Virtual sample cabinet system and method for prescription drug marketing

Abstract

A method is provided which provides functionality for doctors and staff to remotely electronically download a “virtual sample cabinet” software program from a central server onto their desktop computers or mobile technology devices to allow them to centrally search, review product information and insurance coverage, print or electronically send prescription drug sample vouchers and co-pay savings coupons to selected pharmacies. This eliminates the need for physician offices to manage and house physical drug samples, as well as offers a more convenient and efficient way to allocate, dispense and monitor needed drug samples and coupons for savings to their patients.

1 .- 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A computer-implemented method for promoting prescription medication, comprising:
 storing promotional offers for select medications in a promotions database;   receiving, by a dispensing assistant, a request for information regarding a medication from a healthcare provider;   identifying, by the dispensing assistant, a given medication which satisfies the request for information, the identification being performed in response to the request for information;   retrieving, by the dispensing assistant, formulary data for the given medication;   presenting, by the dispensing assistant, formulary data for the given medication on a display of a computing device;   presenting, by the dispensing assistant, a promotional offer associated with the given medication on the display of the computing device;   receiving, by the dispensing assistant, indicia that the given medication is being prescribed by the healthcare provider to a patient; and   delivering, by the dispensing assistant, the promotional offer for the given medication to the patient, wherein the drug dispensing assistant is implemented by computer-readable instructions executed by a computer processor.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein storing promotional offers further comprises storing a coupon or a voucher for the given medication in the promotions database. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprises presenting the promotional offer concurrently with presenting the formulary data on the display of the computing device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  further comprises presenting the formulary data for the given medication prior to receiving an indicia that the given medication is being prescribed. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein retrieving formulary data for the given medication includes obtaining at least one of indicia as to whether the given medication is covered by a given insurance plan and indicia as to what level the given medication is reimbursed by a given insurance plan. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  further comprises
 presenting, by the drug dispensing assistant, on the display two or more methods for delivering a promotional offer to the patient; 
 receiving, by the drug dispensing assistant, a delivery selection made from the two or more methods for delivery; and 
 delivering, by the drug dispensing assistant, the promotional offer in accordance with the delivery selection. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein delivering the promotional offer is selected from either printing the promotional offer or sending the promotional offer electronically to a selected pharmacy. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the dispensing assistant is accessed via a portal by the healthcare provider. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 logging, by a reporting assistant, the promotional offer in a prescribed offer database; 
 generating, by the reporting assistant, a report summarizing effectiveness of promotional offers from data logged in the prescribed offer database; and 
 transmitting, by the reporting assistant, the report to a manufacturer of the given medication, wherein the reporting assistant is implemented by computer-readable instructions executed by the computer processor. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein generating a report includes comparing a quantity of delivered promotional offers to a quantity of redeemed promotional offers. 
     
     
         20 . A computer-implemented method for promoting prescription medication, comprising:
 storing promotional offers for select medications in a promotions database;   receiving, by a dispensing assistant, a request for information regarding a medication from a healthcare provider;   identifying, by the dispensing assistant, a given medication which satisfies the request for information, the identification being performed in response to the request for information;   retrieving, by the dispensing assistant, formulary data for the given medication;   presenting, by the dispensing assistant, a promotional offer associated with the given medication, along with the formulary data for the given medication, on a display of a computing device;   receiving, by the dispensing assistant, indicia that the given medication is being prescribed by the healthcare provider to a patient;   delivering, by the dispensing assistant, the promotional offer for the given medication to the patient;   logging, by a reporting assistant, the promotional offer in a prescribed offer database;   generating, by the reporting assistant, a report summarizing effectiveness of promotional offers from data logged in the prescribed offer database; and   transmitting, by the reporting assistant, the report to a manufacturer of the given medication, wherein the drug dispensing assistant and the reporting assistant are implemented by computer-readable instructions executed by a computer processor.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein storing promotional offers further comprises storing a coupon or a voucher for the given medication in the promotions database. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  wherein retrieving formulary data for the given medication includes obtaining indicia as to whether the given medication is covered by a given insurance plan. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20  wherein retrieving formulary data for the given medication includes obtaining indicia as to what level the given medication is reimbursed by a given insurance plan. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20  further comprises
 presenting, by the drug dispensing assistant, on the display two or more methods for delivering a promotional offer to the patient; 
 receiving, by the drug dispensing assistant, a delivery selection made from the two or more methods for delivery; and 
 delivering, by the drug dispensing assistant, the promotional offer in accordance with the delivery selection. 
 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20  wherein delivering the promotional offer is selected from either printing the promotional offer or sending the promotional offer electronically to a selected pharmacy. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the dispensing assistant is accessed via a portal by the healthcare provider. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20  wherein generating a report includes comparing a quantity of delivered promotional offers to a quantity of redeemed promotional offers. 
     
     
         28 . A computer-implemented system for promoting prescription medication, comprising:
 a dispensing assistant configured to receive a request for medication information from a healthcare provider and operates, in response to the request, to identify a given medication which satisfies the request for medication information and presents a promotional offer associated with the given medication on a display of a computing device;   a formulary maintenance assistant is interfaced with the dispensing assistant and operates to retrieve formulary data for the given medication, such that the formulary data for the given medication is presented to the healthcare provider;   the dispensing assistant further configured to receive indicia that the given medication is being prescribed to a patient by the healthcare provider and operates to deliver the promotional offer for the given medication to the patient and log the delivery of the promotional offer in a prescribed offer database;   a reporting assistant is interfaced with the prescribed offer database and operates to generate a report summarizing effectiveness of promotional offers from data logged in the prescribed offer database and transmit the report to a manufacturer of the given medication, wherein the dispensing assistant and the reporting assistant are implemented by computer-readable instructions executed by a computer processor.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28  further comprising a promotions database that stores promotional offers for select medications, wherein the dispensing assistant searches the promotions database in response to the request for medication from the healthcare provider. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the promotional offer is further defined as a coupon for the given medication or a voucher for the given medication. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the formulary data includes at least one of indicia as to whether the given medication is covered by a given insurance plan and indicia as to what level the given medication is reimbursed by a given insurance plan. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the dispensing assistant presents two or more methods for delivering the promotional offer to the patient and delivers the promotional offer in accordance with a delivery selection received by the dispensing assistant. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the methods for delivery are selected from printing the promotional offer and sending the promotional offer electronically to a selected pharmacy. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 28  wherein the dispensing assistant is interfaced with a pharmacy and operates, in response to the indicia that the given medication is being prescribed, to transmit a prescription for the given medication electronically to the pharmacy. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 28  further comprising a patient follow-up assistant interfaced with the prescribed offer database and operates to transmit a notice electronically to the patient, where the notice pertains to the given medication and correlates to a prescription period associated with the given medication.