Prescription Pass Code for Automated Pharmacy Retrieval

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing process for obtaining prescription medications is cumbersome, requiring patients to verify identity, consult physicians/pharmacists, pay for medications, and manually retrieve prescriptions, which can lead to delays and burdens on patients.

Innovation Solution

A mobile and/or native desktop application that enables patients or their representatives to independently complete prescription processing tasks, issuing a unique machine-readable 'prescription pass' that can be presented at a retrieval location to obtain prescription products.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual prescription processing is used (identity verification, consultation, payment, retrieval at counter), then prescription security and proper dispensing are ensured, but patient time burden and process complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprescription dispensing securityVSAvoidpatient time burden

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by having patients complete identity verification, payment, and consultation scheduling through a mobile application before arriving at the pharmacy. A unique machine-readable code is generated in advance that encodes all verification data, allowing the actual retrieval process to be completed instantly without repeating previous steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a digital copy of the prescription verification process in the form of a machine-readable code (barcode or QR code). This code contains all necessary authentication information and can be scanned to verify patient identity and prescription details, replacing the need for manual verification of physical documents or electronic records at the counter.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Ease of operation

If manual counter retrieval process is used, then proper verification and counseling can be provided, but process complexity and patient burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprescription retrieval convenienceVSAvoidprocess complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables patients to independently complete the entire prescription retrieval process using only their mobile device and the generated code. Patients can schedule consultations, make payments, and retrieve medications without requiring pharmacy staff intervention for verification tasks, thereby simplifying the customer-facing process while maintaining security through automated systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual mechanical verification processes (checking physical prescriptions, manual database lookups, paper-based authorization) with automated electronic verification through code scanning. The scanning system automatically validates the code against the database, retrieves prescription information, and authorizes dispensing without manual intervention, reducing both complexity and error potential.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If traditional prescription processing is used, then comprehensive verification and counseling are ensured, but productivity and retrieval speed decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprescription processing efficiencyVSAvoidverification completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains continuous verification capability by keeping the machine-readable code valid until redemption. The code encapsulates all verification data that remains actively validated in the system, allowing instantaneous verification at retrieval without interrupting the workflow. This continuous validation ensures completeness while enabling rapid processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The machine-readable code serves as an intermediary that carries all verification information between the patient's mobile device and the pharmacy system. Instead of requiring direct communication between multiple verification systems, the code acts as a self-contained mediator that encapsulates authentication data, prescription details, and authorization information, streamlining the verification process while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250095817A1Technology for processing prescription medications for pickup by individuals

Publication Date: 2025.03.20 WALGREEN CO

AI summary

Systems and methods may be provided that may enable an individual to retrieve one or more prescription products (e.g., product refills) from a self-service retrieval location such as a counter, drive-thru, drop box, or kiosk. A unique-machine readable code may be associated with a particular one or more prescription products (e.g., associated with a medical prescription of a patient). The unique machine-readable code may be provided to a computing device of the individual, along with an anticipated time of preparedness of the one or more products for retrieval at the retrieval location. Identification of the unique machine-readable code may result in dispensing of the one or more prescription products associated at the retrieval location.