Portable patient devices, systems, and methods for providing patient aid and preventing medical errors, for monitoring patient use of ingestible medications, and for preventing distribution of counterfeit drugs

A method of manufacturing and shipping drugs to prevent the distribution of counterfeit drugs, said method comprising the steps of:

• preparing a predetermined amount of a specific type of drug for patient end-users;
• forming discrete individual doses of said specific type of drug;
• associating a respective RFID tag with each of said discrete individual doses of said specific type of drug;
• filling a predetermined number of bottle-type containers with a predetermined number of said discrete individual doses of said specific type of drug, each of said discrete individual doses having associated therewith its respective RFID tag;
• associating a respective RFID tag with each of said predetermined number of bottle-type containers;
• filling a predetermined number of box-type containers with a predetermined number of said bottle-type containers;
• associating a respective RFID tag with each of the predetermined number of filled box-type containers;
• placing a predetermined number of filled box-type containers in a shipping stack, each of said filled box-type containers having associated therewith its respective RFID tag;
• and
• associating a respective RFID tag with each of the predetermined number of shipping stacks so that when said specific type of drug is distributed to said patient end-users, a series of RFID readers may be employed to read the RFID tags associated with said shipping stacks, said filled box-type containers, said filled bottle-type containers, and each of said discrete individual doses to thereby verify the authenticity of each of said stacks, containers, and doses as they move through a distribution channel from a manufacture to said patient end-users.

A method of manufacturing drugs to prevent the distribution of counterfeit drugs, said method comprising the steps of:

• preparing a predetermined amount of a specific type of drug for patient end-users;
• forming discrete individual doses of said specific type of drug;
• and
• associating a respective RFID tag with each of said discrete individual doses of said specific type of drug so that when said specific type of drug is distributed to said patient end-users, at least one RFID reader may be employed to read the RFID tags associated with each of said discrete individual doses to thereby verify the authenticity of said doses as they move through a distribution channel from a manufacture to said patient end-users.

A method of packaging and distributing solid or liquid drugs to prevent the distribution of counterfeit drugs, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a predetermined amount of a specific type of drug for patient end-users;
• filling each one of a predetermined number of bottle-type containers with some of said specific type of drug;
• and
• associating a respective RFID tag with each of said predetermined number of bottle-type containers so that when said specific type of drug is distributed to said patient end-users, at least one RFID reader may be employed to read the RFID tags associated with said filled bottle-type containers to thereby verify the authenticity of each of said bottle-type containers as they move through a distribution channel from a packaging operation to said patient end-users.

A method of packaging and distributing solid or liquid drugs to prevent the distribution of counterfeit drugs, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a predetermined amount of a specific type of drug for patient end-users;
• filling each one of a predetermined number of bottle-type containers with some of said specific type of drug;
• filling a predetermined number of box-type containers with a predetermined number of said bottle-type containers;
• and
• associating a respective RFID tag with each of the predetermined number of filled box-type containers so that when said specific type of drug is distributed to said patient end-users, at least one RFID reader may be employed to read the RFID tags associated with said filled box-type containers to thereby verify the authenticity of each of said box-type containers as they move through a distribution channel from a packaging operation to said patient end-users.

A method of packaging and distributing solid or liquid drugs to prevent the distribution of counterfeit drugs, said method comprising the steps of:

• preparing a predetermined amount of a specific type of drug for patient end-users;
• filling each one of a predetermined number of bottle-type containers with some of said specific type of drug;
• filling a predetermined number of box-type containers with a predetermined number of said bottle-type containers;
• placing a predetermined number of filled box-type containers in a shipping stack;
• and
• associating a respective RFID tag with each of the predetermined number of shipping stacks so that when said specific type of drug is distributed to said patient end-users, at least one RFID reader may be employed to read the RFID tags associated with said shipping stacks to thereby verify the authenticity of each of said stacks as they move through a distribution channel from a packaging operation to said patient end-users.

A portable patient assistant device, comprising:

• an RFID reader implemented to read an RFID tag associated with patient use of medicinal drugs;
• a central processing unit for processing signals received from said RFID reader;
• a memory for storing data about said medicinal drugs, said memory being operatively associated with said central processing unit;
• and
• an output operatively linked to said central processing unit to provide output information regarding said use of medicinal drugs.

A system for facilitating patient doctor interaction during patient care, said system comprising:

• a portable patient assistant device including a central processing unit, a memory for storing data operatively associated with said central processing unit, and an output operatively linked to said central processing unit to provide output information to said patient;
• a medical computer under control of said doctor, said medical computer having a central processing unit, a memory, and at least one communication link to a remote location for retrieving information relating to said patient care;
• and
• means for transferring information from said medical computer to said portable patient assistant device so that when said patient uses said portable patient assistant device in the absence of attending medical personnel, said output provides relevant care information to said patient.

A method for facilitating a patient's visit to a medical or dental office, said method comprising the steps of:

• arriving at an office appointment with a portable patient assistant device including a memory having stored patient data, an input for receiving data into the device, and an output for outputting information from the device to a remote location;
• connecting said portable patient assistant device to an office computer system;
• transferring at least some of said stored patient data from said memory to said office computer system;
• inputting updated patient data into said office computer system;
• and
• transferring said updated patient data from said office computer system to said portable patient assistant device for patient use after completion of said office appointment.

A method for facilitating a patient's visit to a medical or dental office, said method comprising the steps of:

• arriving at an office appointment with a portable patient assistant device including a memory having stored patient data, an input for receiving data into the device, and an output for outputting information from the device to a remote location;
• connecting said portable patient assistant device to an office computer system;
• connecting said office computer system to an insurance company computer system;
• transferring at least some of said stored patient data from said memory to said office computer system;
• transferring at least some of the transferred patient data from said office computer system to said insurance company computer system;
• inputting updated patient data into said office computer system;
• and
• transferring said updated patient data from said office computer system to said portable patient assistant device for patient use after completion of said office appointment.

A method for providing insurance company review and processing of a patient expense, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a patient with a portable patient assistant device including a memory for storing patient data, an input for receiving data into the device, and an output for outputting information from the device to a remote location;
• inputting a procedure request into said memory of said portable patient assistant device;
• connecting said portable patient assistant device to an insurance company computer system;
• reviewing said procedure request at the insurance company;
• and
• providing a result from said reviewing step.

A method for facilitating a patient's visit to a pharmacy, said method comprising the steps of:

• arriving at a pharmacy with a portable patient assistant device including a memory having stored patient data, an input for receiving data into the device, and an output for outputting information from the device to a remote location;
• connecting said portable patient assistant device to a pharmacy computer system;
• transferring at least some of said stored patient data from said memory to said pharmacy computer system;
• updating patient data in said pharmacy computer system;
• and
• filling any prescriptions for medications indicated by said transferring step.

A method for facilitating a patient's visit to a pharmacy, said method comprising the steps of:

• arriving at a pharmacy with a portable patient assistant device including a memory having stored patient data, an input for receiving data into the device, and an output for outputting information from the device to a remote location;
• connecting said portable patient assistant device to a pharmacy computer system;
• connecting said pharmacy computer system to an insurance company computer system;
• transferring at least some of said stored patient data from said memory to said pharmacy computer system;
• transferring at least some of the transferred patient data from said pharmacy computer system to said insurance company computer system;
• updating patient data in said pharmacy computer system;
• and
• filling any prescriptions for medications indicated by said by at least one of said transferring steps.

A system for monitoring a patient's purchase and use of medication, said system comprising:

• a pharmacy computer system including a database having patient information;
• a container including an RFID container tag that provides said container with a particular container identification number, said RFID container tag capable of emitting a signal including said container identification number;
• a plurality of medicinal tablets stored in said container, each of said medicinal tablets including an RFID tablet tag that provides a corresponding respective tablet with a particular tablet identification number, each of said RFID tablet tags capable of emitting a signal including its respective tablet identification number;
• and
• a portable digital patient assistant for use by a patient during purchase and administration of said medicinal tablets, said portable digital patient assistant being connectable to said pharmacy computer system and including a memory and an RFID reader capable of detecting the signals emitted by the respective RFID tags so that upon purchase, said RFID reader detects the RFID tags and said portable digital patient assistant stores said particular container and tablet identification numbers in said memory and transfers same to said pharmacy computer system for storing in said database thereof.

A system for monitoring a pharmacy's sales and distribution of medication, said system comprising:

• a pharmacy computer system including a database having patient information and a pharmacy-maintained RFID reader;
• a container including an RFID container tag that provides said container with a particular container identification number, said RFID container tag capable of emitting a signal including said container identification number;
• and
• a plurality of medicinal tablets stored in said container, each of said medicinal tablets including an RFID tablet tag that provides a corresponding respective tablet with a particular tablet identification number, each of said RFID tablet tags capable of emitting a signal including its respective tablet identification number so that upon purchase, said pharmacy-maintained RFID reader detects the RFID tags and said particular container and tablet identification numbers are stored in said database along with any new or prior related patient information.

A method of creating a medical history for an individual, said method comprising the steps of:

• obtaining a portable patient assistant device at the time of birth of an individual, said portable patient assistant device including a memory;
• storing in said memory of said portable patient assistant device personal information and medical information relating to the birth of said individual to thereby create a birth record;
• and
• ensuring that said portable patient assistant device accompanies said individual to each medical office visit after birth so that said birth record may be supplemented with updated medical information.