Patent ID: 9633172
Date: 2017-04-25
CPC Classifications: G06Q,G07F,G16H

Claim:
1. A method of improving productivity of pharmacy, comprising the steps of: (a) during dispensing of pharmaceuticals from an automated pharmacy machine, recording, by at least one processor of an automated prescription monitoring unit, information regarding an identity and quantity of each pharmaceutical being automatically dispensed; (b) recording, by at least one processor of a prescription monitoring unit, information regarding an identity and quantity of each pharmaceutical being manually dispensed by the pharmacy; (c) identifying, by at least one processor of a controller operatively associated with the automated prescription monitoring unit and the prescription monitoring unit, from the information recorded in step (a), low performing pharmaceuticals; (d) identifying, by the processor of the controller, from the information recorded in step (b) high performing pharmaceuticals dispensed manually that are candidates for automated dispensing; (e) comparing, by the processor of the controller, low performing pharmaceuticals of step (c) with high performing pharmaceuticals of step (d) to determine whether replacement of a low performing pharmaceutical with a high performing pharmaceutical in the automated pharmacy machine is recommended; (f) confirming, by the processor of the controller, whether high performing pharmaceuticals identified in step (d) are capable of automated dispensing; and (g) modifying the automated pharmacy machine to replace a low performing pharmaceutical identified in step (c) with a high performing pharmaceutical identified in step (d); wherein the modifying comprises, based on a recommended modification provided by the processor of the controller, adjusting a bin of the automated pharmacy machine from which the high performing pharmaceutical is to be dispensed or replacing the bin of the automated pharmacy machine from which the low performing pharmaceutical is dispensed, further comprising the step of producing a report with information generated in steps (c)-(e).