Patent ID: 7606722

Claim:
A method of a processor determining consumption of medication dispensed pursuant to a prescription for medication at one or more pharmacies, the method comprising the steps of: a) the processor obtaining over a communication network a plurality of electronic medication dispensation transaction records from the one or more pharmacies in response to a request for the transaction records; b) the processor correlating the obtained medication dispensation transaction records to the prescription; c) the processor extracting medication dispensing data and medication usage data from the correlated medication dispensation transaction records, wherein the medication usage data includes an amount of medication in the prescription that has been returned or not consumed; d) the processor consolidating medication dispensing data and medication usage data related to the same prescription dispensed at all of the one or more pharmacies; e) the processor identifying at least one pattern in the medication dispensing data and medication usage data; f) the processor formulating at least one logical rule from the pattern for calculating medication actual consumption data; g) the processor testing the at least one logical rule for accuracy on at least one subsequent transaction record; and h) the processor calculating medication actual consumption data pursuant to the at least one logical rule comprising: i) at least one of a plurality of sources for the medications dispensed, wherein the plurality of sources include a plurality of pharmaceutical companies; and ii) at least a portion of the actual consumption of the medication that is respectively attributable to at least one of the plurality of sources.