US 8,577,691 B2 · Pharmacy system data interface system and method

Abstract

A method for receiving prescription data from a pharmacy is provided. The method includes emulating a device, such as using a pseudo TTY feature of a Unix operating system or a pseudo device of a Windows operating system. A prescription authorization system is then set to transmit data to the emulated device when the prescription data is provided to a claims approval agency by the prescription authorization system. The data can be supplemented with data from a secondary source, such as a system that acquires data in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or other suitable systems. The prescription data and any supplemental data is then received at the prescription authorization system, and is transmitted to the emulated device. The prescription data is also stored in a local log file, and is transmitted to a data warehouse over a network using the emulated device.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for receiving prescription data from a pharmacy comprising:

in response to a prescription authorization system of a pharmacy computer at a first network location transmitting prescription data to a claims processor computer, the prescription authorization system transmitting the prescription data to a device emulation system which emulates a modem requiring a dial-up connection, which dial-up connection is currently unavailable to the pharmacy computer;
the pharmacy computer storing the prescription data in a local log file, wherein the local log file is local to the pharmacy computer;
and
the pharmacy computer transmitting the prescription data from the device emulation system to a data warehouse computer at a second network location over an Internet connection, the transmitting occurring while a dial-up connection to the data warehouse computer is unavailable.

1 more element

A system for receiving prescription data from a pharmacy comprising:

a pharmacy computer at a first network location, the pharmacy computer having:
device emulation system which emulates a modem requiring a dial-up connection, which dial-up connection is currently unavailable to the pharmacy computer;
a prescription authorization system configured to:
transmit prescription data to a claims processor computer;
and
in response to transmitting prescription data to the claims processor computer, transmit prescription data to the device emulation system;
a local log file system configured to store the prescription data in a local log file after the device emulation system receives the prescription data, the local log file local to the pharmacy computer;
and
an update system configured to transmit the prescription data from the device emulation system to a data warehouse computer at a second network location over an Internet connection, the transmitting occurring while a dial-up connection to the data warehouse computer is unavailable.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Pharmacy system data interface system and method

Life of this patent

Pharmacy system data interface system and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18