Electronic Medication Information Delivery System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for providing medication information to patients are cumbersome, costly, and inefficient, often leading to misuse of medications due to complex instructions and lack of timely education, and they do not effectively support ongoing dialogue between patients and healthcare providers.
Innovation Solution
A system that delivers targeted medication information to patients prior to or at the point of dispensing, using existing pharmacy or physician office computers with internet access, allowing for streamlined content provision and ongoing dialogue through secure networks, reducing the need for additional hardware and minimizing human error.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If medication information is provided through traditional pharmacy packets or physician handouts, then patients receive basic medication instructions, but the information is often misplaced, not given out correctly, and difficult to read
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses electronic copies of medication information delivered via email or electronic messaging systems, replacing physical paper packets. This ensures the information is accurately transmitted, easily accessible, and cannot be misplaced or lost during the dispensing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical information delivery (paper packets, handouts) with an electronic information delivery system. This substitution eliminates handling errors, ensures accurate transmission, and provides patients with reliable access to medication information through digital channels.
2Productivity
If pharmacists and physicians increase the volume of cases they handle to maintain profits, then operational efficiency increases, but they have less time to discuss medication information with patients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides medication information to patients automatically at the time of prescription or dispensing, before the patient leaves the pharmacy or physician's office. This preliminary action ensures patients receive comprehensive information without requiring additional counseling time during their visit.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables patients to access their medication information independently through electronic delivery to their personal devices. Patients can review the information at their convenience without requiring pharmacist or physician time for explanations.
3Quantity of substance
If complex medication schedules and usage instructions are provided to patients, then comprehensive medication guidance is given, but patients have difficulty understanding and adhering to the instructions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides complex medication information into segmented, manageable sections that are easier to understand. Information is organized by topic (dosage, timing, precautions, interactions) and delivered in a structured format that patients can process incrementally rather than overwhelming them with all details at once.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides tailored information based on the specific patient's prescription, condition, and needs. Each patient receives customized medication information relevant to their specific case, with local quality adjustments to the content based on individual patient factors.
4Adaptability or versatility
If pharmaceutical manufacturers invest in branding and customer loyalty programs, then product differentiation and sales increase, but operational costs and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal electronic information delivery system that serves multiple functions: providing medication instructions, delivering branding content, enabling customer loyalty programs, and facilitating ongoing patient-provider dialogue. This multi-functional system reduces overall complexity by consolidating what would otherwise require separate systems.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for providing targeted content to a patient who has received a prescription for medication. The systems and methods generally provide the content prior to the Point of Sale (POS) of the actual prescription allow patients to review the content and possibly act on it prior to actually obtaining the medication. Depending on embodiment, the content may be provided by a pharmacy at or around the time of dispensing or by a physician at or around the time of prescribing.