Remote Prescription Fill Verification Using Image Review
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Solution Overview
Problem
In traditional pharmacy settings, pharmacists are often physically present to verify filled prescriptions, which limits their ability to verify and approve prescriptions from different locations, leading to inefficiencies and increased labor costs, especially in corporate networks with multiple locations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of digitized image capture and networked computer systems allows pharmacists to remotely verify and approve dispensed pharmaceutical products by capturing and reviewing images of the products and prescription data, enabling verification from any location connected to the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pharmacists are physically present to verify filled prescriptions, then verification accuracy is maintained, but labor costs increase and operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates digital copies (photographs and videos) of the pharmaceutical product, prescription label, and filling process. These visual copies are transmitted to the pharmacist's device, allowing remote verification without physical presence. This eliminates the need for the pharmacist to be physically present while maintaining verification capability, thus improving productivity without excessive system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical presence and direct visual inspection with an electronic/digital system. Images and videos are captured by a camera, transmitted through a network, and displayed on a remote device. This substitution allows verification to occur remotely, reducing labor costs and improving operational efficiency while maintaining verification accuracy.
2Adaptability or versatility
If pharmacists are located in secured pharmacy areas, then product security is maintained, but verification flexibility and remote capability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of a camera and network transmission mechanism. The camera captures images within the secured pharmacy area, and the network transmits these images to the pharmacist's device. This intermediary allows the pharmacist to view products remotely without physically accessing secured areas, thus improving verification flexibility while maintaining security by keeping products within secured boundaries.
3Productivity
If multiple pharmacists are deployed across multiple locations, then customer service coverage is improved, but labor costs and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal verification system where a single pharmacist can verify prescriptions from multiple locations and multiple technicians simultaneously. The system allows one pharmacist to perform verification functions that previously required multiple pharmacists physically present at different locations. This multi-functionality increases verification capacity without proportionally increasing labor resources, as one pharmacist can serve multiple locations through the remote verification system.
Data Source
AI summary
Image based and network controlled, security systems and methods are disclosed herein for securely dispensing pharmaceutical products onsite at a physical location. A server receives scanned prescription image corresponding to a prescription of a user and determines a pharmaceutical product and a pharmaceutical product amount of the pharmaceutical product. The server receives, from a pharmaceutical product imaging device positioned within a physically secured pharmacy area, images of the pharmaceutical product, and then transmits, to a visualization user interface application executing on a network computer positioned outside the physically secured pharmacy area, a visual confirmation of the pharmaceutical product and the pharmaceutical product amount. The server receives, from the visualization user interface application, a verification of the visual confirmation, and updates, based on the verification, the user account with a ready state corresponding to the prescription, wherein the ready state indicates that the user may receive the pharmaceutical product.