Patent Abstract:
A mobile pharmacy may provide services for a group of people who have similar medical considerations. For example, a group intending to visit another country may require certain vaccinations or medications. For another example, a group of people working at a common employer may have medical requirements related to a chronic disease. A mobile pharmacy may allow a pharmacist to prepare a prescription under an approved Collaborative Drug Therapy Protocol, followed by preparation of medications and vaccines specific to each clients. Vaccines and medications may be delivered and administered to clients at a convenient site by a pharmacist.

Full Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    This disclosure generally relates to a mobile pharmacy. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Prior to traveling to foreign countries, people sometimes want or need travel related vaccines and medications. Going to a clinic followed by a visit to pharmacy requires a person to allocate time for visit a clinician to receive vaccination and trip related counseling followed by a visit to pharmacist to configure travel related medication and associated counseling. 
         [0003]    This two-step process requiring individuals to go to clinics followed by a visit to pharmacy to pick up medications may be of great inconvenience to patients. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    A mobile pharmacy may include a variety of services that may provide a convenient way for a person or group of persons to get the vaccinations or medications they may need. A mobile pharmacy may not be meant to replace diagnostic services or higher levels of care provided by clinicians at hospitals or clinics; rather it may be used for delivery and administration of vaccinations and medications at a location convenient for an individual or groups of persons. 
         [0005]    A mobile pharmacy may provide services for a group of people who have similar medical considerations. For example, a group intending to visit another country may require certain vaccinations or medications. For another example, a group of people working at a common employer may have medical requirements related to a chronic disease. A mobile pharmacy may allow a pharmacist to prepare a prescription under an approved Collaborative Drug Therapy Protocol, followed by preparation of medications and vaccines specific to each clients. Vaccines and medications may be delivered and administered to clients at a convenient site by a pharmacist. 
         [0006]    This may be useful, for example, for a group planning a trip to receive necessary vaccinations or other medications without requiring multiple trips to clinics and pharmacies. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a flow chart for a mobile pharmacy, according to one embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a medical information form, according to one embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  illustrates packages, according to one embodiment. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  illustrates an example of a computer system and network that may support a mobile pharmacy, according to one embodiment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  illustrates a component diagram of a computing device, according to one embodiment. 
       
    
    
       [0012]    Like reference numerals are used to designate like parts in the accompanying drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    A more particular description of certain embodiments of Mobile Pharmacy may be had by references to the embodiments shown in the drawings that form a part of this specification, in which like numerals represent like objects. 
         [0014]    The instant application discloses, among other things, a mobile pharmacy. A mobile pharmacy may allow a pharmacist to prescribe and prepare a package of medical or other supplies for a patient. A pharmacist is a person authorized by a state to prescribe, dispense, and administer drugs. A patient may transmit personal medical information to a pharmacist by paper forms, digital forms, such as a website, or a phone call, for example. Based on this information, the pharmacist may prepare and package one or more medications or vaccinations for the patient. 
         [0015]    The medical supplies and or vaccines that are prepackaged may be transported by a pharmacist to a designated location to meet with one or more patients. The pharmacist may then dispense or administer the transported prepackaged medical supplies or vaccines to the patients. This may be useful, for example, for a group planning a trip to receive necessary vaccinations or other medications without requiring multiple trips to clinics and pharmacies. It may also be useful for a group meeting for help with chronic diseases, such as a diabetic support group. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a flow chart of Mobile Pharmacy, according to one embodiment. A pharmacist may Receive Context Information  110  about a group or an individual. For example, the pharmacist may receive information about a group for managing a chronic disease, or for a group planning a trip. The pharmacist may also receive information from patients in the group about each patient&#39;s specific issues related to the group context, and may Receive Medical Information  120  from each patient. The pharmacist may Perform Clinical Assessment  130  to determine appropriate vaccines and medications for each patient. For example, if a client is planning a trip to India, is generally healthy, and is up-to-date on standard vaccinations in the US, the pharmacist may determine that it would be appropriate for the client to receive immunizations for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, typhoid fever, Japanese encephalitis, rabies, and yellow fever for the trip. Another patient may require a different mix of immunizations or medications prior to the trip. The pharmacist may Generate Prescriptions  140  for each patient based on the context information and medical information received. 
         [0017]    The pharmacist may then Package Medication  130 , pulling the required materials from stock or obtaining it from other sources, as necessary. Each medication or vaccine may be labeled as required by a state board which can authorize pharmacists. The pharmacist may place Vaccines  310  and Medications  320  for the client in a Package  300  associated with that client, so that if the pharmacist is preparing vaccines and medications for a number of clients, a package may be used for each client. The pharmacist may then Transport Package to Meeting Place  140 . For example, if a company is sending a group of employees to India, the company may provide a location to allow the group to obtain their treatments without requiring each of them to arrange for it on their own. This may improve efficiency and reduce time lost from work. For example, if the pharmacist wishes to provide some general health warnings about the area to which travel is planned, a general presentation or talk may be given to all clients at once. Each client may them go to a private area, where the pharmacist may dispense or administer the appropriate medication or vaccinations to each person. 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a Medical Information Form  200  that may, for example, be completed on paper or on a computer. Medical Information Form  200  may be used to obtain relevant information from a client to allow a pharmacist to determine appropriate medical preparations in planning a trip or for managing a chronic disease. 
         [0019]    Medical Information Form  200  may collect such information as the client&#39;s name, address, date of birth, and other demographic information. Medical Information Form  200  may also collect where and when the client is planning to travel, what chronic diseases a client may have, or other context information. Medical Information Form  200  may also collect medical information about the client, including, for example, allergies, medications being taken, medical history, or other medical information. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates packages for transporting vaccines or medications, according to one embodiment. Package  300  may contain Medications  320  for an individual client. The client may be identified on Identifying Label  330 . Each Medication  320  may also be labeled with Prescription-Specific Labels  340  in compliance with state regulations. 
         [0021]    Refrigerated Package  350  may be used to transport Vaccines  310  or other medication requiring refrigeration. The client may be identified on Identifying Label  360 . Each Vaccine  310  may also be labeled with Prescription-Specific Labels  370  in compliance with state regulations. 
         [0022]      FIG. 4  illustrates an example of a computer system and network that may support a mobile pharmacy, according to one embodiment. 
         [0023]    Clients may use User Device  420 ,  430 ,  440  to enter medical information, using Medical Information Form  200 , for example. Clients may also use User Device  420 ,  440 ,  440  to arrange appointments, ask questions, or have other interactions with a pharmacist, for example. 
         [0024]    One or more User Device  420 ,  430 ,  440  may be coupled to each other, a server, or to other devices via Network  410 . User Device  420 ,  430 ,  440  may include a desktop computer, laptop computer, smartphone, tablet, or wearable devices such as a smartwatch, activity tracker, or intelligent eyewear, for example. 
         [0025]    Network  410  may include Wi-Fi, cellular data access methods, such as 3G or 4GLTE, Bluetooth, NFC, the internet, local area networks, wide area networks, or any combination of these or other means of providing data transfer capabilities. In one embodiment, Network  410  may comprise Ethernet connectivity. In another embodiment, Network  410  may comprise fiber optic connections. 
         [0026]    Server  450  may include one or more computers, and may serve several roles. Server  450  may be conventionally constructed, or may be of a special purpose design for Input Processing. One skilled in the art will recognize that Server  450  may be of many different designs and may have different capabilities. Server  450  may host applications, data, or other information supporting Input Processing. 
         [0027]    User Device  420 ,  430 , or  440  may be used to access information or programs on Server  450 . Server  450  may, for example, receive a Medical Information Form  200  from User Device  420 , and may upload data from the form to Server  450 . In another embodiment, Server  450  may not be used, and data from Medical Information Form  200  may be sent to User Device  440 , which may be used by the pharmacist. In another embodiment, a pharmacist may use Network  410  and connected equipment to notify groups of clients of information of interest to them. For example, if a country a group is intending to visit has an outbreak of a disease, the pharmacist may notify the group that additional immunizations are recommended. One having skill in the art will recognize that many different configurations may be used by clients and pharmacists to communicate information about Mobile Pharmacy. 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  illustrates a component diagram of Computing Device  500 , which may support Mobile Pharmacy, according to one embodiment. Computing Device  500  can be utilized to implement one or more computing devices, computer processes, or software modules described herein, including, for example, but not limited to a device, such as User Device  420 ,  430 , or  450  or a server, for example, Server  450 . In one example, Computing Device  500  can be used to process calculations, execute instructions, and receive and transmit digital signals. In another example, Computing Device  500  can be utilized to process calculations, execute instructions, receive and transmit digital signals, receive and transmit search queries and hypertext, and compile computer code suitable for a mobile device. Computing Device  500  can be any general or special purpose computer now known or to become known capable of performing the steps and/or performing the functions described herein, either in software, hardware, firmware, or a combination thereof. 
         [0029]    In its most basic configuration, Computing Device  500  typically includes at least one Central Processing Unit (CPU)  520  and Memory  530 . Depending on the exact configuration and type of Computing Device  500 , Memory  530  may be volatile (such as RAM), non-volatile (such as ROM, flash memory, etc.) or some combination of the two. Computing Device  500  may also have additional features/functionality. For example, Computing Device  500  may include multiple CPUs. The described methods may be executed in any manner by any processing unit in Computing Device  500 . For example, the described process may be executed by both multiple CPUs in parallel. 
         [0030]    Computing Device  500  may also include additional storage (removable and/or non-removable) including, but not limited to, magnetic or optical disks or tape. Such additional storage is illustrated in  FIG. 5  by Storage  540 . Computer readable storage media include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Memory  530  and Storage  540  are all examples of computer-readable storage media. Computer readable storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can accessed by Computing Device  500 . Any such computer-readable storage media may be part of Computing Device  500 . Computer readable storage media do not include transient signals. 
         [0031]    Computing Device  500  may also contain Communication Device(s)  570  that allows the device to communicate with other devices. Communication Device(s)  570  is an example of communication media. Communication media typically embody computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, radio frequency (RF), infrared and other wireless media. The term computer-readable media as used herein includes both computer-readable storage media and communication media. The described methods may be encoded in any computer-readable media in any form, such as data, computer-executable instructions, and the like. 
         [0032]    Computing Device  500  may also have Input Device(s)  560  such as keyboard, mouse, pen, voice input device, touch input device, etc. Output Device(s)  550  such as a display, speakers, printer, etc. may also be included. All these devices are well known in the art and need not be discussed at length. 
         [0033]    Those skilled in the art will realize that storage devices utilized to store program instructions can be distributed across a network. For example, a remote computer may store an example of the process described as software. A local or terminal computer may access the remote computer and download a part or all of the software to run the program. Alternatively, the local computer may download pieces of the software as needed, or execute some software instructions at the local terminal and some at the remote computer (or computer network). Those skilled in the art will also realize that by utilizing conventional techniques known to those skilled in the art that all, or a portion of the software instructions may be carried out by a dedicated circuit, such as a digital signal processor (DSP), programmable logic array, or the like. 
         [0034]    While the detailed description above has been expressed in terms of specific examples, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many other configurations could be used. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that various equivalent modifications of the above-described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0035]    The foregoing description of various embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto. The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8