132 has determined to provide medication guidance that the pharmacy is a guidance pharmacy, and also notifies the pharmacy that the decision unit 132 has determined to provide prescription drugs that the pharmacy is a supplying pharmacy.

[0062] The notification unit 133 notifies the pharmacy that it is a medication guidance pharmacy by, for example, sending medication guidance reservation information to the pharmacy terminal 3 of the pharmacy that the decision unit 132 has determined to provide medication guidance. This reservation information includes prescription information corresponding to the exchange number included in the medication guidance request and the date and time of the medication guidance selected by the user. The notification unit 133 also associates the user ID, prescription information, and date and time of the medication guidance and stores this information in the storage unit 12 as guidance reservation information. As a result, the guidance pharmacy can understand that it is a guidance pharmacy and its medication guidance schedule based on the reservation information.

[0063] Furthermore, the notification unit 133 notifies the pharmacy that it is a medication guidance pharmacy by transmitting delivery instruction information that instructs the delivery of the prescribed medication to the delivery destination of the prescribed medication before the medication guidance is carried out based on the medication guidance request received by the reception unit 131.

[0064] The delivery instruction information includes the exchange number received by the reception unit 131, the prescription details, patient information, and prescribing physician information corresponding to the exchange number. When the providing pharmacy receives the delivery instruction information, it delivers the prescribed medication to the delivery destination, for example, by associating it with the exchange number. This allows the delivery destination to identify the prescribed medication corresponding to the prescription information based on the exchange number.

[0065] Furthermore, the notification unit 133 may notify pharmacy terminals 3 that a pharmacy that responded that it is possible to provide medication guidance but was not determined to be a guidance pharmacy by the decision unit 132, that the pharmacy was not determined to be a guidance pharmacy. Similarly, the notification unit 133 may notify pharmacy terminals 3 that a pharmacy that responded that it is possible to provide prescription drugs but was not determined to be a supplying pharmacy by the decision unit 132, that the pharmacy was not determined to be a supplying pharmacy.

[0066] The acquisition unit 134 acquires prescription drug information, associated with the exchange number, from, for example, the pharmacy terminal 3 of the dispensing pharmacy, in response to the delivery of the prescription drug to the delivery destination. The acquisition unit 134 stores the acquired prescription drug information in association with the acquired exchange number in the prescription history information stored in the storage unit 12.

[0067] After submitting a medication guidance request, the user receives medication guidance from a qualified pharmacist at the medication guidance location using the delivery terminal 4 located at the medication guidance location at the date and time selected by the user. After the medication guidance is provided to the user, the acquisition unit 134 acquires guidance result information indicating the outcome of the medication guidance. For example, the acquisition unit 134 acquires guidance result information indicating the outcome of the medication guidance from the qualified person's terminal (not shown) who provided the medication guidance to the user. The guidance result information includes, for example, the exchange number included in the medication guidance request and information indicating whether or not permission has been granted to provide the user with the prescribed medication based on the prescription.

[0068] If the notification unit 133 indicates that it is authorized to provide the user with the prescribed medication, it transmits authorization information to the delivery terminal 4 at the delivery destination where the user receives medication guidance, or to the user terminal 2 used by the user, indicating that it is authorized to deliver the prescribed medication to the user. For example, the authorization information is authorization information that the user presents to the store clerk at the delivery destination, such as a store. The authorization information includes, for example, the exchange number included in the medication guidance request. When the notification unit 133 transmits authorization information to the delivery terminal 4, the delivery terminal 4 may print out the authorization information. This allows the user to present the authorization information displayed on the user terminal 2 or the printed authorization information at the delivery destination and receive the prescribed medication corresponding to the exchange number included in the authorization information.

[0069] Furthermore, if the result information obtained by the acquisition unit 134 indicates that it is not permitted to provide the prescription drug to the user, the notification unit 133 sends return instruction information to the destination of the prescription drug instructing it to return the prescription drug to the distributor. The return instruction information includes, for example, the exchange number included in the medication guidance request. In this case, the notification unit 133 sends the return instruction information to the destination of the prescription drug via a store terminal (not shown) used by a store employee at the destination of the prescription drug. This allows the store employee to return the prescription drug based on the exchange number included in the return instruction information.

[0070] The guidance result information includes, but is not limited to, information indicating whether or not permission is granted to provide the user with prescription drugs based on the prescription. For example, the guidance result information may include information indicating the prescription drugs to be prescribed to the user. In this case, the notification unit 133 may compare the guidance result information acquired by the acquisition unit 134 with the contents of the prescription drugs indicated in the prescription information to determine whether or not to hand over the prescription drugs to the user.

[0071] Specifically, the notification unit 133 determines to deliver the prescribed medication to the user if the prescribed medication indicated in the guidance result information matches the prescribed medication indicated in the prescription information, or if the efficacy of these prescribed medications matches. If the prescribed medication to the user does not match the prescribed medication indicated in the prescription information, and the efficacy of these prescribed medications does not match, the notification unit 133 determines not to deliver the prescribed medication to the user. The notification unit 133 may then transmit information indicating whether or not to deliver the prescribed medication to the user to the delivery destination terminal 4, which the user uses to receive medication guidance, or to the user terminal 2 used by the user.

[0072] After the user receives the prescription medication at the delivery location, the acquisition unit 134 acquires delivery completion information, including the exchange number corresponding to the prescription medication, from, for example, the terminal at the medication guidance location, i.e., the store terminal at the delivery location, indicating that the prescription medication has been handed over. Upon acquiring the delivery completion information, the acquisition unit 134 stores the delivery date and time, indicating the time the delivery completion information was acquired, in the prescription history information stored in the storage unit 12, associated with the acquired exchange number. The acquisition unit 134 may also acquire information from the terminal at the medication guidance location indicating that the prescription information has been received after the medication guidance has been completed.

[0073] Furthermore, when a pharmacy delivers prescription drugs based on delivery instruction information, the pharmacy delivers the prescription drugs to the user at the delivery address before medication guidance is provided. However, it is not limited to this, and the pharmacy may also deliver the prescription drugs if the user is authorized to be prescribed the drugs during medication guidance. For example, if the prescription drugs to be delivered are not similar to prescription drugs previously prescribed to the user, identified by referring to the user's prescription history, the pharmacy may deliver the prescription drugs if the user is authorized to be prescribed the drugs during medication guidance.

[0074] In this case, if the dispensing pharmacy and the supervising pharmacy are different, there is a problem in that it is difficult for the dispensing pharmacy to know that medication guidance has been provided. To address this, if the supervising pharmacy and the dispensing pharmacy determined by the decision unit 132 are different, the notification unit 133 may acquire completion information indicating that medication guidance to the user has been completed at the supervising pharmacy and notify the dispensing pharmacy of this completion information. In this way, the dispensing pharmacy will know that medication guidance has been provided and will be able to start delivering the prescribed medication.

[0075] [Sequence Diagram] Next, we will explain the process flow for determining which pharmacies are responsible for supervision and which pharmacies provide healthcare services. Figure 4 is a sequence diagram showing the process flow for determining which pharmacies are responsible for supervision and which pharmacies provide healthcare services. In the example shown in Figure 4, for the sake of simplicity, we will explain the process of contacting three pharmacies to determine which are responsible for supervision and which pharmacies provide healthcare services. In addition, in the example shown in Figure 4, we will explain the process flow when contacting multiple pharmacies sequentially based on priority information.

[0076] First, after the user visits a medical institution and a prescription is issued, the user terminal 2, in response to the user's operation, sends a request to the information processing device 1 to display a reception screen that includes the user ID, exchange number, and reservation for medication guidance (S1). Upon receiving the display request, the reception unit 131 sends the reception screen to the user terminal 2, causing the reception screen to be displayed on the user terminal 2 (S2).

[0077] The reception unit 131 receives a medication guidance request from the user terminal 2 via the reception screen, which includes the exchange number and delivery information indicating the date, time, and location of the medication guidance selected by the user, and requests to reserve a medication guidance appointment (S3).

[0078] When the reception unit 131 obtains an exchange number by receiving a medication guidance request, it refers to the management server that manages prescription information and obtains prescription details, patient information, and prescribing physician information associated with the exchange number (S4).

[0079] When the reception unit 131 receives the exchange number as prescription information, the decision unit 132 sends inquiry information to multiple pharmacies that provide medication guidance and dispense prescribed drugs, based on a predetermined priority order for the pharmacies, to inquire whether they can provide the prescribed drugs and whether they can respond to the request for medication guidance.

[0080] In this sequence, pharmacy A, which corresponds to pharmacy terminal 3A, has the highest priority, followed by pharmacy B, which corresponds to pharmacy terminal 3B, and then pharmacy C, which corresponds to pharmacy terminal 3C. The decision unit 132 sends information regarding the availability of services and information regarding the availability of guidance to pharmacy terminal 3A as inquiry information (S5).

[0081] Here, the decision unit 132 receives response information from the pharmacy terminal 3A indicating that the prescription drug can be provided but medication guidance cannot be provided (S6). Based on the response from the pharmacy terminal 3A, the decision unit 132 determines pharmacy A, which corresponds to the pharmacy terminal 3A, as the providing pharmacy and sends delivery instruction information to the pharmacy terminal 3A (S7).

[0082] Next, the decision unit 132 sends the information regarding the feasibility of medication guidance to the pharmacy terminal 3B as inquiry information (S8). Here, the decision unit 132 receives response information from the pharmacy terminal 3B indicating that medication guidance is not possible (S9). Next, the decision unit 132 sends the information regarding the feasibility of medication guidance to the pharmacy terminal 3C as inquiry information (S10). Here, the decision unit 132 receives response information from the pharmacy terminal 3C indicating that medication guidance is possible (S11). Based on the response from the pharmacy terminal 3C, the decision unit 132 determines pharmacy C, which corresponds to the pharmacy terminal 3C, as the guidance pharmacy and sends the medication guidance reservation information to the pharmacy terminal 3C (S12).

[0083] Subsequently, the prescription medication is delivered from pharmacy A to the medication handover location. At the handover location, i.e., the medication guidance location, the prescription medication is handed over to the user in accordance with the user's online medication guidance from a qualified person at pharmacy C.

[0084] [Differentiation] The above-described embodiment explains an example in which medication guidance is received using a delivery terminal 4 installed in a store such as a convenience store, but it is not limited to this. Users may also receive medication guidance using their own terminals. For example, the reception unit 131 may, via a reception screen, accept from the user that they wish to receive medication guidance using the user terminal 2, without accepting the selection of a location for medication guidance, and may also accept the delivery address for the prescribed medication.

[0085] Alternatively, the reception unit 131 may not accept the user's request to receive medication guidance when receiving the exchange number as prescription information, instead displaying a reception screen that does not allow the user to select a date and time for medication guidance. In this case, once the reception unit 131 receives the exchange number as prescription information and the decision unit 132 determines the guidance pharmacy, communication regarding the medication guidance interview takes place between the user terminal 2 and the qualified person's terminal used by the qualified person at the guidance pharmacy, thereby enabling the medication guidance to be conducted. As a result, the user can receive medication guidance from a qualified person at the online pharmacy before the date and time the prescribed medication is delivered to the delivery destination.

[0086] [Effects of Information Processing Device 1] As described above, the information processing device 1 according to this embodiment receives prescription information indicating a prescription issued by a medical institution to the user, and also receives the user's request for medication guidance. It inquires with multiple pharmacies that provide medication guidance and dispense prescription drugs about whether they can provide the prescription drug corresponding to the prescription information and whether they can respond to the request for medication guidance. Based on the responses to the inquiries, it determines which pharmacies will provide medication guidance to the user and which pharmacies will provide the prescription drug corresponding to the prescription information. It then notifies the pharmacy that will provide medication guidance that it is a guidance pharmacy and the pharmacy that will provide the prescription drug that it is a provision pharmacy. In this way, the information processing device 1 can carry out medication guidance and provide prescription drugs in accordance with the user's desired medication guidance schedule.

[0087] Furthermore, this invention will make it possible to contribute to Goal 9 of the United Nations-led Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), "Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation."

[0088] Although the present invention has been described above using embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of its gist. For example, all or part of the apparatus can be configured by functionally or physically distributing and integrating in any unit. Furthermore, new embodiments resulting from any combination of multiple embodiments are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effects of the new embodiments resulting from the combinations are combined with the effects of the original embodiments. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0089] 1. Information Processing Device 2 User terminals 3. Pharmacy terminal 4. Delivery destination terminal 11 Communications Department 12 Storage section 13 Control Unit 131 Reception Department 132 Decision Section 133 Notification Department 134 Acquisition Department

Claims

1. A reception unit that receives prescription information showing prescriptions issued by medical institutions to users, and also receives requests from users for medication guidance regarding the prescribed drugs corresponding to the said prescription information, A decision unit that, by referring to information indicating whether a pharmacy can provide the aforementioned prescription drug, determines a pharmacy that will provide the aforementioned prescription drug from among pharmacies that can provide the aforementioned prescription drug, and by referring to information indicating whether a pharmacy can provide the aforementioned medication guidance in response to the user's request for medication guidance, determines a guidance pharmacy that will provide the aforementioned medication guidance from among pharmacies that can provide the aforementioned medication guidance, A notification unit notifies the pharmacy that the decision unit has determined to provide the medication guidance that the pharmacy is the guidance pharmacy, and notifies the pharmacy that the decision unit has determined to provide the prescription drug that the pharmacy is the providing pharmacy, An information processing device having

2. The decision unit transmits availability inquiry information, which is information for inquiring about the availability of the prescribed drug to a pharmacy terminal, obtains information from the terminal that transmitted the availability inquiry information indicating whether the pharmacy corresponding to that terminal is able to provide the prescribed drug, and determines the providing pharmacy by referring to the obtained information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The decision unit transmits availability inquiry information, which is information for inquiring about the availability of the prescribed drug to terminals of multiple pharmacies, obtains a response from the terminal that transmitted the availability inquiry information, indicating whether the pharmacy corresponding to that terminal can provide the prescribed drug, and determines the providing pharmacy by referring to the obtained information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2.

4. The decision unit transmits information regarding the availability of the prescription drug, starting with the terminals of pharmacies with the highest priority, and obtains information from those terminals indicating whether or not the prescription drug can be provided. The decision unit then determines the providing pharmacy by referring to the obtained information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3.

5. The decision unit presents the user with one or more pharmacies capable of providing medication guidance that the user has previously selected, accepts the user's selection from the presented pharmacies, and determines that the selected pharmacy will provide the medication guidance in response to the user's request for medication guidance. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

6. A computer executes The process includes receiving prescription information from a medical institution that shows the user a prescription, and receiving the user's request for medication guidance regarding the prescribed drug corresponding to the prescription information, The steps include: determining a pharmacy that will provide the prescription drug from among pharmacies that can provide the prescription drug by referring to information indicating whether a pharmacy can provide the prescription drug in response to the user's request for medication guidance by referring to information indicating whether a pharmacy can provide the medication guidance from among pharmacies that can provide the medication guidance; and The steps include notifying the pharmacy that will provide the medication guidance that it is the guidance pharmacy, and notifying the pharmacy that will provide the prescribed medication that it is the supplying pharmacy, An information processing method having

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