Patent ID: 7314170

Claim:
A method for imputing prescriptions to a non-reporting sample outlet or store in a universe of stores over a subject time interval, the universe of stores comprising sample stores and non-sample stores, the sample stores generally reporting prescription data to a database, the method comprising: obtaining a raw weekly prescription data file from the reporting database; identifying and excluding outlets that are ineligible for participation in imputation from further processing; calculating a distribution of prescriptions by day of the week for each outlet; counting prescriptions by outlet, product group and/or a sort_key, and separating the data according to selected product grouping schemes into corresponding files for future processing; obtaining a current week forecast of prescriptions by product group, for a product data file grouped according to a selected product grouping scheme scheme, counting prescriptions by outlet and by product; comparing the prescription count with the current week forecast of prescriptions, when there is a forecasted value but no prescription counts, placing the data in a separate output data file estimating a needed number of raw prescriptions counts for imputation; sorting the raw prescriptions counts by outlet/therapy class/sort key and random number; determining whether the estimated number of prescriptions are available from the raw prescriptions file; when the estimated number of prescriptions are available from the raw prescriptions file, randomly selecting the needed number of prescriptions for imputation from the raw prescriptions file; and combining all allocation files.