Patent ID: 8055515

Claim:
An image forming apparatus including a scanner unit and a printer unit, comprising: a patient information input unit configured to input patient information of a patient; a controller unit configured to authenticate patient information using previously stored patient information; a receiving unit configured to receive, from at least one other device when the patient information is authenticated, both a patient dispensing waiting time and a patient priority waiting time, wherein the patient dispensing waiting time is a time that the at least one other device estimates a patient will need to wait before receiving a filled prescription as measure from a time in which the patient information is authenticated to that time in which a filled prescription is delivered to the patient without also being administered to the patient, and wherein the patient priority waiting time is a time based on the patient dispensing waiting time that further takes into account a name of a disease such that the patient priority waiting time is shorter than the patient dispensing waiting time; and a display unit configured to, when it is determined that the patient is a patient with a more serious case based on a name of a disease included with the patient information, display the patient priority waiting time received by the receiving unit instead of displaying the patient dispensing waiting time.