Pharmaceutical supply support system

Abstract

We provide a pharmaceutical delivery support system that shortens the time required for online medication guidance and the time it takes to complete dispensing. [Solution] The system consists of a server and a pharmacy terminal. When a patient requests online medication guidance, the server performs the following processes: a prescription information acquisition process to receive information about the patient's prescription; a confirmation inquiry process to ask the patient about confirmation items at the time of registration; a dispensing instruction process to issue instructions for compounding medications according to the prescription and the confirmation inquiry results; a guidance date and time inquiry process to ask the patient about the date and time of the online medication guidance; and an online medication guidance process to connect the patient's terminal and the pharmacy terminal at the scheduled date and time of the online medication guidance and conduct the online medication guidance. After the online medication guidance process, the server has means to perform either a medication shipment instruction process to instruct the shipment of medications, or a medication pickup date and time notification process to notify the patient of the date and time when the medications can be picked up.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical supply support system, and more particularly to a system that enables a patient to smoothly receive pharmaceuticals dispensed at a pharmacy without burden.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, from the viewpoints of expanding online medical consultations via a network, eliminating waiting times at pharmacies, and improving the efficiency of in-pharmacy operations, there has been an increasing need for both patients and pharmacies for online prescription drug purchase and delivery instead of the conventional face-to-face dispensing. For this reason, the development of a system for performing a series of processes from prescription drug purchase and delivery application to home delivery online has been underway. When performing a series of processes online, regarding medication guidance, it is necessary to conduct it face-to-face via the Internet like a video conference. However, for a patient to receive face-to-face medication guidance online, it is necessary to prepare an environment with little noise and where one can concentrate on the medication guidance for a certain period of time, which is circuitous. Also, since it is for the dispensing after the medication guidance, the time until the dispensing is completed has been long. Therefore, there has been a demand for a system that can shorten the time for online medication guidance and the time until dispensing is completed.

[0003] In response to such problems, various techniques have been proposed conventionally. For example, a prescription order management system (see Patent Document 1) has been proposed and has become a known technique. More specifically, it is a system that generates a medication guidance date and medication guidance content from prescription data and patient data, conducts guidance remotely, performs dispensing after the guidance is completed, and ships it to a designated location, and manages prescription data, order data including application data and patient data, manages the progress status of the purchase application, manages the execution status of the remote medication guidance, and manages the shipping status. However, it cannot shorten the time for medication guidance and has not solved the above problems.

Prior Art Documents

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-96917 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0005] In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention aims to provide a drug delivery support system that can shorten the time required for online medication guidance, shorten the time until dispensing is completed, and enable patients to receive dispensed medicines at pharmacies smoothly and without burden. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical supply support system that assists in providing prescription drugs to patients, comprising a server and a pharmacy terminal, wherein the server performs the following actions when a patient requests online medication guidance: prescription information acquisition processing to receive information on the patient's prescription; confirmation inquiry processing to inquire with the patient about confirmation items at the time of reception; dispensing instruction processing to issue instructions for compounding drugs according to the prescription and the results of the confirmation inquiry; guidance date and time inquiry processing to inquire with the patient about the date and time of implementation of online medication guidance; and online medication guidance processing to connect the patient's terminal and the pharmacy terminal at the date and time of implementation of online medication guidance and conduct online medication guidance; and after the online medication guidance processing, employs means to perform either a drug shipment instruction processing to instruct the shipment of drugs, or a drug pickup date and time notification processing to notify the patient of the date and time when the drugs can be picked up.

[0007] Furthermore, in this invention, the confirmation items at the time of reception and the results of the confirmation item inquiry are sent to a medication history system that manages the patient's medication history, stored within the medication history system, and the medication history system is accessible from within the pharmacy.

[0008] Furthermore, the present invention employs a method in which the server, in processing confirmation inquiries, includes inquiries regarding the remaining medication status, medication adherence status, or changes in physical condition while taking the medication.

[0009] Furthermore, the present invention employs a means by which the server identifies the pharmaceuticals necessary for compounding based on the prescription and confirmation inquiry results, obtains the inventory quantity of the necessary pharmaceuticals from a pharmaceutical inventory management system that manages the pharmacy's pharmaceutical inventory, and notifies the pharmacy staff of the possibility of shortages.

[0010] Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a server that, in the process of processing confirmation inquiries, obtains at least one of the patient's medication history book, IC card, and medication history from the server, and a prescription. The relationship We will take steps to explain and confirm the details regarding the person in charge.

[0011] Furthermore, the present invention allows a server to receive questions from patients during the confirmation inquiry process, and the content of the questions may include OTC medicines, supplements and drugs. History This includes questions related to other medications, and pharmacists will be instructed to answer such questions during online medication guidance sessions.

[0012] Furthermore, the present invention provides a means by which the server, in processing confirmation inquiries, makes inquiries to the patient via email or a communication application.

[0013] Furthermore, the present invention employs a means for instructing a company other than a pharmacy to ship pharmaceuticals in the pharmaceutical shipment instruction processing.

[0014] Furthermore, the present invention provides a prescription that is an electronic prescription, and a server that downloads a prescription corresponding to an exchange number presented by the patient.

[0015] Furthermore, in online medication guidance processing, when displaying the pharmacist on the patient's terminal, a means of displaying the medication prepared together with the pharmacist will be employed.

[0016] Furthermore, the present invention adopts a means by which a server manages a plurality of pharmacies and is connected to in-pharmacy terminals of each pharmacy.

[0017] Moreover, the present invention provides a system where a server is managed at a drug collection and delivery center, manages a plurality of pharmacies, and is connected to in-pharmacy terminals of each pharmacy. The drug collection and delivery center collects drugs from a plurality of pharmacies and delivers pharmaceuticals to patients, and the drug collection and delivery center adopts a means of entrusting the collection and delivery to at least one of a pharmaceutical wholesaler, a food delivery person, a lactic acid beverage vendor, a newspaper delivery person, and an individual business operator.

Advantages of the Invention

[0018] According to the pharmaceutical supply support system of the present invention, the time for online medication guidance can be shortened, the time until dispensing is completed can be shortened, and patients can smoothly receive the pharmaceuticals dispensed at the pharmacy without burden.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] [Figure 1] It is an overall view of the pharmaceutical supply support system according to the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a sequence diagram of the pharmaceutical supply support system according to the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a display screen of the pharmaceutical supply support system according to the present invention. [Figure 4] It is a schematic diagram showing another embodiment of the pharmaceutical supply support system according to the present invention.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] The greatest feature of the pharmaceutical supply support system according to the present invention is that it can shorten the time for online medication guidance and the time until dispensing is completed. Hereinafter, embodiments of the pharmaceutical supply support system according to the present invention will be described based on the drawings. Furthermore, the pharmaceutical delivery support system according to the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention, that is, within the scope of configurations that can exhibit the same effects and advantages.

[0021] The present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. Figure 1 is a system diagram of the entire present invention. Figure 2 is a sequence diagram illustrating the flow of the present invention. Figure 3 shows terminal screens of the pharmaceutical delivery support system according to the present invention, where (a) is the screen of the patient's mobile terminal for making inquiries about confirmation items, (b) is the screen of the patient's mobile terminal during online guidance, and (c) is the screen on the pharmacist's side during online guidance. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating another embodiment, in which a regional drug collection and distribution center handles the distribution of pharmaceuticals.

[0022] Traditionally, when patients wanted to receive prescription medication, they had to take the prescription issued by the medical institution to a pharmacy and wait a long time before receiving their medication. While online medication guidance and drug delivery exist to reduce the need for long waits at pharmacies, they have many limitations and are only applicable in limited situations. For example, if a medical institution sends a fax to a pharmacy stating "online consultation available," the medication can be delivered after the online medication guidance is completed. However, if a patient sent a fax or a photo of their prescription to the pharmacy, verification of the original document was required, which was a roundabout process. Furthermore, online medication guidance sometimes took considerably longer than in-person guidance. During that time, it was necessary to find an environment that was quiet enough to allow for conversation, which was inconvenient. Therefore, there was a need for a system that could shorten the time required for online medication guidance and eliminate the need to verify prescriptions after the online guidance.

[0023] The Pharmaceutical Delivery Support System 1 is a system designed to facilitate smooth and timely online medication guidance for patients who request it, and to ensure the smooth delivery of medications. The pharmaceutical supply support system 1 handles everything from receiving prescriptions and clarifying any ambiguities, to determining the dispensing content based on the clarification results, issuing dispensing instructions, scheduling online medication guidance sessions, conducting online medication guidance sessions, and issuing instructions for shipping pharmaceuticals. All information may be processed using the information within the Pharmaceutical Provision Support System 1, or it may be processed with the appropriate support from the person in charge or pharmacist as needed. The pharmaceutical supply support system 1 mainly consists of a server 20 and a terminal 20 which is a terminal within the pharmacy, and functions through the cooperation of a reception department 30, a dispensing department 31, a delivery department 32, and an online guidance terminal 40.

[0024] Terminals 33 are located within the pharmacy 10 in the required number and are responsible for inputting information into the server 20 and receiving notifications of instructions from the server 20. The main inputs are prescription and insurance card data. The main instructions are dispensing instructions, drug delivery instructions, instructions for creating medication guidance content, and instructions for starting online medication guidance.

[0025] The reception area 30 is where prescriptions from patients 61 are received and insurance cards and other documents are held. Pharmacy staff member 11 performs this task. If a My Number (social security number) is used instead of an insurance card, the data is automatically entered and stored in server 20. If the prescription is on paper, the person in charge 11 enters the information using terminal 33, and the data is stored in server 20. If the prescription is an electronic prescription, the person in charge 11 receives a tag containing an identification number from the patient 61, identifies the identification number using a QR code (registered trademark), etc., and receives the electronic prescription from the hospital 60 via the internet. The electronic prescription data is automatically entered into the server 20.

[0026] The dispensing department 31 is where, in principle, pharmaceuticals are compounded according to the contents of the prescription. Pharmacists 12 perform the dispensing. The contents of the compounding are determined by the prescription and the results of the query based on the verification items. After the contents of the compounding are determined by the server 20, the server 20 instructs the dispensing department 31 to compound the medication. This instruction is given, for example, by notification to a terminal.

[0027] The delivery department 32 is responsible for shipping the compounded medicines to the patient 61. The person in charge 11 or the pharmacist 12 in the delivery department 32 may personally deliver the medicines to the patient's home 85, etc. Alternatively, they may request a suitable delivery person to do so. In cases where verification of the original prescription is required, delivery by the pharmacist 12 may be mandatory, but in this embodiment, since the original prescription has already been verified, it is simply a regular home delivery. Therefore, in addition to the 10 pharmacy staff, deliveries can be made in various forms using the most suitable combination of personnel, such as pharmaceutical wholesalers (91), food delivery personnel (90), lactic acid beverage sales personnel (92), and newspaper delivery personnel (93).

[0028] The online instruction terminal 40 is a device for providing online medication guidance to patient 61. It has a camera, speaker, and video conferencing application. A quiet environment is suitable for ensuring sufficient communication with patient 61. The connection for the video conference is managed by server 20. This is because it is necessary to connect without delay at the time specified by patient 61.

[0029] Server 20 is connected to the patient medication history system 50 and the pharmaceutical inventory management system 51. The medication history system 50 is a system that stores the history of medications previously prescribed to the 61 patients under the care of the doctor. For example, it centrally manages basic patient information, prescription history, allergy and side effect history, and medication guidance details. Conventionally, each time a prescription was dispensed, a pharmacist 12 or staff member 11 would input the details of the medication into the medication history system 50 using a terminal or the like. In this embodiment, information is directly input from the server 20 into the medication history system 50, thus reducing the burden on staff members.

[0030] The Pharmaceutical Inventory Management System 51 is a system for managing the inventory of pharmaceuticals within a pharmacy. Its main functions include preventing stockouts, preventing excess inventory and waste, simplifying receiving and shipping processes and inventory management, reducing the burden on pharmacists and administrative staff, ensuring legal compliance and traceability, and streamlining pharmacists' work while standardizing the quality of medication guidance. Server 20 can automatically issue warnings about drug shortages, etc., based on newly issued prescription details and drug inventory information obtained from the drug inventory management system 51.

[0031] Server 20 is the core component of the present invention. Broadly speaking, for patients who request online medication guidance, the system conducts some inquiries via the internet, and accordingly issues instructions to the dispensing department 31 and adjusts the online medication guidance schedule. Furthermore, it also instructs the delivery department 32 to deliver the medications, etc. Server 20 is located within the pharmacy 10 and is connected by wired or wireless means to the reception area 30, dispensing area 31, delivery area 32, terminal 33, and online instruction terminal 40. The reception desk (30) primarily obtains information from prescriptions and insurance cards. The dispensing details are presented to the dispensing department 31, and instructions are given to dispense the medication. The delivery department 32 is instructed to deliver the pharmaceuticals. The terminal 33 is used to notify the patient of any precautions and to obtain information about the patient from the terminal 33. It acts as a relay for connections between the online instruction terminal 40 and external terminals, etc. Server 20 is connected to the patient medication history system 50 and the pharmaceutical inventory management system 51, and exchanges various types of information with them.

[0032] Server 20 is connected to terminal 33 and online instruction terminal 40. Terminal 33 is used by staff member 11 and pharmacist 12 to input information to server 20 and to check information on server 20. It also sends notifications, instructions, and warnings from server 20 to staff member 11 and pharmacist 12. Terminal 33 is installed in one or multiple units, depending on the size of the pharmacy 10. The online instruction terminal 40 is a terminal for conducting online medication guidance. The online instruction terminal 40 is connected to the patient's mobile device 70, and medication guidance is provided to the patient 61 in a video conferencing format. The online instruction terminal 40 is equipped with a camera to display the pharmacist 12, a microphone to receive the pharmacist 12's voice, and a speaker or headphones to emit the patient 61's voice. The online instruction terminal 40 is installed in a relatively quiet area within the pharmacy 10.

[0033] Server 20 receives information input from the reception unit 30 and sends instructions to the dispensing unit 31 and the delivery unit 32. The reception area 30 is where prescriptions are received from patient 61 and their health insurance card and other documents are kept. It also confirms whether or not the patient wishes to receive online medication guidance. If the prescription is on paper, staff member 11 receives the prescription and enters the contents of the prescription into server 20 from terminal 33. If the prescription is an electronic prescription, staff member 11 receives an exchange number from patient 61, notifies server 20 of the exchange number, and server 20 retrieves the electronic prescription identified by the exchange number via the internet 80. Person in charge 11 takes the insurance card and other documents and enters the insurance number into terminal 33. If a My Number is used instead of an insurance card, it is read by the input device and the information is entered into server 20.

[0034] The dispensing department 31 is the part that dispenses medications according to the prescription and confirmation details, following instructions from the server 20. It prepares the medications for each patient 61 according to the prescription details. The delivery department 32 is responsible for delivering pharmaceuticals to customers' homes when they request it. While it is possible for the delivery department 32 to deliver directly, in this embodiment, the delivery department 32 requests other delivery personnel, such as pharmaceutical wholesalers 91, food delivery personnel 90, lactic acid bacteria beverage sales personnel 92, and newspaper delivery personnel 93, to carry out the deliveries. While delivery may sometimes be required by a pharmacist 12, in this embodiment, delivery is made after the online medication guidance is completed, allowing for delivery requests in various forms.

[0035] Hospital 60 is the medical facility where patient 61 received treatment. After the treatment, patient 61 received a prescription and then went to a pharmacy to have it filled. If the prescription is on paper, patient 61 will take it with them and hand it to pharmacy 10. In the case of electronic prescriptions, the hospital 60 stores the prescription data in a cloud storage unit on the internet 80. The patient 61 is then given an exchange number corresponding to the prescription data.

[0036] Patient 61's patient-use mobile device 70 is used when providing online medication guidance. The device may be provided by the hospital (60), pharmacy (10), etc., or it may be owned by the patient (61). If the device is owned by the patient (61), a smartphone is suitable. The patient's mobile terminal 70 can connect to the internet and has a camera, microphone, speaker, display screen, and built-in video conferencing application. It can send video and audio from the patient 61 and receive video and audio from the other party. Furthermore, the patient's mobile terminal 70 is equipped with email or SNS for communication with the server 20. Push notifications from the server 20 are possible, and notifications from the server 20 can be checked without delay.

[0037] The process for conducting online medication guidance will be explained using Figures 1 and 2. Patient 61 submits the prescription received from hospital 60 and the health insurance card they brought with them to pharmacy 10 (S101). In this embodiment, the prescription is a paper prescription, and the health insurance card is a conventional paper health insurance card. If the prescription is an electronic prescription, patient 61 receives an exchange number from hospital 60 and hands it over to pharmacy staff 11 at pharmacy 10 instead of the physical prescription. The server downloads the prescription corresponding to the exchange number presented by the patient. If the insurance card is a My Number card, insert the My Number card into the card reader to read the insurance card data stored within the My Number card.

[0038] Next, patient 61 contacts the pharmacy to request online medication guidance (S102). The main reason for requesting online guidance is that the patient does not have time to wait for their medication to be dispensed at the pharmacy. After the online guidance, patient 61 may request delivery of the medication to a convenience store 84, their home 85, or their workplace 86, or they may come to the pharmacy to pick up the medication at another time. If you wish to have your medication delivered to a convenience store (84), your home (85), your workplace (86), etc., you don't need to visit the pharmacy again. You can receive it at a convenient location, just like a regular courier service, which is very convenient. Furthermore, when picking up medication at a pharmacy, since patients have already received medication guidance, they can obtain their medication in a very short time, which is convenient.

[0039] Person in charge 11 checks the prescription and insurance card (S103) and sends the prescription data to the server 20. In the case of a paper prescription, the reception desk 30 enters the prescription data, and in the case of an electronic prescription, the electronic prescription data is obtained from the internet using the exchange number and transferred to the server 20 (S104). These are prescription information retrieval processes that receive information about the patient's prescription. If the insurance card is in paper form, the number is entered at the reception desk 30 and transmitted to the server 20. If it is a My Number card, the data obtained by the card reader is transmitted to the server 20.

[0040] Server 20 creates an inquiry for questioning based on the information obtained by reception unit 30 and drug history information, etc. (S105). The inquiries include checking medication adherence, remaining medication, and any changes in the patient's physical condition while taking the medication. The inquiry details are sent as a push notification (S106). This is a confirmation inquiry process that asks the patient about the items they confirmed at the time of check-in. In processing inquiries regarding confirmation matters, the server can verify the relationship between the patient's medication history and prescriptions, obtained from at least one of the following sources: the patient's medication history book, IC card, or medication history stored on the server. Push notifications are a feature that displays new information, updates, and other notifications on the screen of mobile device apps, such as smartphones. Because notifications are sent instantly even when the app is not running, users can quickly check important information. Patient 61, a user of a mobile device, immediately checks the inquiry and sends a response (S107). The inquiry is displayed as an inquiry screen 72 on the display screen 71 of the patient's mobile terminal 70. For example, the screen may look like the one shown in Figure 3(a). A push notification prompts the user to view the message, and the message indicates that it is an inquiry from the pharmacy. A list of items to be checked is provided. Each item has a selection button such as "yes" or "no." Patient 61 can answer the questions sequentially by simply selecting and pressing the buttons. Therefore, you can answer questions smoothly without worrying about your surroundings, even in crowded places or while traveling on a bus. The response is sent back, and the server receives the response (S106). Server 20 verifies the response (S108). If there are any doubts about the response, it makes another inquiry. If there are no doubts, confirm the contents of the prescription (S109). If the response to the inquiry does not include any changes to the prescription, the prescription will be finalized as is for the dispensing of the medication. If, based on the response to the inquiry, it is determined that the prescription should be modified, the dispensing details will be changed accordingly and finalized. For example, if the inquiry reveals that there is more leftover medication than expected, dispensing it as is would increase the amount of wasted medication. It is more efficient to limit the number of prescriptions dispensed by having the patient take the leftover medication appropriately. Furthermore, explaining the importance of taking the medication during medication counseling can prevent future instances of excessive leftover medication.

[0041] The finalized dispensing details are notified to the medication history system 50 (S110) and stored (S111). Furthermore, the confirmation details at the time of registration and the results of inquiries regarding those confirmation details are sent to the patient's medication history system, which manages the patient's medication history, and are stored within the system. This is convenient because it also allows for checking the history of changes in the medication history. The patient medication history system is accessible from within the pharmacy. The automatic recording of dispensing details in the medication history system 50 reduces the effort required for the person in charge 11 to input data into the system, and also prevents omissions in data entry, making it convenient. Server 20 checks the inventory of pharmaceuticals to be dispensed with the pharmaceutical inventory management system 51 (S112). The pharmaceutical inventory management system 51 notifies Server 20 of the number of pharmaceuticals in stock (S113). Therefore, the server can identify the necessary medications for compounding from the prescription and confirmation inquiry results, obtain the required amount of medication from the pharmacy's medication inventory management system, and notify the pharmacy staff of the possibility of shortages. Server 20 places an order request for pharmaceuticals with the person in charge 11 or the pharmaceutical inventory management system 51, according to the inventory levels (S114). While the pharmaceutical inventory management system 51 itself could potentially place orders based on inventory levels, the server 20 can notify the system in advance of ordering pharmaceuticals that are likely to be dispensed again in the future, based on patient information history 41, thus enabling more flexible inventory management. Server 20 instructs the dispensing unit 31 to dispense medication (S115). This is a dispensing instruction process that instructs the unit to prepare medication according to the prescription and the results of the confirmation inquiry. The dispensing department 31 performs the prescribed dispensing by the pharmacist 12 (S117).

[0042] Server 20 handles coordination and instructions for online medication guidance. Server 20 sends a push notification to patient 61 to confirm the date and time of the online medication guidance session (S116). This is a guidance date and time inquiry process that asks the patient about the date and time the online medication guidance session will be held. By notifying the patient of the pharmacist 12 of their preferred date and time as suggested dates and times, unnecessary communication is avoided, which is preferable. The patient 61 responds with their preferred date and time (S118). The date and time for the online medication guidance session will be confirmed. After the date for the online medication guidance session is set, patient 61 can send any questions they wish to ask during the online session to server 20 in advance via email, social media, etc. The questions can include, for example, questions about interactions between over-the-counter (OTC) medications, supplements, and medication history, and pharmacists can be instructed to answer these questions during online medication guidance sessions. Furthermore, pharmacists may, as appropriate, confirm and consult with physicians regarding questions related to other medications. Server 20 instructs pharmacist 12 to prepare the medication guidance content (S119). This is because, since it is not face-to-face medication guidance, the content of the guidance should be clearly defined in advance. Pharmacist 12 prepares the medication guidance content (S120).

[0043] When the date and time for the online medication guidance arrives, the server 20 sends a push notification to the patient 61 inviting them to a video conference for the online medication guidance (S121), and instructs the pharmacist 12 to start the online medication guidance via the online guidance terminal 40 (S122). This is an online medication guidance process that connects the patient's terminal and the pharmacy terminal to conduct the online medication guidance at the scheduled date and time. Pharmacist 12 provides medication guidance to patient 61 online via video conference (S123). Figure 3(b) shows an example of the display screen 71 of a patient's mobile terminal 70 during a video conference. The online medication guidance screen is displayed on screen 71. The online medication guidance screen displays an online guidance video 73 showing the pharmacist and a question screen 72 containing confirmation points from the pharmacist. The online instruction terminal 40 displays, for example, a video of the patient 43, patient information 41, medication information 42, and questions 44 from the patient, as shown in Figure 3(c). The patient's mobile terminal 70 displays not only the pharmacist's (12) video but also the information the pharmacist (12) wants to confirm, allowing for smooth communication. The online instruction terminal 40 displays patient information 41 and medication information 42 in addition to the patient's video 43, allowing for smooth instruction. Additionally, questions from patient 61 are displayed in advance, allowing for organized and concise answers. Furthermore, it is preferable to display the dispensed medication in the online guidance video 73 showing the pharmacist. This is not possible in a system where dispensing takes place after online medication guidance, but in this embodiment, since the clarification of any issues has been completed and dispensing has already been performed, it is possible to display the medication for the patient during the online medication guidance. Therefore, pharmacist 12 can actually hold the medication in their hands, and the color and shape of the medication can indicate the timing and amount of medication to be taken. Therefore, even without face-to-face interaction, it is possible to improve the patient's level of satisfaction.

[0044] After the online medication guidance session is completed, pharmacist 12 notifies server 20 that the session has finished (S124). In response, after the online medication guidance processing, the server 20 either issues a medication shipping instruction (S125), which is a medication shipping instruction process that instructs the shipment of the medication, or notifies the patient 61 of the date and time when they can pick up the medication (S125), which is a medication pickup date and time notification process that informs the patient of the date and time when they can pick up the medication. Instructions for shipping pharmaceuticals are given to the delivery department 32. The person in charge of the delivery department 32 may deliver the goods themselves, or they may outsource the delivery to another company.

[0045] If the prescription has not yet reached pharmacy 10, both the delivery of the medicine and the collection of the prescription must be carried out, requiring delivery by a specific party. However, in this embodiment, since the prescription has already reached pharmacy 10, any company with a certain delivery license is acceptable. Therefore, in the process of processing instructions for sending out medicines, instructions can be given to a company other than the pharmacy to send out the medicines. For example, this could include pharmaceutical wholesale delivery person 91, food delivery person 90, lactic acid beverage salesperson 92, and newspaper delivery person 93. For a pharmaceutical wholesaler delivery person (number 91), who normally delivers pharmaceuticals from wholesalers to pharmacies, it is easy and less burdensome to receive the pharmaceuticals after delivery is complete and then deliver them to nearby patients' homes. With Food Delivery 90, they are familiar with the routes within their delivery area, and the burden of delivering pharmaceuticals, like food and other goods, is small. A lactic acid beverage salesperson (number 92) would be familiar with nearby houses and businesses, and the burden of delivering pharmaceuticals, like lactic acid beverages, would be small. A newspaper delivery person with a rating of 93 would be very familiar with the delivery routes and would likely be able to deliver outside of morning and evening delivery times.

[0046] Furthermore, while delivery to the patient's home (85) is the most common delivery destination, pickup at a convenience store (84) is also a possibility. In recent years, it has become common to pick up and deliver packages at convenience stores (84). Therefore, it would be convenient if medications could also be picked up at convenience stores (84). It would also be convenient for those who do not want their neighbors to know that their medication is being delivered. Additionally, delivery to the workplace (86) is also an option. This is because, for those living alone, it may be easier to receive packages at work, where they spend more time during the day than at home. In this way, being able to specify the delivery destination for various medications can reduce the burden on patients.

[0047] An example of how the drug collection and distribution center 83 operates the system will be explained with reference to Figure 4. In this embodiment, the drug collection and distribution center 83 collects the medication dispensed at the pharmacy 81 and ships it to the patient 61. The drug collection business has a high affinity with wholesalers of prescription drugs. Wholesalers of prescription drugs are businesses that supply medicines to pharmacies on a daily basis. Because they deliver medicines to pharmacies every day, it is easy for them to collect the dispensed medicines from pharmacies. Furthermore, for example, a major pharmaceutical wholesaler has branches in each region and supplies medicines to multiple pharmacies 81 from these branches. Therefore, it is thought that the pharmaceutical wholesaler's branches could act as drug collection and distribution centers 83, enabling efficient drug collection and distribution in this embodiment.

[0048] This section describes the configuration of the pharmaceutical supply support system 1 using the drug collection and distribution center 83. The pharmaceutical supply support system 1 consists of one drug collection and distribution center 83 and multiple pharmacies 81. The drug collection and distribution center 83 has a server 20 and a collection unit for collecting medication from each pharmacy. The collection unit collects medication from each pharmacy according to instructions from server 20. Server 20 is connected to each pharmacy 81 via a network including the reception area 30, dispensing area 31, delivery area 32, terminal 33, online guidance terminal 40, and the internet 80. In other words, server 20 manages multiple pharmacies 81 and is connected to the terminal 33 of each pharmacy 81. The prescription and insurance information from patient 61 are sent to server 20. The subsequent processing is generally the same as when server 20 is located within the pharmacy.

[0049] For example, let's consider a case where patient 61 visits Pharmacy A 82 and requests online medication guidance and home delivery of medication. Pharmacy A (82) completes online medication guidance with patient (61) and dispenses the prescribed medication. Once the compounding is complete, a notification is sent to server 20 indicating that the compounding is finished. Server 20 then instructs the retrieval unit to retrieve the pharmaceuticals from Pharmacy A 82. The collection department instructs pharmaceutical wholesaler delivery person 91, who is in charge of Pharmacy A 82, to collect the pharmaceuticals from Pharmacy A 82. Server 20 confirms that the medicine has been retrieved from Pharmacy A 82 and delivers the medicine to the location specified by patient 61. Delivery destinations include convenience stores (84), patients' homes (85), workplaces (86), etc. The delivery personnel include pharmaceutical wholesalers (91), food delivery personnel (90), lactic acid beverage sales personnel (92), newspaper delivery personnel (93), etc. Server (20) selects the most suitable delivery person and places a delivery request. Since the medicines to be delivered from multiple pharmacies 81 are gathered at the drug collection and distribution center 83, delivery can be carried out efficiently. To put the system in other words, the server 20 is managed by the drug collection and distribution center 83, manages multiple pharmacies 81, and is connected to the terminals 33 of each pharmacy 81. The drug collection and distribution center 83 collects drugs from multiple pharmacies 81 and delivers medicines to patients. The drug collection and distribution center 83 can outsource drug collection and delivery to at least one of the following: pharmaceutical wholesalers, food delivery people, lactic acid beverage vendors, newspaper delivery people, or individual contractors.

[0050] Thus, the time required for online medication guidance and the time until dispensing are completed according to the present invention can be shortened, and patients can receive the dispensed medicines at the pharmacy smoothly and without burden.

[0051] Furthermore, by sending the confirmation details and the results of inquiries regarding those confirmation details to the medication history system, it becomes possible to obtain detailed information about the patient's medication history.

[0052] Furthermore, by including inquiries about remaining medication, medication adherence, or changes in the patient's condition while taking medication in the confirmation inquiry process, it becomes possible to understand the patient's condition, including missed doses, and to make accurate inquiries regarding any doubts.

[0053] Furthermore, by obtaining the necessary drug inventory levels from the drug inventory management system and identifying potential shortages based on estimated future drug usage across all related pharmacies, it becomes possible to manage inventory across the entire region. [Industrial applicability]

[0054] The pharmaceutical delivery support system according to the present invention is a system that can shorten the time required for online medication guidance and the time required to complete dispensing, and is therefore considered to have great industrial applicability. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0055] 1. Pharmaceutical supply support system 10 Pharmacies 11 Person in Charge 12 Pharmacist 20 servers 30 Reception Department 31 Pharmacy Department 32 Delivery Department 33 terminals 40 Online teaching devices 41 Patient Information 42. Pharmaceutical Information 43 patient images 44 Questions 50. Medication History System 51 Pharmaceutical Inventory Management System 60 hospitals 61 patients 70 Patient mobile terminals 71 Display screen 72 Inquiry Screen 73 Online instructional videos 74 Pharmaceuticals 80 Internet 81 Pharmacy 82 Pharmacy A 83 Drug Collection and Distribution Center 84 Convenience Store 85 Patient's home 86 Place of work 90 Food Delivery 91 Pharmaceutical wholesaler delivery driver 92 Lactic acid bacteria beverage salesperson 93 Newspaper delivery person

Claims

1. A drug delivery support system that assists in providing prescription drugs to patients, It consists of a server and a terminal within the pharmacy. The server, when a patient requests online medication guidance, A prescription information acquisition process that receives information on the patient's prescription, The process involves contacting the patient to inquire about the details confirmed at the time of registration, and Dispensing instruction processing involves issuing instructions to prepare pharmaceuticals according to the prescription and the results of the inquiry regarding confirmation items, A process to inquire about the date and time of the online medication guidance session with the patient, At the scheduled date and time for the online medication guidance, the pharmacy connects the patient's device with the pharmacy's terminal and performs the online medication guidance process. Furthermore, the server identifies the necessary pharmaceuticals for compounding based on the prescription and the results of the confirmation inquiry, retrieves the inventory quantity of the necessary pharmaceuticals from the pharmaceutical inventory management system that manages the pharmacy's pharmaceutical inventory, and notifies the pharmacy staff of the possibility of a shortage of the pharmaceuticals. A pharmaceutical delivery support system characterized by performing either a pharmaceutical delivery instruction process, which instructs the shipment of pharmaceuticals after the online medication guidance process, or a pharmaceutical pickup date and time notification process, which notifies the patient of the date and time when they can pick up the pharmaceuticals.

2. The confirmation items at the time of reception and the results of the inquiry regarding the confirmation items are sent to the patient's medication history system, which manages the patient's medication history. The drug provision support system according to claim 1, characterized in that the drug history is stored in the drug history system and the drug history system is accessible from within the pharmacy.

3. The drug provision support system according to claim 1, characterized in that the server includes an inquiry regarding any of the following in the confirmation inquiry process: remaining medication status, medication adherence status, or changes in physical condition while taking medication.

4. The drug provision support system according to claim 1, characterized in that the server, in the confirmation inquiry process, confirms the relationship between the prescription and the medication history obtained from at least one of the patient's medication history notebook, IC card, or medication history stored on the server.

5. The server, in processing the confirmation inquiries, receives questions from the patient, and the questions include over-the-counter (OTC) medications, supplements, and other medication-related questions regarding medication history. The drug provision support system according to claim 1, characterized in that it instructs pharmacists to answer other drug-related questions during the online medication guidance session.

6. The drug provision support system according to claim 1, characterized in that the server makes inquiries to the patient via email or a communication application in the confirmation inquiry processing.

7. The pharmaceutical supply support system according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the pharmaceutical shipping instruction processing, the pharmaceuticals are shipped to a company other than the pharmacy.

8. The drug provision support system according to claim 1, characterized in that the prescription is an electronic prescription, and the server downloads the prescription corresponding to the exchange number presented by the patient.

9. The drug provision support system according to claim 1, characterized in that, when displaying the pharmacist on the patient's terminal during the online medication guidance process, the prepared drug is displayed together with the pharmacist.

10. The drug provision support system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the server manages a plurality of pharmacies and is connected to the in-pharmacy terminals of each pharmacy.

11. The aforementioned server is managed by the drug collection and distribution center, manages multiple pharmacies, and is connected to the in-pharmacy terminals in each pharmacy. The drug collection and distribution center collects drugs from multiple pharmacies and delivers the drugs to the patients. The drug collection and distribution center is characterized in that it entrusts drug collection and distribution to at least one of the following: pharmaceutical wholesale delivery personnel, food delivery personnel, lactic acid beverage sales personnel, newspaper delivery personnel, or individual contractors. This is a drug provision support system according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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