Drug Information System Standardizing Manufacturer Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Healthcare organizations face challenges in managing and reducing costs due to the complexity of tracking and ordering pharmaceuticals, as different manufacturers use varying product naming conventions, strengths, and dosages, making it difficult to compare and negotiate contracts effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for comparing and storing drug product information at a generic level, using a processing engine to parse data feeds and create unique keys based on therapeutic class, clinical formulation, package size, and unit dose identifiers, allowing for cross-referencing and reporting across various manufacturers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If drug information is aggregated from multiple manufacturers using various naming conventions and product descriptions, then the quantity of drug information available increases, but the difficulty of cross-referencing and comparing drugs across manufacturers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms drug information by changing the parameter of identification from manufacturer-specific names and descriptions to a standardized generic name-based parameter system. This allows aggregation of diverse drug data while enabling systematic comparison through uniform parameters such as generic name, active ingredient, and standardized dosage forms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a universal data structure that can handle multiple manufacturers, naming conventions, and product descriptions through a single standardized framework. The database architecture enables one system to serve multiple functions: storing brand names, generic names, active ingredients, and manufacturer-specific data all under a unified generic-level organization that facilitates cross-manufacturer comparison.
2Measurement precision
If drug data is stored with manufacturer-specific naming conventions and product descriptions, then the accuracy of manufacturer-specific information is maintained, but the ability to compare drugs across manufacturers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments drug information into distinct hierarchical levels: manufacturer-specific data (brand names, proprietary descriptions) and generic-level data (active ingredients, generic names, standardized dosages). This segmentation allows preservation of precise manufacturer information while simultaneously enabling easy comparison through the generic level, where all manufacturers are standardized.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces generic drug names and active ingredients as intermediary elements between manufacturer-specific data and comparison operations. These intermediaries serve as a neutral ground that preserves the precision of original manufacturer data while enabling straightforward cross-manufacturer comparison through standardized generic identifiers.
3Adaptability or versatility
If comprehensive drug information from multiple sources is aggregated, then the negotiating power with drug suppliers increases, but the time and resources required to manage and analyze the data increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary organization and standardization of drug information during the data aggregation phase, rather than requiring post-aggregation analysis. By pre-structuring data around generic names and active ingredients with standardized parameters, the system prepares the data for efficient comparison and analysis, reducing the time required for contract negotiations and inventory management.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for analyzing vast amounts of drug product information at granular levels is provided. This analysis enables determining a relationship which is associated with at least one of a cost effectiveness of purchasing a drug product from different suppliers, a determination of a lowest cost per unit of the drug product, a manufacturer market share for the drug product, and a strategy for submitting a contract bid for the drug product.