Methods, systems, and tools for use in processing prescriptions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10170204-B1
Application number	US-82811410-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 30, 2010
Priority date	Jun 30, 2009
Publication date	Jan 1, 2019
Grant date	Jan 1, 2019

Abstract

The inventions disclosed herein include methods, systems, and tools for use in processing prescriptions. Among the benefits of these methods, systems, and tools are promotion of efficiency in filling prescriptions and reduction of errors. A heightened analysis element may be established that alerts a pharmaceutical professional to a particular component of a prescription (a prescription element) for special attention. An insignificant differences notice may de-emphasize certain prescription elements to inform a pharmaceutical professional that the information of such prescription elements is less critical. Methods of the present invention may be used to designate a prescription as a renewal, partial renewal, or partially equivalent renewal. The disclosed inventions include methods of creating and/or using such heightened analysis elements, insignificant differences notices, and/or designation of a prescription as a renewal, partial renewal, or partially equivalent renewal.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method for visually indicating distinct levels of possible errors in electronic prescriptions comprising:
accessing, on a processor of a first party computer, a current prescription for a drug, the current prescription associated with an individual;
transmitting the current prescription from the first party computer to a second party computer separate from the first party computer;
searching, on the second party computer, a plurality of historic prescriptions stored in a database to identify a similar historic prescription that is similar to the current prescription;
comparing, on the second party computer, a plurality of prescription fields of the current prescription with the plurality of prescription fields of the similar historic prescription to identify any field data differences, including insignificant differences and heightened differences, among the plurality of prescription fields;
recording, on the second party computer, a field comparison identifier based on a comparison of the plurality of prescription fields, the field comparison identifier identifying field data similarity or field data difference;
routing the current prescription using recordation of the field comparison identifier to a prescription fulfillment center with the field comparison identifier containing either an insignificant difference or a heightened difference with the current prescription being filled using a first process with the field comparison identifier containing the insignificant difference and a second process with the field comparison identifier containing the heightened difference; and
filling the current prescription at the prescription fulfillment center using either the first process or the second process,
wherein the field comparison identifier includes a visual field difference indicator that identifies a field of the plurality of prescription fields of the current prescription as including different field data than the field of the similar historic prescription; and
the method further comprising generating a display including:
a first sub-display with at least a portion of the plurality of prescription fields of the current prescription and the visual field difference indicator, and (i) the different field data, or (ii) both the field associated with the different field data and the different field data; and
a second sub-display simultaneously displayed with the first sub-display and including an image of a reference document for the current prescription,
wherein routing includes routing after generating the display and addressing at least one possible error indicated in the first sub-display.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein searching the plurality of historic prescriptions comprises:
utilizing field data contained in the plurality of prescription fields of the current prescription to search the plurality of historic prescriptions, the plurality of prescription fields including a prescription number field, a date written field, a patient name field, a patient date of birth field, an administrator field, a cardholder identifier field, a person number field, a prescribed item number field, a drug name field, a drug strength field, a drug form field, a drug manufacturer field, a substitution field, a quantity prescribed field, a doctor name field, a doctor zip code field, a doctor fax field, a doctor enforcement agency number, a SIG field, a date filled field, a generic code number field, a generic product identifier field, or combinations thereof; and
identifying the similar historic prescription among the plurality of historic prescription based on utilization of the field data to search the plurality of historic prescriptions.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein searching the plurality of historic prescriptions comprises:
utilizing field data contained in a plurality of individual fields of the current prescription to search the plurality of historic prescriptions, the plurality of individual fields including data regarding the individual; and
identifying the similar historic prescription among the plurality of historic prescription based on utilization of the field data to search the plurality of historic prescriptions.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein searching the plurality of historic prescriptions comprises:
utilizing field data contained in a plurality of drug fields of the current prescription to search the plurality of historic prescriptions, the plurality of drug fields including data regarding the drug; and
identifying the similar historic prescription among the plurality of historic prescription based on utilization of the field data to search the plurality of historic prescriptions.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein searching the plurality of historic prescriptions comprises:
utilizing field data contained in a plurality of individual fields, a plurality of drug fields, a plurality of dispensing fields, a plurality of prescriber fields, or combinations thereof of the current prescription to search the plurality of historic prescriptions, the plurality of individual fields including data regarding the individual, the plurality of drug fields including data regarding the drug, the plurality of dispensing fields including data regarding dispensing of the drug, the plurality of prescriber fields including data regarding a prescriber of the drug; and
identifying the similar historic prescription among the plurality of historic prescription based on utilization of the field data to search the plurality of historic prescriptions.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of individual fields includes a name field, an address field, an age field, a data of birth field, a gender field, a unique identifier field, an insurer field, a policy number field, a group insurance number field, a member number field, an employer field, a health plan administrator field, or combinations thereof,
wherein the plurality of drug fields includes a drug name field, a drug strength field, a drug form field, a drug instructions field, or combinations thereof,
wherein the plurality of dispensing fields includes a quantity prescribed field, a quantity dispensed field, a number of days supply field, a number of refills field, a generic substitutions allowed field, or combinations thereof, and
wherein the plurality of prescriber fields includes a prescriber name, a prescriber address, a drug enforcement agency (DEA) number, a prescriber fax number, a professional association number, or combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the field comparison identifier includes an insignificant differences identifier that identifies a field of the plurality of prescription fields of the current prescription as including similar field data relative to the field of the similar historic prescription.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the similar field data of the field of the current prescription has no more than insignificant differences relative to field data of the similar historic prescription.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the field is a SIG field, the SIG field including a SIG code associated with directions for preparation of the drug, use of the drug, or preparation and use of the drug, and
wherein comparing the plurality of prescription fields comprises:
translating the SIG code associated with the SIG field of the plurality of prescription fields of the current prescription, the similar historic prescription, or both the current prescription and the similar historic prescription to a same drug usage basis; and
comparing the SIG field of the current prescription and the similar historic prescription based on translation of the SIG code.

10. The method of claim 1 , wher

Assignees

• Eller Charles E
• Cox Andrew
• Fruchter Brian David
• Express Scripts Strategic Dev Inc

Inventors

• Eller Charles E
• Cox Andrew
• Fruchter Brian David

Classifications

• G16H20/10 Primary

  relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients · CPC title

• G16H40/20

  for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms · CPC title

• G16H10/60

  for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records · CPC title

• G16H50/20

  for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems · CPC title