Abstract:
An information processing apparatus and a method for managing dispensing information associated with a prescription for medicine, the apparatus and method including inputting acquiring information for acquiring dispensing status information associated with a prescription for medicine, sending the input acquiring information to at least one other device, and receiving the dispensing status information acquired based on the acquiring information from the at least one other device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program for sending/receiving data to/from an external device.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     A prescription describes a medicine prescribed for a patient as a result of a diagnosis in a medical institution, such as a hospital and a clinic.  
         [0005]     Generally speaking, a patient gets a prescription issued by a medical institution, and takes the prescription to an external pharmacy that is open outside the medical institution. Then, the pharmacy dispenses a medicine in accordance with the prescription, and the patient receives the dispensed medicine. In this case, the pharmacy does not know the medication contents to be dispensed until it gets the prescription. Only after the patient takes the prescription to the pharmacy can the pharmacy begin dispensing a medicine.  
         [0006]     To shorten the time for a patient to wait in a pharmacy, a prescription may be sent to the pharmacy in advance by fax, and a medicine may be dispensed before the patient goes to the pharmacy. According to this method, the patient does not know how busy the pharmacy is at the time of sending the prescription thereto. Therefore, even if the medical institution or doctor sends the prescription beforehand, the patient might still have to wait in the pharmacy. Another problem is that it is difficult to select an optimum external pharmacy from a plurality of external pharmacies.  
         [0007]     Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-263501 discusses a method for shortening the time for a patient to wait in a pharmacy when a prescription is sent beforehand. According to this method, a display unit of a prescription sending apparatus displays a map of each external pharmacy and the time to wait for the dispensation in the pharmacy. Then, a patient specifies one pharmacy and the time to pick up a medicine when the patient sends a prescription to the specified pharmacy using the prescription sending apparatus.  
         [0008]     However, the dispensation of the prescription is not necessarily done in sequential order. The medication may not be dispensed sequential order due to the contents of the received prescription. For example, the medicine for a patient of a serious case is dispensed on a priority basis. Thus, dispensing of the medication may not necessarily be completed on time as estimated.  
         [0009]     According to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-263501, after the prescription is sent to the pharmacy, the patient does not know the general dispensing (preparation) status of the sent prescription in the pharmacy, and does not know the dispensing status of the sent prescription in real time. Additionally, it is very difficult for a patient to change the selected pharmacy once the prescription has been sent to the pharmacy. In addition, in many instances due to the patient&#39;s schedule, it is also difficult to change when the patient is able to go to the pharmacy to pick up the prescription.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     The present invention is directed to a prescription transmission system in which a patient can dynamically know the dispensing status in a pharmacy, and can change the pharmacy to a desired one and/or the desired time to pick up the dispensed medicine, after having sent a prescription to the pharmacy.  
         [0011]     According to an aspect of the present invention, an information processing apparatus configured to receive dispensing status information associated with a prescription for medicine from at least one other device configured to update the dispensing status information in accordance with a dispensing status includes an input unit configured to input acquiring information for acquiring the dispensing status information, a sending unit configured to send the acquiring information to the at least one other device, and a receiving unit configured to receive, from the at least one other device, the dispensing status information acquired based on the acquiring information.  
         [0012]     According to another aspect of the present invention, an information processing apparatus includes a first receiving unit configured to receive prescription data, a first sending unit configured to send information based on the prescription data to at least one other device, a second receiving unit configured to receive the information from at least one other device, and a second sending unit configured to send dispensing status information to the at least one other device in accordance with the information received by the second receiving unit.  
         [0013]     According to yet another aspect of the present invention, an information processing apparatus includes an updating unit configured to update dispensing status information associated with a prescription for medicine, wherein the dispensing status information includes a dispensing time and a sending unit configured to send the dispensing status information to at least one other device if the dispensing time is greater than predetermined time.  
         [0014]     According to yet another aspect of the present invention, an information processing apparatus includes an input unit configured to input patient information, an authentication unit configured to authenticate the patient information using previously stored patient information, and a display unit configured to display, when the patient information is authenticated, an expected time when a prescription associated with the patient information will be filled.  
         [0015]     According to yet another aspect of the present invention, an information processing apparatus includes a first input unit configured to input patient information, a second input unit configured to input an expected time to pick-up a prescription, an authentication unit configured to authenticate the patient information against previously stored patient information, a display unit configured to display, when the patient information is authenticated, an expected time when a prescription associated with the patient information will be filled.  
         [0016]     According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a patient can dynamically know a dispensing status in a pharmacy after having sent a prescription to the pharmacy. Even if the dispensation is not done in a sequential order due to the contents of the prescriptions, the patient can know the accurate dispensing time. Even after the prescription has been sent to the pharmacy, the patient can change the time to pick up the medicine or cancel the pharmacy. Thus, the patient can go to receive the medicine at the convenience of the patient.  
         [0017]     Further features and aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a configuration diagram of a prescription transmission system in a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram of an image forming apparatus in the first exemplary embodiment.  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram of a data processing apparatus in the first exemplary embodiment.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating the process flow of the prescription transmission system in the first exemplary embodiment.  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart of a process executed by an image forming apparatus in a medical institution in the first exemplary embodiment.  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart of a process executed by an image forming apparatus in a pharmacy in the first exemplary embodiment.  
         [0025]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart of a process executed by an image forming apparatus or a portable terminal in the first exemplary embodiment.  
         [0026]      FIG. 8  illustrates an example of a user interface (UI) displayed on a display unit of the image forming apparatus or the portable terminal in the first exemplary embodiment.  
         [0027]      FIG. 9  illustrates an example of a screen displayed on a display unit in the first exemplary embodiment.  
         [0028]      FIG. 10  illustrates an example of a screen displayed on the display unit in the first exemplary embodiment.  
         [0029]      FIG. 11  illustrates an example of a screen displayed on the display unit in the first exemplary embodiment.  
         [0030]      FIG. 12  illustrates an example of a screen displayed on the display unit in the first exemplary embodiment.  
         [0031]      FIG. 13  illustrates an example of a screen displayed on the display unit in the first exemplary embodiment.  
         [0032]      FIG. 14  illustrates a prescription table in the first exemplary embodiment.  
         [0033]      FIG. 15  illustrates a patient information table in the first exemplary embodiment.  
         [0034]      FIG. 16  illustrates an example of a screen displayed on the display unit in the first exemplary embodiment.  
         [0035]      FIG. 17  is a flowchart of a process executed by an image forming apparatus in response to an inquiry about the dispensing status in the first exemplary embodiment.  
         [0036]      FIG. 18  is a flowchart of a process executed by an image forming apparatus in a second exemplary embodiment.  
         [0037]      FIG. 19  is a flowchart of a process executed by an image forming apparatus in a pharmacy in a fifth exemplary embodiment.  
         [0038]      FIG. 20  is a flowchart of a process executed by an image forming apparatus in a pharmacy in a sixth exemplary embodiment.  
         [0039]      FIG. 21  illustrates a medicine effect table in the sixth exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0040]     Various exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects of the invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the exemplary embodiments, an image forming apparatus is adopted as an information processing apparatus that sends and receives prescriptions.  
       First Exemplary Embodiment  
       [0041]      FIG. 1  is a configuration diagram of a prescription transmission system that sends prescriptions to an image forming apparatus in (or at) a pharmacy from an image forming apparatus in (or at) a medical institution in a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0042]     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , in the present exemplary embodiment, an image forming apparatus  104  in a medical institution, an image forming apparatus  101  in a pharmacy, a portable terminal  107 , such as a cellphone, and a remotely located image forming apparatus  111  all connected with each other through the Internet and a telephone line  103 . In the medical institution, the image forming apparatus  104 , a FAX device  110 , and a data processing apparatus  105 , such as a personal computer (PC), are connected with each other through a local area network (LAN)  109 . In the pharmacy, the image forming apparatus  101 , a FAX device  102 , and a data processing apparatus  108 , such as a PC, are connected with each other through a LAN  106 . The data processing apparatuses  105  and  108  may be medical computers (so-called a medical statement computer). These devices connected to the LANs  106  and  109  can communication with each other using a predetermined protocol.  
         [0043]      FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatuses  101  and  104  according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatuses  101  and  104  are digital multifunction peripherals having general functions of COPY, PRINT, FAX, etc.  
         [0044]     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , each of the image forming apparatuses  101  and  104  includes a scanner unit  201  and a controller unit  202 . The scanner unit  201  performs a document reading process. The controller unit  202  performs image processing for image data read by the scanner unit  201 , and stores the image data in a memory  205 . Further, each of the image forming apparatuses  101  and  104  includes an operation unit  204 , a ROM  210  and a storage unit  211 , such as a hard disk drive or a memory card. The operation unit  204  sets various printing conditions for the image data read by the scanner unit  201 . Each of the image forming apparatuses  101  and  104  further includes a printer unit  203  configured to form an image using the image data read out of the memory  205  on a recording sheet in accordance with a print setting condition set by the operation unit  204 .  
         [0045]     Further, each of the image forming apparatuses  101  and  104  also includes a network interface card (NIC) unit  206 . In the NIC unit  206 , a LAN controller  207  controls all the processing for monitoring communication packets flowing through a particular LAN (e.g., LANs  106 ,  109 ), acquiring information on the LAN, and sending the data read by the scanner unit  201  to one LANs  106 ,  109 , and the network  103 . A transformer unit  208  transforms a voltage to realize physical communications between the image forming apparatus and the LAN.  
         [0046]     The controller unit  202  is connected to a display unit  209 , and controls the display unit  209  to display print setting conditions. The display unit  209  of the image forming apparatus  104  installed in the medical institution displays, among other things, maps of external pharmacies or detail information about the pharmacies. The display unit  209  may be a touch panel, but any type of display that would enable practice of the present invention is applicable. The storage unit  211  of the image forming apparatus  101  in the pharmacy stores a waiting time information table. The waiting time information table stores information regarding the time period since a prescription is received until the dispensed medicine is given to a patient, and is constantly updated in accordance with the number of received prescriptions. The number of received prescriptions is determined with reference to a prescription table  1401  as described below. The waiting time information table may also be stored in a storage unit  215  or RAM  212  of the data processing apparatus  108 .  
         [0047]      FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram of the data processing apparatuses  105  and  108  in the present embodiment. Each of the data processing apparatuses  105  and  108  includes a CPU  224 , a ROM  225 , a RAM  212 , a video card  214  for connecting with a monitor  213  (e.g., touch panel, CRT, etc.), and a storage unit  215 , such as a hard disk drive or memory card. Each of the data processing apparatuses  105  and  108  further includes an interface  218  (e.g., a USB, IEEE1394) for connecting to external devices such as a keyboard  217 , a pointing device  216  (e.g., mouse, stylus, etc.), a printer  222 , and a scanner  223 . Further, each of the data processing apparatuses  105  and  108  includes a network interface card (NIC)  220  for connecting with a network  219 . The elements of each of the data processing apparatuses  105  and  108  are connected to each other through a system bus  221 .  
         [0048]     The CPU  224  loads a program stored in the ROM  225  or storage unit  215  into the RAM  212  (work memory) to execute the program. The CPU  224  controls each of the above-described elements through the system bus  221  in accordance with the program.  
         [0049]      FIG. 15  illustrates an example of a patient information table  1501  stored in the storage unit  211  of the image forming apparatus  104  in the medical institution. The patient information table  1501  contains patient information stored on a patient-by-patient basis. The patient information table  1501  includes, but is not limited to, a patient name, an address, an e-mail address, an insurance number, a name of a disease, and a group ID in association with each patient number. The patient number is a patient ID given to each patient. The group ID refers to a particular group, such as a family. With this group ID, the medicines for a plurality of patients having the same group ID can be received at the same time in the pharmacy. In addition to being stored in the storage unit  211  of the imaging forming apparatus  104  in the medical institution, the patient information table  1501  can also be stored in the data processing apparatus  105  in the medical institution.  
         [0050]      FIG. 14  illustrates an example of a prescription table  1401  stored in the storage unit  211  of the image forming apparatus  101  in the pharmacy. In association with each prescription, the prescription table  1401  stores a patient name, a prescription ID corresponding to a prescription, a URL for confirming the dispensing status of the prescription, a dispensing status, an insurance number, and an expected (estimated) time for the user to come to the pharmacy. The prescription ID corresponding to a prescription is set by the controller unit  202  of the image forming apparatus  101  when the image forming apparatus  101  receives the prescription from the medical institution.  
         [0051]     The dispensing status indicates “before dispensing” if the prescription is received from the medical institution and has not yet been given to the pharmacist to fill. The dispensing status represents “being dispensed”, if the prescription has been given to the pharmacist. The dispensing status indicates “already dispensed”, if the pharmacist has filled the prescription. The dispensing status is updated when the pharmacist or a pharmacy staff member accesses and rewrites the prescription table  1401  using either the image forming apparatus  101  or the data processing apparatus  108 .  
         [0052]     The dispensing status of the prescription table  1401  can be updated to “being dispensed” by scanning the prescription and reading the prescription ID added to the prescription when the pharmacy staff gives the prescription to the pharmacist. Further, if the pharmacist scans the prescription after having filled the prescription, the dispensing status can be updated to “already dispensed”. In addition to storing the prescription table  1401  in the storage unit  211  of the image forming apparatus  101 , the prescription table  1401  can also be stored in the data processing apparatus  108 . In this case, the prescription ID is set by the CPU  224  at the time the prescription is stored in the data processing apparatus  108 .  
         [0053]     The prescription transmission system of the present embodiment will now be described with reference to  FIG. 4 . In  FIG. 4 , reference numeral  401  denotes a patient, reference numeral  104  is the image forming apparatus installed a medical institution, reference  101  is the image forming apparatus installed in a pharmacy, reference numeral  404  denotes a pharmacy staff member, reference numeral  108  is the data processing apparatus in the pharmacy used to calculate the fee associated with a particular prescription, and reference numeral  404  denotes a pharmacist who fills the prescription  
         [0000]     (Process for sending a prescription from a medical institution to a pharmacy)  
         [0054]     Steps S 401  through S 404  describe the process flow in which a patient  401  sends a prescription from the image forming apparatus  104  installed in the medical institution to the image forming apparatus  101  installed in the pharmacy.  
         [0055]     First, in step S 401 , the patient  401  inputs a patient number via the operation unit  204  of the image forming apparatus  104 . When the patient information is authenticated based on the patient information table  1501  stored in the storage unit  211  of the image forming apparatus  104 , a search for external pharmacies occurs in step S 402 . At this time, the image forming apparatus  104  sends a waiting time inquiry signal to the image forming apparatus  101  of all external pharmacies located within a predetermined distance from the medical institution, and receives a present waiting time from the waiting time information table stored in the image forming apparatus  101  of each pharmacy.  
         [0056]     In step S 403 , the display unit  209  of the image forming apparatus  104  displays a list of external pharmacies as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . In step S 404 , the patient  401  specifies, via the operation unit  204 , a pharmacy to send the prescription to. In step S 405 , the prescription is read by the scanner unit  201  of the image forming apparatus  104  and is sent to the image forming apparatus  101  of the pharmacy specified in step S 404 .  
         [0000]     (Process for receiving a prescription sent from the medical institution in the pharmacy, adding a prescription ID thereto, and registering the prescription)  
         [0057]     Steps  406  and S 407  describe a process for receiving the prescription sent from the medical institution through the image forming apparatus  101  in the pharmacy, adding a prescription ID thereto, and registering the prescription having the prescription ID added thereto and the prescription ID in the prescription table  1401 .  
         [0058]     In step S 406 , the image forming apparatus  101  in the pharmacy receives the prescription sent from the medical institution. At this time, the image forming apparatus  101  adds a specific prescription ID to the prescription, and registers the prescription having the prescription ID added thereto together with the prescription ID in the prescription table  1401 . At this time, the dispensing status of the prescription is also registered. Specifically, the status of “before dispensing” is registered. In addition, a URL for confirming the dispensing status of the prescription is created, and the created URL is also registered in the prescription table  1401 . Then, in step S 407 , the image forming apparatus  101  sends the prescription ID and the URL corresponding to the received prescription along with a transmission completion notification to the image forming apparatus  104 .  
         [0000]     (Process for confirming the prescription ID and the URL corresponding to a prescription by the medical institution)  
         [0059]     Step S 408  describes a process for confirming the prescription ID and the URL corresponding to the prescription sent from the medical institution to the pharmacy and the dispensing status of the prescription using the image forming apparatus  104  of the medical institution.  
         [0060]     More specifically, in step S 408 , the image forming apparatus  104  receives the transmission completion notification, the prescription ID, and the URL corresponding to the prescription. Then, the patient  401  confirms the prescription ID and the URL shown in the transmission completion notification. Next, the patient prints the received ID and the URL. The patient can then access the URL using a portable terminal  107  or a remotely located image forming apparatus  111 , thus confirming the dispensing status of the prescription, changing the pharmacy to a different one from which the patient receives the medicine, or changing the time to pick up the medicine.  
         [0000]     (Process conducted in the pharmacy based on the received prescription)  
         [0061]     Steps S 409  through S 415  describe a process for receiving a prescription in the pharmacy using the data processing apparatus  108  based on the contents of the prescription.  
         [0062]     Upon completion of step S 407 , in step S 409 , the pharmacy staff member  404  prints the prescription. In step S 410 , the pharmacy staff member  404  registers the printed prescription and the prescription ID in the data processing apparatus  108 , and conducts a process for calculating a medical fee receipt using the data processing apparatus  108 . In this case, the prescription data may be transferred and registered into the data processing apparatus  108 , when the prescription is received through the image forming apparatus  101 .  
         [0063]     In step S 411 , the pharmacy staff member  404  provides the prescription to the pharmacist  406  in charge of dispensing the prescription. Also in step S 411 , the pharmacy staff member  404  registers information representing that a request to fill the received prescription in the prescription table  1401 .  
         [0064]     Next, in step S 412 , the pharmacist  406  dispenses the prescription. In step S 413 , the data processing apparatus  108  searches for prescription data from the prescription table  1401  of the image forming apparatus  101 , using a corresponding prescription ID. In step S 414 , the status of the prescription data is updated to “being dispensed”. In step S 415 , the image forming apparatus  101  sends information representing that the status of the prescription data has been updated, to the image forming apparatus  104 . Note that, in step S 411 , the prescription can be scanned using the image forming apparatus  101 , thus identifying the prescription ID or the insurance number so as to update the dispensing status of the prescription data.  
         [0000]     (Process to be conducted when a patient comes to a pharmacy with a prescription)  
         [0065]     Steps S 416  through S 423  describe a process conducted in the pharmacy when the patient  401  comes to the pharmacy with a prescription.  
         [0066]     In steps S 416  and S 417 , the patient  401  comes to the pharmacy and scans the prescription using the image forming apparatus  101 . In step S 418 , a patient name and/or insurance number of the scanned prescription is identified, and the prescription table  1401  is used to confirm whether the scanned prescription was sent in advance or is being read for the first time. If the prescription was sent in advance, the image forming apparatus  101  notifies the data processing apparatus that the patient corresponding to the previously sent prescription is at the pharmacy.  
         [0067]     The monitor of the data processing apparatus  108  displays information indicating that the patient is at the pharmacy, thus notifying the pharmacy staff member  404  or the pharmacist  406  that the patient corresponding to a previously sent prescription is at the pharmacy. The pharmacy staff member  404  or the pharmacist  406  then confirms the status of the prescription. If the prescription has been filled, the pharmacy staff member  404  or the pharmacist  406  provides the patient  401  with the medicine.  
         [0068]     In step S 417 , if the patient scans the prescription, then in step S 419 , a notification indicating that the patient is at the pharmacy is sent to the image forming apparatus  104 . In step S 420 , the pharmacist  406  receives the original document of the prescription from the patient, signs the prescription in step S 421 , and gives the medicine to the patient in step S 422 . The pharmacy staff member  404  or the pharmacist  406  then updates the status of the prescription to “already dispensed” via the image processing apparatus  108 . The data processing apparatus  108  then provides the image forming apparatus  104  with the updated status. Further, the corresponding prescription data is deleted from the prescription table  1401 . When the medicine is given to the patient, the status can be updated by scanning the prescription using the image forming apparatus  101 . At the time the medicine is given to the patient, a receipt is issued in step S 423 , and a payment report is prepared by the pharmacy staff member  404 .  
         [0069]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram of a process, performed by the image forming apparatus  104 , for selecting a pharmacy where the prescription is to be sent.  
         [0070]     In step S 501 , a patient number is input via the operation unit  204  of the image forming apparatus  104 . In step S 502 , an authentication process is performed based on the patient number of the patient information table  1501  stored in the image forming apparatus  104 . In step S 503 , if the patient number is authenticated, the flow proceeds to step S 505 . On the other hand, if the patient number is not authenticated, the flow proceeds to step S 504 , where an authentication error is displayed on display unit  209 . In step S 505 , the image forming apparatus  104  sends a waiting time inquiry signal to the image forming apparatuses  101  of all pharmacies located within a predetermined distance from the medical institution.  
         [0071]     In step S 506 , the image forming apparatus  104  receives the current waiting time from each of the pharmacies to which the waiting time inquiry signal was sent. In step S 507 , the display unit  209  displays a list of all the pharmacies that provided a current waiting time, the waiting times, the business hours, map/direction information, and detail information as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . If the detail information of each pharmacy displayed in step S 507  is specified, the display unit  209  displays the waiting number, the dispensing status, and the expected waiting time associated with each respective prescription currently being handled by the specified pharmacy as illustrated in  FIG. 11 .  
         [0072]     In step S 508 , the patient  401 , using a user interface illustrated in  FIG. 16 , selects a pharmacy that the prescription should be sent to, and the selected pharmacy is input to the image forming apparatus  104 . In step S 509 , the patient  401 , using the user interface illustrated in  FIG. 12 , inputs the expected time the patient  401  plans to be at the pharmacy. The patient  401  can input any expected time as long as the time is after the expected waiting time and within the pharmacy&#39;s business hours. If any other prescriptions have already been requested, medicines of a patient having the same group ID can be dispensed and received together. In step S 510 , the prescription is sent to the pharmacy selected in step S 508 .  
         [0073]     If a prescription ID corresponding to the received prescription is issued, the image forming apparatus  101  sends the prescription ID, a URL for confirming the dispensing status of the prescription, and a transmission completion notification to the image forming apparatus  104 . In step S 511 , the prescription ID, the URL, and the transmission completion notification are received by the image forming apparatus  104 . In step S 512 , the prescription ID and the URL are displayed on the display unit  209  as illustrated in  FIG. 13 . In addition, the prescription ID and the URL can also be printed. The patient  401  can either write down the ID and URL information or can take the printed ID and URL. Note that the ID and the URL can be sent to the patient&#39;s e-mail address, cell phone, or any other contact location registered as patient information in advance in the patient information table  1501 .  
         [0074]     The patient  401  can access the URL using the portable terminal  107  or the image forming apparatus  111  to confirm the dispensing status of the medicine corresponding to the sent prescription. By accessing the URL, the patient  401  may change the pharmacy, the expected time the patient  401  plans to be at the pharmacy, or may cancel the visit to the pharmacy.  
         [0075]      FIG. 6  is a flow diagram of a prescription process performed by the image forming apparatus  101 . First, in step S 601 , the image forming apparatus  101  receives the prescription sent from the image forming apparatus  104 . Next, in step S 602 , the image forming apparatus  101  issues a specific prescription ID for the received prescription and creates a URL for confirming the prescription ID and the status of the prescription. In step S 603 , the image forming apparatus  101  registers the patient name, the prescription ID, the URL, the dispensing status, the insurance number, etc., in the prescription table  1401  stored in the storage unit  211 . In step S 604 , the image forming apparatus  101  sends the prescription ID, the URL, and the transmission completion notification to the image forming apparatus  104  that issued the prescription.  
         [0076]     In the present embodiment, a dispensing status of “before dispensing” is registered in the prescription table  1401 . Once the process of filling the prescription begins, the status is updated to “being dispensed”. When the medication has been dispensed, the status is updated to “already dispensed”. In the present embodiment, the pharmacy staff member  404  or the pharmacist  406  updates the dispensing status in the prescription table  1401  via the operation unit  204  of the image forming apparatus  101  or the data processing apparatus  108 . The dispensing status may also be updated by scanning the prescription using the image forming apparatus  101 .  
         [0077]      FIG. 7  is a flow diagram of a process for inquiring about the dispensing status of the prescription from the image forming apparatus  104 , the image forming apparatus  111 , or from the patient&#39;s portable terminal  107 . Hereinafter, for description purposes, the term “dispensing status confirmation terminal” will be used to refer to the above listed locations.  
         [0078]     In step S 701 , the URL and the prescription ID for confirming the dispensing status of the medicine is input via the dispensing status confirmation terminal. The image forming apparatus  101  authenticates the prescription ID input in step S 701  using the prescription ID stored in the prescription table  1401 . In step S 703 , if the prescription ID and URL are authenticated, the flow proceeds to step S 705 . On the other hand, if prescription ID and URL are not authenticated, the flow proceeds to step S 704 , in which an error message is displayed. In step S 705 , the dispensing status confirmation terminal receives the dispensing status corresponding to the input URL.  
         [0079]     Next, in step S 706 , the dispensing status of the prescription is displayed on the dispensing status confirmation terminal, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 8  is an example of a user interface used to display the dispensing status of a previously-sent prescription, and for a patient  401  to change the pickup time of medicine or to cancel the prescription. Reference numeral  801  denotes a specified URL address. Reference numeral  802  denotes the dispensing status of the prescription and can dynamically be changed. As previously discussed, the dispensing status  802  is “before dispensing” when the prescription has been received but not yet provided to the pharmacist, is “being dispensed” when the prescription has been given to the pharmacist, and is “already dispensed” when the prescription has been filled. A graphical control  803  can update the dispensing status. A second graphical control  804  enables the patient  401  to change the expected time the patient  401  plans on being at the pharmacy or to cancel the prescription. A third graphical control  805  sends updated information to the image forming apparatus  101 .  
         [0080]     Returning to  FIG. 7 , in step S 708 , a determination is made whether a change instruction has been inputted. If the patient  401  wants to change the expected time the patient plans on being at the pharmacy or wants to cancel the prescription, the patient selects a button for changing the time or to cancel from graphical control  804  illustrated in  FIG. 8 . If a new time is chosen, the patient  401  inputs the new time the patient plans on being at the pharmacy.  
         [0081]     In step S 708 , if an instruction for change is input, the flow proceeds to step S 709 . In step S 709 , the dispensing status confirmation terminal sends information about the change or the cancellation to the image forming apparatus  101  and then the process ends. If in step S 708 , the patient  401  cancels the visit to the pharmacy, the image forming apparatus  104  deletes the prescription data corresponding to the prescription ID stored in the prescription table  1401 . If, instep S 708 , an instruction for change is not input, the process ends.  
         [0082]      FIG. 17  is a flow diagram of a process performed by the image forming apparatus  101  in response to an inquiry by the patient  401  about the dispensing status. First, in step S 1701 , the image forming apparatus  101  receives an inquiry about the dispensing status of the prescription from the dispensing status confirmation terminal. Specifically, in step S 1701 , the image forming apparatus  101  receives the prescription ID and the URL. Then, in step S 1702 , the image forming apparatus  101  authenticates the prescription ID received in step S 1701  using the prescription ID stored in the prescription table  1401 .  
         [0083]     In step S 1703 , a determination is made whether the prescription ID received in step S 1701  is authenticated. If the prescription ID is authenticated, the flow proceeds to step S 1704 . On the other hand, if the prescription ID is not authenticated, the flow proceeds to step S 1705 . In step S 1704 , the image forming apparatus  101  sends the dispensing status to the dispensing status confirmation terminal that sent the inquiry about the dispensing status. In step S 1705 , the image forming apparatus  101  sends an error message indicating that a wrong ID has been sent to the dispensing status confirmation terminal that sent the inquiry about the dispensing status.  
         [0084]     In the present embodiment, a prescription is sent to an image forming apparatus in a pharmacy that is specified by a patient using an image forming apparatus in a medical institution. However, the present invention is not limited to the prescription being sent from an image forming apparatus in a medical institution. Any location that would enable a patient to send a prescription that would enable practice of the present invention is applicable.  
         [0085]     As described above, according to the present embodiment, the dispensing status of a prescription can be determined by accessing a prescription table storing the dispensing status of the prescription after the prescription has been sent to a pharmacy specified by a patient from a medical institution. This provides dispensing time of a prescription to a patient even if prescriptions are not dispensed in a sequential order due to the prescription contents or in the case of an emergency.  
         [0086]     Furthermore, a patient can change the pickup time for a prescription or can cancel the prescription even after the prescription has been sent to the pharmacy. Thus, in the case of changing the pickup time, the patient can pickup the medicine at a time that is convenient for the patient.  
       Second Exemplary Embodiment  
       [0087]     In the above-described first exemplary embodiment, a patient submits an inquiry to obtain the dispensing status from the prescription table when the patient wants to know the dispensing status of the prescription which has already been sent to the pharmacy.  
         [0088]     In a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the image forming apparatus  101  automatically informs the portable terminal  107  that the prescription has been filled or delayed in accordance with the dispensing status of the prescription.  
         [0089]      FIG. 18  illustrates a process flow performed by the image forming apparatus  101  in the present embodiment.  
         [0090]     In step S 1801 , the prescription table  1401  is updated by accessing the prescription table  1401  using the image forming apparatus  101  or the data processing apparatus  108 . Next, in step S 1802 , the image forming apparatus  101  determines whether there is a change in the expected time to complete filling the prescription stored in the prescription table  1401 . If there is a change greater than a predetermined period of time, the flow proceeds to step S 1803 . On the other hand, if there is no change or the change is less than a predetermined time, the process remains at step S 1802  until a change greater than a pre determined time is detected. In step S 1803 , the image forming apparatus  101  sends the dispensing status and the expected dispensation completion time to an e-mail address in the patient information table  1501 .  
         [0091]     As described above, according to the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus  101  automatically informs the portable terminal  107  of the patient about the change in the dispensing status, without the patient inquiring about the dispensing status of the prescription. The patient can be made aware of any changes in the dispensing status, e.g., change due to an interruption occurring as a result of an emergency case, thus, the patient is provided up-to-date dispensing status.  
       Third Exemplary Embodiment  
       [0092]     In the above-described first exemplary embodiment, the patient can input any expected time the patient plans on being at the pharmacy as long as the time is after the expected waiting time, and the time is within the business hours of the pharmacy. According to a third exemplary embodiment, different time periods for a patient to come to the pharmacy are provided between patients whose illness (e.g., a cold) can be transmitted to others and patients whose illness (e.g., high blood pressure) cannot be transmitted to others. Establishing different time periods based on type of illness allows for a lower possibility of transmitting diseases among patients in a pharmacy.  
         [0093]     The process associated with the present embodiment is similar to the process illustrated in  FIG. 5  of the first exemplary embodiment, except for one function. Specifically, in step S 509  of  FIG. 5 , when the patient inputs the expected time to come to the pharmacy via the operation unit  204  of the image forming apparatus  104 , the patient cannot select a predetermined time period depending on the patient&#39;s illness. In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus  104  receives the waiting time of each pharmacy in step S 506  of  FIG. 5 , together with a time period specified by patients whose illness (e.g., a cold) can be transmitted to others and a time period specified by patients whose illness (e.g., suffering a fracture) cannot be transmitted to others.  
         [0094]     A list of the external pharmacies is then displayed in step S 507 , and the patient inputs a destination external pharmacy in step S 508 . In step S 509 , a limited time period in which the patient can come to the pharmacy is provided based on the illness stored in the patient information table  1501 , and the patient inputs an available time period in which the patient plans to be at the pharmacy. In another embodiment, the limited time period in which the patient can come to the pharmacy may be determined based on the contents of the medications described on the prescription or the name of the disease written on the prescription. Setting of the limited time period is not limited to the above described criteria, and any criteria for setting the limited time period that would enable practice of the present invention is applicable.  
       Fourth Exemplary Embodiment  
       [0095]     In the above-described first exemplary embodiment, the same expected waiting time is provided to each patient, regardless of the disease type. In a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the expected waiting time varies based on the type of or seriousness of the disease. Thus, when the prescription is sent, a shorter waiting time is set for a patient with a more serious case than the waiting time of other patients.  
         [0096]     The process of the present embodiment is similar to the process illustrated in  FIG. 5  of the first exemplary embodiment, except for one function. Specifically, according to the present embodiment, in step S 505  of  FIG. 5 , the display unit  209  displays a priority waiting time as illustrated in FIG.  9 , where the priority waiting time is shorter than the normal waiting time. That is, in step S 506 , the priority waiting time set for a patient with a more serious case is received together with the normal waiting time. In step S 507 , the priority waiting time is displayed instead of the normal waiting time when it is determined that the patient is one with a more serious case based on the name of disease stored in the patient information table  1501 . On the other hand, when it is determined that the patient is not one with a more serious case, the normal waiting time as illustrated in  FIG. 10  is displayed.  
       Fifth Exemplary Embodiment  
       [0097]     In the first exemplary embodiment, the image forming apparatus  101  in the pharmacy receives a prescription, and the pharmacist dispenses the prescribed medicine. In a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, upon receipt of a prescription, the image forming apparatus  101  searches for a medicine currently prescribed for the patient associated with the received prescription from a medicine history server that contains information regarding the medicine currently prescribed for the patient.  
         [0098]     The image forming apparatus  101  then determines whether there are any potential effects of the patient taking the medicine currently prescribed with the medicine being prescribed on the received prescription. If it is determined that an unwanted effect could occur as a result of taking both medicines together, the image forming apparatus  101  sends a request to change the newly prescribed medicine to a different medicine that can safely be taken with the currently prescribed medicine to the image forming apparatus  104  in the medical institution. If a new medicine is prescribed, it is then re-sent to the image forming apparatus  101 .  
         [0099]      FIG. 19  is a flow diagram of a process performed by the image forming apparatus  101  to determine whether a newly prescribed medication is compatible with a currently prescribed medication.  
         [0100]     First, in step S 1901 , the image forming apparatus  101  receives a prescription sent from the image forming apparatus  104 . Next, in step S 1902 , the image forming apparatus  101  searches the medicine history server for a medicine currently prescribed for the patient based on an insurance number of the prescription data received in step S 1901 . Note that the medicine history server stores information regarding medicines currently prescribed for patients and is set in the pharmacy. The medicine history server can be set outside the pharmacy so as to manage medicine information regarding patients of a plurality of pharmacies. In step S 1903 , if the image forming apparatus  101  finds medicine currently prescribed for the patient, the flow proceeds to step S 1904 . On the other hand, if the image forming apparatus  101  does not find any medicine currently prescribed for the patient, the process ends.  
         [0101]     In step S 1904 , the image forming apparatus  101  determines whether there are any effects when a medicine written on the prescription received in step S 1901  is taken with a medicine obtained from the medicine history server. In step S 1905 , if it is determined that there is an undesirable effect can occur when both medicines are taken together, the flow proceeds to step S 1906 . On the other hand, if it is determined that there are no undesirable effects when both medicines are taken together, the process ends.  
         [0102]     In step S 1906 , the image forming apparatus  101  sends a request to change the medicine to a different one to the image forming apparatus  104 . If new prescription for a different medicine is prepared by the medical institution, the image forming apparatus  101  receives the changed prescription data for the different medicine from the image forming apparatus  104 .  
       Sixth Exemplary Embodiment  
       [0103]     In the first exemplary embodiment, the image forming apparatus  101  in the pharmacy receives a prescription and creates a prescription ID corresponding to the prescription and a URL for confirming the dispensing status. In a sixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the image forming apparatus  101  creates an effect table showing effects of the medicine in association with dosage regimens in addition to the prescription ID and the URL, and prints a medicine effect table after the medicine has been dispensed.  
         [0104]      FIG. 20  is a flow diagram of a process performed by the image forming apparatus  101  in the sixth exemplary embodiment. According to the sixth embodiment, a medicine effect table is created based on a received prescription, thus eliminating possible input errors when manually creating an effect table with reference to the original prescription.  
         [0105]     In step S 2001 , the image forming apparatus  101  receives a prescription sent from the image forming apparatus  104  of the medical institution. Then, in step S 2002 , the image forming apparatus  101  creates a specific prescription ID for the received prescription, and creates a URL for confirming the prescription ID and the dispensing status of the prescription. In addition, the image forming apparatus  101  also creates an effect table based on the prescription received in step S 2001 . In step S 2003 , the image forming apparatus  101  registers a patient name, a prescription ID, a URL, a dispensing status, an insurance number, and an effect table (i.e., information about the medicine) in the prescription table  1401  of the storage unit  211 .  
         [0106]     In step S 2004 , the image forming apparatus  101  checks whether the dispensing status has been updated to “already dispensed” in the prescription table  1401 . If the dispensing status has been updated to “already dispensed”, the flow proceeds to step S 2005 , where printing of the effect table stored in the prescription table  1401  occurs.  FIG. 21  is an example illustrating the effect table printed in step S 2005 . In step S 2004 , if the status has not been updated to “already dispensed”, the process remains at step S 2004  until the status is updated.  
       Additional Exemplary Embodiments  
       [0107]     In another embodiment, instead of a patient submitting the prescription to a pharmacy, the prescription is initially submitted by a member of a medical institution, such as the patient&#39;s physician.  
         [0108]     In still another embodiment, when the patient wishes to change which pharmacy the prescription is to be picked up at, the change in pharmacies is authorized either by a member of the medical institution (e.g., the patient&#39;s physician) where the prescription was prescribed or by a staff member at the pharmacy where the prescription was originally submitted.  
         [0109]     In still yet another embodiment, a FAX device or any other type of data transmission/reception apparatus can be used to send and receive prescription data through a network in place of the image forming apparatuses used in the above-described exemplary embodiments. After the prescription is read, the prescription data can be sent to a data processing apparatus such as a PC installed in the medical institution and may be sent to the pharmacy from the data processing apparatus via electronic mail.  
         [0110]     The present invention can also be accomplished by a computer (or a CPU) of a system or device reading and executing program code stored on a storage medium storing the program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described exemplary embodiments. In this case, the program code read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described exemplary embodiments. Thus, the program code or the storage medium storing the program code is included in the present invention. The storage medium for providing the program code may, for example, be a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a DVD-ROM, a DVD-R, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, a ROM. Further, the storage medium for providing the program code may be any of a storage medium included in a file server on a network, a storage medium included in an FTP server on the Internet, and the like.  
         [0111]     Executing the program code read by the computer results in realization of the functions of the above-described exemplary embodiments. In addition to the functions, an operating system (OS) operating on the computer partially or entirely executes the actual processing based on an instruction of the program code, thus realizing the functions of the above-described exemplary embodiments. Such a case is also included in the present invention.  
         [0112]     While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all modifications, equivalent structures, and functions.  
         [0113]     This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-352208 filed Dec. 6, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.