Apparatus for & method of creating and transmitting a prescription to a drug dispensing location

Abstract

A medical practitioner creates a prescription using a handheld portable device. The device uses a plurality of interactive screens that display information such as lists of drugs. The medical practitioner enters patient information and selects from the list the desired drug to be prescribed. The device gives the practitioner access to a drug database that may be limited by the drugs prescribable by the medical practitioner. Once a prescription is created, the practitioner can select a drug dispensing location and communicate the prescription to this location. The drug database and the drug dispensing locations may be stored in a removable memory.

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         70 . A system for creating a prescription by a medical practitioner communicating said prescription to a remote drug dispensing location, said system comprising 
 a memory that stores a listing of a plurality of prescription drugs,    a data input mechanism that enables the practitioner to enter information identifying a patient, select a drug dispensing location to dispense prescription drugs to a patient, access the listing and select from the listing one or more of the listed prescription drugs to be dispensed, and to enter a specific dose for said selected prescription drug,    a communication link that transmits said selected drug prescription and patient information to a selected drug dispensing location, and    a data receiver at the remote drug dispensing location that receives said selected drug and patient information.    
     
     
         71 . The system of  claim 70  further comprising a computer that receives said selected drug prescription and patient information and transmits, via a network, said drug prescription and patient information to said selected drug dispensing location.  
     
     
         72 . The system of  claim 70  where the medical practitioner is certified to practice in a specific medical field and said listing of drugs is limited to said practitioner's specific medical field.  
     
     
         73 . The system of  claim 72  where said listing of a plurality of prescription drugs applicable to said specific medical field is transmitted from a remote location.  
     
     
         74 . The system of  claim 70  where said listing of drugs is limited to drugs available for prescription in a geographical region where the medical practitioner practices medicine.  
     
     
         75 . The system of  claim 70  where said listing of drugs is limited to drugs for treating symptoms of a patient.  
     
     
         76 . The system of  claim 70  where said listing of drugs is limited to drugs for treating an aliment of a patient.  
     
     
         77 . The system of  claim 70  where said one or more drug dispensing locations are selected based on a geographical region.  
     
     
         78 . The system of  claim 70  where said communication link comprises a radio transmitter, an infrared transmitter, a wired transmitter, or an ultrasonic transmitter.  
     
     
         80 . A method of creating a prescription by a medical practitioner and communicating said prescription to a remote drug dispensing location, comprising the steps of 
 inputting data relating to a patient into a computer system,    storing in a memory a listing of a plurality of prescription drugs, selecting one or more of the listed prescription drugs and identifying a remote drug dispensing location at which the prescription drugs are to be dispensed to an identified patient,    transmitting said selected drug prescription and information identifying a patient to a selected drug dispensing location, and    receiving a selected drug prescription and patient information at the remote drug dispensing location.    
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 80  where the medical practitioner is certified to practice in a specific medical field and said listing of a plurality of prescription drugs is limited to said practitioner's specific medical field.  
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 81  where said listing of drugs applicable to said specific medical field is transmitted from a remote location.  
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 80  where said listing of one or more drug dispensing locations is transmitted from a remote location.  
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 80  where said listing of drugs is limited to drugs available for prescription in a geographical region where the medical practitioner practices medicine.  
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 80  where said listing of drugs is limited to drugs used to treat a specific symptom of a patient.  
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 80  where said listing of drugs is limited to drugs used to treat a specific aliment of a patient.  
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 80  including the step of displaying (a) said listing of a plurality of prescription drugs applicable, (b) a listing of patient information, and (c) a listing of one or more drug dispensing locations and selecting from said listings one or more of the drugs listed prescription drugs and the identity of the patient to receive the prescribed drugs, and the location of the drug dispensing location.  
     
     
         88 . A method of creating a prescription by a medical practitioner and communicating said prescription and patient information to a remote drug dispensing location, said method comprising: 
 (a) providing a computer system that enables said medical practitioner to (i) acquire information identifying a patient, and (ii) select drugs from a list of drugs;    (b) creating a prescription from said selected drugs; and    (c) communicating said prescription and patient information to said remote drug dispensing location.    
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 88  where acquiring patient information comprises the steps of querying whether said patient information is available on an accessible database, and inputting the patient information if the patient information is not available on said accessible database.  
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 88  where selecting drugs from a list of drugs comprises the steps of electronically coupling a database of said list of drugs to said system, communicating with said database; and selecting at least one drug from said database.  
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 88  where selecting drugs from a list of drugs includes communicating with a computer that stores said list and selecting drugs from said list.  
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 88  where of selecting drugs from a list of drugs comprises the steps of identifying patient symptoms, inputting said patient symptoms in to said system, providing a list drugs of drugs associated with treating said symptoms, and selecting at least one drug from said list.  
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 88  where selecting drugs from a list of drugs defined by the medical practitioner's field of practice comprises the steps of identifying a patient aliment, inputting said patient aliment into said system, providing a list drugs of drugs associated with treating said aliment; and selecting at least one drug from said list.  
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 88  where said step of communicating said prescription and patient information to said drug dispensing location comprises the steps of communicating with a computer that stores a database of drug dispensing locations, selecting a drug dispensing location from said database, and communicating said prescription to said drug dispensing location.  
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 88  where said drug dispensing location is selected from a database of drug dispensing locations and where said database is selected based on geographical region.  
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 88  where the medical practitioner is certified to practice in a specific medical field and said listing of drugs is limited to said practitioner's specific medical field.  
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 88  where said listing of drugs is limited to drugs available for prescription in a geographical region where the medical practitioner practices medicine.