Method for labeling pharmaceutical container with color advertising

A labeling method that enables a pharmacy to have pre-printed labels containing desired and custom color advertising and other color printings not achievable using the single color thermal printers used by pharmacies to print labels at the pharmacy, with the pharmacy being able to control the content of the pre-printed labels and to utilize the pre-printed labels as they desire with a single color printer to add printing specific to the patient and the prescription medicine.

FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to labeling of prescription containers. More particularly, this disclosure relates to methods for labeling prescription containers with labels having color advertising by providing a pre-printed label with color advertising and other color printing by commercially available printing means and subsequently printed with patient and medicine information by the pharmacy using either a laser or thermal printer.

BACKGROUND

Labels for prescription containers must include certain required information according to Federal and State regulations. This required information typically substantially corresponds to SIG information. SIG is short for Signa (Latin) which means “written,” and this terminology is a remnant from the past when all prescriptions were handwritten and signed by the physician. SIG information refers to the information on the written prescription signed by the physician, which is (1) the name of the patient, (2) identification of the medicine, e.g., the name and strength of the medicine, and (3) brief instructions to the patient for taking the medicine.

In addition, pharmacies generally also include Purpose and Auxiliary information on the label. Purpose information is information that relates to why the medicine is taken—e.g., to reduce inflammation, for nausea, for pain, and the like. Auxiliary information involves information such as food interaction cautions, such as “Do Not Take With Dairy” in the case of tetracycline prescriptions, since tetracycline is made less effective when consumed with dairy.

SIG, Purpose, and Auxiliary information is information that is printed at the pharmacy at the time a prescription container is filled with specific prescription medicine for a specific patient. Currently, for economic and reliability reasons, pharmacies typically print prescription labels in black printing using either laser printers or direct thermal printers. While such printers are reliable and cost-effective, they limit the ability of the pharmacy to print any information or graphics in sharp detail; to print in color; or to do either inexpensively.

Accordingly, improvement is desired in the labeling of pharmaceutical containers. What is desired is a way to label pharmaceutical containers that enables bold, sharp, clear and inexpensive color printed information, such as color advertisements, to be included on prescription labels and that is compatible for subsequent printing by laser printers or thermal print heads at the pharmacy.

SUMMARY

The disclosure advantageously describes methods for enabling pharmacies to provide pharmaceutical containers with labels having color advertising.

The methods according to the disclosure enable a pharmacy to have pre-printed labels containing desired and custom color advertising and other color printings not achievable using the single color thermal or laser printers used by pharmacies to print labels at the pharmacy. The pharmacy can control the content of the pre-printed labels and selectively utilize the pre-printed labels as they desire with a single color thermal or laser printer to add printing specific to the patient and the prescription medicine.

In one aspect, the disclosure relates to a method for filling a prescription at a pharmacy. The method includes the steps of obtaining a pre-printed label prepared off-site from the pharmacy. The pre-printed label includes a label substrate that is suitable for printing using both laser printers and thermal printers. The pre-printed label has printing applied using a variety of commercially available printing methods, such as flexographic, offset, or direct digital printing, to provide color advertising on the label selected by the pharmacy to advertise goods or services. The prescription is then filled at the pharmacy by selecting a prescription medicine based on the prescription for dispensing in a container to a patient. Before the label is applied to the container, print is applied to the pre-printed label at the pharmacy using one or more of a thermal printer, an inkjet printer or a laser printer to add printing specific to the prescription medicine and the patient.

The methods of the disclosure enable a pharmacy to have pre-printed labels containing desired and custom color advertising and other color printings not achievable using the single color printers used by pharmacies to print labels at the pharmacy. The pharmacy is able to control the content of the pre-printed labels and to utilize the pre-printed labels as they desire with a single color printer to add printing specific to the patient and the prescription medicine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure relates to methods for filling prescription containers utilizing one-piece pre-printed labels with color advertising and other color printing for pharmaceutical containers as selected by the pharmacy. The pre-printed labels are printed as by an off-site provider using a variety of printing methods, including flexographic, offset, direct digital or other commercially available methods and are configured to be suitable for use on various prescription containers, including conventional round prescription containers. The pre-printed labels are supplied to a pharmaceutical provider, such as a central fill pharmacy or retail store pharmacy. The pharmaceutical provider or pharmacy may select the content and arrangement of the printing on the pre-printed labels. As will be appreciated, actions indicated herein as being taken by the pharmacy will be understood to be actions taken by staff or other persons associated with the pharmacy.

When the prescription is filled at the pharmacy, staff of the pharmacy selects a prescription medicine based on the prescription for dispensing in a container to a patient and prints on the pre-printed label at the pharmacy using a single color thermal printer to add printing specific to the prescription medicine and the patient. It should be noted that color laser printers can also be used at the pharmacy to also add small amounts of supplemental color to the label, but given the higher cost of color laser printers, their much slower print time, and the expensive cost of color printing, the overwhelming majority of printers—laser or thermal—used in pharmacies only print in black. The label is then applied to the container and the prescription medicine is dispensed for use by the patient. The information added by the pharmacy is SIG, Purpose, and Auxiliary information specific to the patients and the medicines that will be supplied in the containers.

With reference toFIG. 1A, there is shown a pre-printed label10as it will be supplied to a pharmaceutical provider. The label10is made of a paper substrate that is suitable for printing using both laser printers (color or just black) and thermal head printers, such as thermal printing paper label stock or peel and stick laser printing labels.FIG. 1Bshows the label10after the pharmacy has printed SIG, Purpose, and Auxiliary information on the label10using a single color thermal head printer, thus providing a final label10′.

As seen inFIG. 1A, the label10has three zones A, B, and C, each of which is pre-populated by a label supplier with color printing. Zone A has printing12,12a,14, and16. Zone B has color printing18,20, and22. Zone C has color printing24,26,28,30, and32. The color printing12-32is all performed using commercially available color printing methods mentioned previously. InFIG. 1B, the pharmacy has added to the zones A-C black or single color printing40,42,44,46,48,50,52,54,56, and58, all performed by the pharmacy using a single color thermal printer.

Returning toFIG. 1A, in Zone A, the color printing12is a color logo utilizing the colors red, white, black, purple, and yellow and having fonts and font effects that cannot be provided by a thermal head printer. In the example shown, the logo is the logo of the pharmacy, e.g., Miceli's Pharmacy featuring a stylized RX symbol in a red oval over which is printed the words Miceli's Pharmacy. To the right of the printing12is printing12a, such as address and phone information of the pharmacy. The printing12acan be in any color, but preferably black, with the phone information in bold. The printing14and16are each a yellow bar. The printing14and16will subsequently be overprinted by the pharmacy to highlight the prescription number and the identification of the prescription. The printings12-16each run in the length direction of the label10.

In zone B, printing18covers the entirety of zone B and is in yellow. Much of printing18is subsequently printed over by the pharmacy with the printing18serving as highlighting of the printing provided by the pharmacy. Printing20and22are also highlighted by the printing18. Printing20is in the color red and runs perpendicular to the length direction of the label10and provides a legal warning: CAUTION: Federal law prohibits transfer of this drug to any person other than the patient for whom prescribed. Printing22states: THE PRODUCT IN THIS CONTAINER APPEARS AS FOLLOWS: Below printing22the pharmacy will provide a written description of the appearance of the prescription medicine.

In Zone C, various advertisement printing is provided. In the example ofFIG. 1A, the color advertisement printing is advertisement of an automatic refill service offered by the pharmacy. For example, printing24is a color image of a prescription container to provide a visual reminder of the prescription, printing26states in blue italic font: “Automatically refill your maintenance prescriptions. Once your order is ready for pickup, we'll call to let you know.” Printing28is in red no-italic font larger than the font of printing26, and states: “See pharmacy for details.” Printing30is a color logo of the pharmacy providing the automatic refill service. In this case, the logo is for Hartig Drug in red, white, and blue coloration, but it will be appreciated that the logo may be the same as the logo of printing12. Printing32is a color design provided by a red wavy band with gray, white and blue bordering, over which is provided a slogan34, in this case, the slogan HERE FOR LIFE! in white lettering.

The pre-printed label10as supplied to the pharmaceutical provider is thereafter printed at the pharmacy to provide the label10′. The label10′ is provided by printing onto the pre-printed label10using a single color thermal printer to add SIG, Purpose, and Auxiliary information specific to the patients and the medicines that will be supplied in a container to which the label10′ is affixed.

For example, with reference toFIG. 1B, to provide the label10′, printing40,42,44,46,48,50, and52is added by the pharmacy to the zone A, and printing54,56, and58is added to the zone B. All of the printing40-58is in a single color, typically black, oriented to run in the length direction of the label10.

In the zone A, the printing40provides the prescription number and the printing42provides the name of the patient. The printing40and42overlies the pre-printing14and16, such as yellow highlighting, of the label10. The printing44provides identification of the medicine, e.g., the name and strength of the medicine, such as Prednisone 10 MG TAB/QLTST. Printing46is a barcode having information specific to medication name and dose, or other information relating to the medicine or the patient or both. The printing48provides the date the prescription is filled. The printing50provides instructions to the patient for taking the medicine. The printing52provides the purpose or intended use of the prescription medicine, e.g., To reduce inflammation.

In the zone B, the printing54provides refill, expiration, and prescribing physician information. The printing56provides includes warning or auxiliary information such as “This medicine may lower your ability to fight off infections. Avoid contact with people who have contagious diseases.” Take with food or milk.” “If You Have Diabetes, This Medicine May Change Your Blood Or Urine Sugar. If This Occurs, Call Your Doctor.” “It is very important that you take or use this exactly as directed. Do not skip doses or discontinue unless directed by your doctor.” The printing58provides a written description of the appearance of the prescription medicine, such as for Prednisone, “tablet rounded scored white (VH50).”

In accordance with the disclosure, the pre-printed label10as detailed above is provided to the pharmacy. The pharmacy then adds printing specific to the patient and the prescription medicine using a laser or thermal printer to provide the label10′ which is then applied to a prescription container, such as a round container. Typically, multiple ones of the labels10are provided in bulk to the pharmacy for feeding through a thermal printer. For example, multiple ones of the labels10may be provided on a single sheet.

Each label10may be the same or may differ. For example,FIGS. 2A, 3A, and 3Ashow variations of the label10having different printing in Zone C, representing color advertisement printing.FIGS. 2B, 3B, and 4Bshow the labels ofFIGS. 2A-4Aafter they have been printed at the pharmacy using laser or thermal printing. The advertisement printing in zone C may be selected by the pharmacy and sheets of the labels may be provided to the pharmacy with the same advertisement printing on each one of the labels10, or different on each, or as otherwise combined as selected by the pharmacy. In this regard,FIG. 5Ashows a sheet as provided to the pharmacy.FIG. 5bshows the printing as subsequently provided by the pharmacy using a thermal printer.

In this regard, it will be appreciated that the pharmacy may desire one or a plurality of different advertisements. In the event of different advertisements, the pharmacy may desire to target certain advertisements to certain classes of patients. This targeting may be accomplished manually or by use of a computer to match available advertisements to patients based on criteria such as age, prescription, address, or other criteria. For example, with regard to the advertisement represented by the printing26onFIG. 1Arelating to automatic prescription refill services for maintenance prescriptions, selection of this advertisement printing may be desired in connection with prescriptions that represent maintenance prescriptions. In the case of the label ofFIG. 2A, there is advertisement printing for online photos. This advertisement may be desirably indicated in the case of prescriptions for patients known to have children or for prescriptions for minor patients. In the case of the label ofFIG. 3A, this label includes advertisement printing for double points being offered to persons 60 years of age or older. In a similar manner, this advertisement may be selected for use in the case of patients who are 60 years of age or older. As will be appreciated, the pharmacy may desirably select to provide a label having a desired advertisement based on patent, medicine, or other criteria. For example, advertisements for stores unrelated to the pharmacy may be provided, and such advertisements selected based on geographic or age or other patient information.

FIGS. 6A and 6Bshow use of a two-piece label60,60′ in accordance with the disclosure. InFIG. 6A, the label60is a laser label having two substrates; a peel and stick section62mated to a bond section64. The peel and stick section62is pre-printed in the manner of the prior embodiments as shown inFIG. 6Ato provide the label60. The pre-printed label60is then supplied to the pharmaceutical provider and thereafter printed at the pharmacy to provide the label60′, as shown inFIG. 6B.

As will be appreciated, labeling methods according to the disclosure enable a pharmacy to have pre-printed labels containing desired and custom color advertising and other color printings not achievable using the single color printers used by pharmacies to print labels at the pharmacy, with the pharmacy being able to control the content of the pre-printed labels and to utilize the pre-printed labels as they desire with a single color thermal or laser printer to add printing specific to the patient and the prescription medicine.