Remote Pill Verification via Digital Imaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The high operational costs associated with having a pharmacist on-site to physically verify filled pharmaceutical prescriptions at each pharmacy, which can be prohibitive for areas lacking a pharmacist or with limited financial resources, and the risk of errors due to labeling or dispensing mistakes.
Innovation Solution
A pill verification system that electronically captures and transmits prescription, verification, and label information from a pharmacy to a remote location for pharmacist review, using imaging and spectrometer data to ensure accurate pill identification and verification, allowing remote verification without the need for on-site pharmacists.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pharmacist is stationed on-site at each pharmacy to physically verify prescriptions, then prescription verification accuracy is improved, but operational costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates digital copies (images) of pills and labels, and transmits these copies to a remote pharmacist for verification. This allows the pharmacist to review prescription accuracy remotely without being physically present at the pharmacy, thereby maintaining verification accuracy while eliminating the need for on-site pharmacist staffing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary verification system that acts as a bridge between the pharmacy and the pharmacist. The system captures images of pills and labels, transmits them through a network to a remote pharmacist, and relays verification results back to the pharmacy. This intermediary mechanism enables remote verification while maintaining the trust and accuracy that would otherwise require on-site pharmacist presence.
2Reliability
If a pharmacist is stationed on-site at each pharmacy to physically verify prescriptions, then prescription verification accuracy is improved, but the ability to open pharmacies in areas lacking pharmacists deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By transmitting digital copies of prescription materials to a remote pharmacist, the system enables pharmacies to be located in areas without local pharmacists. The remote pharmacist can verify prescriptions from any location with internet connectivity, thus granting pharmacies the flexibility to open in previously inaccessible areas while maintaining verification standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the verification process from a physical, location-bound dimension to a digital, network-based dimension. Instead of requiring the pharmacist to be physically present at the pharmacy location, the system uses electronic image transmission and remote access, adding the dimension of geographical flexibility while preserving verification accuracy.
3Productivity
If automated pill verification systems are implemented, then operational efficiency is improved, but the need for human pharmacist review deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges automated image capture technology with human pharmacist expertise. Automated cameras capture images of pills and labels, and this digital information is then reviewed by a remote pharmacist. This combination leverages the efficiency of automation for data collection while preserving the judgment and accuracy of human review, achieving both operational efficiency and verification reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses automated imaging technology as an intermediary between the physical pills and the human pharmacist. The cameras capture detailed images that serve as a bridge, allowing the pharmacist to conduct thorough verification remotely without being physically present. This intermediary mechanism maintains the quality of human review while enabling operational efficiency through automation and remote access.
Data Source
AI summary
A pill verification system obtains a prescription filled at a pharmacy and gathers information of the pills being dispensed for a remote pharmacist to verify the prescription. As pills are dispensed to a pill vial to fill the prescription, a pill imaging system captures images of the pills, and a pill vial imaging system captures an image of the pill vial. The prescription, pill images, and pill vial image are transmitted to a remote verification system. A pharmacist is presented with the prescription, images of substantially all pills filling the prescription, and the pill vial of the prescription to verify the prescription is correct. The remote verification system may present prescriptions filled from many different pharmacies, permitting increased rate of verification and one pharmacist to support many pharmacies. The pharmacist's verification is transmitted to the pill verification system and displayed for a technician to complete verification of the pills.