Healthcare system for recording and monitoring transactions of system participants

Abstract

A centrally controlled healthcare environment interconnects manufacturers of medical products, healthcare providers, and patients in a manner that provides a variety of functionalities. A particularly advantageous application of the system provides a mechanism for regulating and recording the flow of free drug samples from manufacturers to healthcare providers and thence to patients. This involves a method by which a unique record is created each time it changes hands on the way from the manufacturer to the patient. A machine-readable unique code assigned to the sample is scanned automatically when the sample it is withdrawn from inventory at the manufacturer. The code and a unique identity of the individual withdrawing the sample are stored as a first record. This process is repeated at each location and for each individual handling the sample, including when it reaches the healthcare provider. Thus, a series of unique records is created that track the sample.

1 . A method of monitoring a drug sample sent from a manufacturer to a healthcare provider through at least one intermediate party, the method comprising:
 assigning a machine-readable unique code to the sample;   withdrawing the sample from an inventory location at the manufacturer;   scanning the unique code at the manufacturer at the time the sample is withdrawn from the inventory location;   storing the unique code and a unique identity of the individual withdrawing the sample to create a first record relating to the sample;   thereafter shipping the sample to the intermediate party;   scanning the unique code when the sample is received by the intermediate party;   storing the unique code and a unique identity of the individual receiving the sample at the intermediate party to create a second record relating to the sample;   thereafter shipping the sample to the healthcare provider;   scanning the unique code when the sample is received by the healthcare provider; and   storing the unique code and a unique identity of the individual receiving the sample at the healthcare provider to create a third record relating to the sample.   
     
     
         2 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the sample is maintained in a repository at the healthcare provider and the unique code is scanned automatically when the sample is removed from the repository, the method further comprising storing the unique code and a unique identity of the individual removing the sample from the repository. 
     
     
         3 . A method of monitoring medical products sent from drug manufacturers to healthcare providers through at least one intermediate party, the method comprising:
 storing in electronic form a manufacturer's shipping record when a particular product is sent from the manufacturer to an intermediate party, wherein the manufacturer's shipping record associates a unique code assigned to the product with a unique identity assigned to an individual sending the product;   storing in electronic form an intermediate party receipt when the product is received by the intermediate party from the manufacturer, wherein the intermediate party receipt associates the unique code assigned to the product with a unique identity assigned to an individual receiving the product at the intermediate party;   storing in electronic form an intermediate party shipping record when the product is sent from the intermediate party, wherein the intermediate party shipping record associates the unique code assigned to the product with a unique identity assigned to an individual sending the product from the intermediate party; and   storing in electronic form a healthcare provider receipt when the product is received by a healthcare provider, wherein the healthcare provider receipt associates the unique code assigned to the product with a unique identity assigned to an individual receiving the product at the healthcare provider.   
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 3 , wherein one intermediate party receiving the product sends it to another intermediate party, the method further comprising storing in electronic form a separate intermediate party receipt each time the product is received by an intermediate party and a separate intermediate party shipping record each time the product is sent from an intermediate party. 
     
     
         5 . A method as in  claim 4 , wherein:
 the intermediate parties include at least one distributor of medical products who received the product from a product manufacturer and a sales representative of the product manufacturer who delivers the product to the healthcare provider; and   a sales representative shipping record comprises a delivery record when the product is delivered to the healthcare provider and the delivery record associates the unique code assigned to the product with a unique identity assigned to an individual sales representative.   
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 3 , wherein the medical product comprises at least one of a drug, a medication, a medical appliance, device or prosthetic, practice-management software and/or hardware, a consumable item for a portable medical device, a module containing a medication for a portable medical device, a replacement hardware item for a portable medical device, a training and/or instruction manual, and a sample provided by a manufacturer relating to a medical product made available for free or at a cost below the normal price charged to users. 
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 6 , wherein the sample comprises at least one of physical sample of the product, a digital coupon redeemable for the product by connecting to a website of the manufacturer, and a physical voucher that can be presented at a point of purchase to obtain the product. 
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 7 , wherein the voucher is applicable to at least one of the purchase price of a supply of a medication covering a particular number of doses, a discount redeemable at a pharmacy, and contributions toward an insurance co-pay. 
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 3 , wherein the records and receipts are stored in a memory access to which is controlled by an administrator. 
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 3 , further comprising storing a patient record when the healthcare provider provides the product to a patient, wherein:
 the patient record associates the unique code assigned to the product with a unique identity assigned to the patient; and   the records and receipts are stored in a memory access to which is controlled by an administrator.   
     
     
         11 . A method as in  claim 10 , wherein the unique identity assigned to an individual is created by a biometric scan of the individual and the unique code assigned to the product is created by one of scanning a bar code or reading an RFID tag attached to the product. 
     
     
         12 . A method of creating an electronic medical record of a product supplied from a drug manufacturer to a patient for loading into a portable medical device used by the patient for self-testing and -treatment, wherein the device includes reading/detection apparatus for creating an electronic record by reading a unique code assigned to the product by the manufacturer and communication circuitry for sending information from the device to a storage location, the method comprising:
 storing at the storage location in electronic form a manufacturer's shipping record when a product is sent from the manufacturer, wherein the manufacturer's shipping record associates a unique code assigned to the product with a unique identity assigned to an individual sending the product;   storing at the storage location in electronic form information a unique code identifying a particular device and a unique identity assigned to a patient, wherein the unique code identifying the device is associated with the unique identity assigned to the patient; and   storing at the storage location in electronic form information generated by the reading/detection apparatus and received via the communication circuitry of the device when the product is loaded into the device, wherein the information received from the device is used to create a medical record that associates with the unique identity assigned to the patient the unique code assigned to the product, the unique code assigned to the device, and confirmation that the product was loaded into the device.   
     
     
         13 . A method as in  claim 12 , wherein the medical record and shipping record is stored in a memory access to which is controlled by an administrator. 
     
     
         14 . A method as in  claim 12 , further comprising:
 storing at the storage location in electronic form an intermediate party receipt when the product is received by an intermediate party from the manufacturer, wherein the intermediate party receipt associates the unique code assigned to the product with a unique identity assigned to an individual receiving the product at the intermediate party;   storing in electronic form an intermediate party shipping record when the product is sent from the intermediate party, wherein the intermediate party shipping record associates the unique code assigned to the product with a unique identity assigned to an individual sending the product from the intermediate party.   
     
     
         15 . A method as in  claim 14 , wherein the unique identity assigned to an individual is created by a biometric scan of the individual and the unique code assigned to the product is created by one of scanning a bar code or reading an RFID tag attached to the product. 
     
     
         16 . A method as in  claim 12 , further comprising storing in electronic form a healthcare provider receipt when the product is received by a healthcare provider from an intermediate party sending the product to the provider, wherein the healthcare provider receipt associates the unique code assigned to the product with a unique identity assigned to an individual receiving the product at the healthcare provider. 
     
     
         17 . A method as in  claim 12 , wherein the product comprises one of a consumable item for the device, a module containing a medication for administration using the device, and a replacement hardware item for the device. 
     
     
         18 . A method as in  claim 17 , wherein the product comprises a sample provided by the manufacturer for free or at a cost below the normal price charged to users for the product. 
     
     
         19 . A method of monitoring medical products provided by a drug manufacturer through at least one intermediate party to a healthcare provider for provision to at least one patient, the method comprising:
 storing in electronic form a manufacturer's shipping record when a particular product is sent from the manufacturer to an intermediate party, wherein the manufacturer's shipping record associates a unique code assigned to the product with a unique identity assigned to an individual sending the product;   storing in electronic form an intermediate party receipt when the product is received by the intermediate party, wherein the intermediate party receipt associates the unique code assigned to the product with a unique identity assigned to an individual receiving the product at the intermediate party;   storing in electronic form an intermediate party shipping record when the product is sent from the intermediate party, wherein the intermediate party shipping record associates the unique code assigned to the product with a unique identity assigned to an individual sending the product from the intermediate party;   storing in electronic form a healthcare provider receipt when the product is received by a healthcare provider, wherein the healthcare provider receipt associates the unique code assigned to the product with a unique identity assigned to an individual receiving the product at the healthcare provider; and   storing a patient record when the healthcare provider provides the product to a patient, wherein the patient record associates the unique code assigned to the product with a unique identity assigned to the individual patient.   
     
     
         20 . A method as in  claim 19 , wherein the unique identity assigned to an individual is created by a biometric scan of the individual and the unique code assigned to the product is created by one of scanning a bar code or reading an RFID tag attached to the product.