Centralized pharmacy business method

Abstract

A centralized pharmacy business method which comprises forming a business alliance between a centralized pharmacy, one or more satellite pharmacists/facility directors, and a shipping service. Optionally, the centralized pharmacy and the shipping service are located “end of runway,” which means that the shipping service is co-located with or in close proximity to the centralized pharmacy. The satellite pharmacists/facility directors preferably accrue incentives based on recruiting one or more customer bases. Maintenance prescription orders are received and filled by the centralized pharmacy and delivered to the respective customer base. Acute prescription orders are received and filled by the satellite pharmacy of the pharmacists/facility directors near the customer base and delivered to the respective customer base.

1 . A computerized method for fulfilling pharmacy prescription orders, the method comprising:
 receiving, via a computer network, one or more maintenance prescription orders on a first computer at a central pharmacy from a first customer base, wherein a maintenance prescription order is one that is prescribed on a scheduled and routine basis;   receiving, via the computer network, one or more acute prescription orders on the first computer at the central pharmacy from the first customer base;   accessing the one or more acute prescription orders via the computer network with a second computer associated with a first satellite pharmacy, wherein the first satellite pharmacy is one of a plurality of satellite pharmacies, wherein each of the plurality of satellite pharmacies has a customer base;   filling, the one or more maintenance prescription orders at the central pharmacy; and   delivering the one or more filled maintenance prescription orders from the central pharmacy to the first customer base via a first shipment,   wherein the one or more acute prescription orders are filled at the first satellite pharmacy and delivered from the first satellite pharmacy to the first customer base via a second shipment.   
     
     
         2 . The computerized method of  claim 1  for fulfilling pharmacy prescription orders, wherein an acute prescription order is one that is identified as needed immediately, within a time period inconsistent with an overnight delivery, said acute prescription needed for a limited and defined duration, 
     
     
         3 . The computerized method of  claim 1  for fulfilling pharmacy prescription orders, wherein acute prescription orders are new, short-term medication orders. 
     
     
         4 . The computerized method of  claim 1  for fulfilling pharmacy prescription orders, wherein acute prescription orders are adjusted medication orders. 
     
     
         5 . The computerized method of  claim 1  for fulfilling pharmacy prescription orders, wherein maintenance prescription orders are long-term medication orders. 
     
     
         6 . The computerized method. of  claim 1  for fulfilling pharmacy prescription orders, further comprising recruiting one or more customer bases by a producer, wherein said producer accrues incentives based on said recruiting. 
     
     
         7 . The computerized method of  claim 6  for fulfilling pharmacy prescription orders, wherein said incentives derive from the centralized pharmacy's distributing a percentage of profits to said producer based on total sales volume generated from said one or more customer bases. 
     
     
         8 . The computerized method of  claim 1  for fulfilling pharmacy prescription orders, wherein said customer base is selected from a group consisting of long-term care facilities, hospitals, institutions and private residences. 
     
     
         9 . The computerized method of  claim 1  for fulfilling pharmacy prescription orders, wherein the centralized pharmacy is located within about a one-hour surface traveling time from a shipping service. 
     
     
         10 . The computerized method of  claim 1  for fulfilling pharmacy prescription orders, wherein the shipping service is equipped to provide daily overnight prescription deliveries. 
     
     
         11 . A computerized system for fulfilling; pharmacy prescription orders, the system comprising:
 a computer network;   at least one first computer in a central pharmacy connected to the computer network; and   at least one second computer associated with at least one satellite pharmacy, wherein the at least one satellite pharmacy is one of a plurality of satellite pharmacies, wherein each of the plurality of satellite pharmacies has a customer base,   wherein one or more maintenance prescription orders are received via the computer network on the first computer at the central pharmacy from a first customer base, wherein a maintenance prescription order is one that is prescribed on a scheduled and routine basis, for filling the one or more maintenance prescription orders at the central pharmacy and for delivering the one or more filled maintenance prescription orders from the central pharmacy to the first customer base via a first shipment, and   wherein one or more acute prescription orders are received via the computer network on the first computer at the central pharmacy from the first customer base and wherein the one or more acute prescription orders are accessed via the computer network with the second computer associated with the first satellite pharmacy, wherein the one or more acute prescription orders are filled at the first satellite pharmacy and delivered from the first satellite pharmacy to the first customer base via a second shipment.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first satellite pharmacy is located closest to the customer base. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein an acute prescription order is one that is identified as needed immediately, within a time period inconsistent with an overnight delivery, said acute prescription needed for a limited and defined duration.