Apparatus and method for processing phone-in prescriptions

1. A method of processing prescription requests comprising the steps:

establishing a connection to a remotely located prescription processing system;

submitting a prescription request to the prescription processing system;

capturing the prescription request for subsequent manipulation;

converting the captured prescription request to a digitized form at the prescription processing system to obtain a digitized prescription request;

storing the digitized prescription request on a database maintained by the prescription processing system;

independently assessing by personnel associated with the prescription processing system correctness of the prescription request, said personnel comprising a non-physician and non-pharmacist users electronically signing a patient's orders resulting from said independently assessing;

sending completed prescription information to a filling pharmacy; and

filling the prescription request, at the filling pharmacy, based on the completed prescription information.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of transcribing the captured prescription request.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of preparing is performed based, at least partially, on a content of the transcribed prescription request.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps:

creating an identification file, including identification data, for the digitized prescription request; and

concatenating the identification file with the digitized prescription request to form a prescription file.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of prompting a user to input information associated with the prescription.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the step of prompting comprises the steps:

requesting physician information;

requesting user information; and

requesting a member ID number.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein when the prescription request is to submit a new prescription, and further comprising the steps:

submitting member information;

submitting patient information;

submitting medication information;

determining if there is an existing unique prescription number for renewal; and

requesting the existing unique prescription number if it is available.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the steps: determining if there is a change in patient therapy that would affect one or more aspects of the prescription request; and

if there is no change inpatient therapy, then performing the steps: reviewing the submitted prescription request to obtain the user's approval, and

closing the prescription request.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein there is a change in therapy, and further comprising the steps:

requesting new medication information from the user; and

reviewing the new medication information.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of closing the prescription request, including the steps:

determining if the user would like to submit a new prescription request;

repeating the steps of submitting, preparing, sending, and filling if the user would like to submit a new prescription request; and

terminating the connection if the user would not like to submit a new prescription request.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps:

printing a form pre-populated with the verified information;

assigning the form a unique identifier which associates the form with the prescription request; and

submitting the pre-populated form to the user via facsimile.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps:

comparing, at the prescription processing system, a physician's phone number and a prescription number; and

if the physician's phone number and the prescription number result in a predetermined relationship, wherein the predetermined relationship is a match between the physician's phone number and the prescription number and a stored physician's phone number and a stored prescription number stored at the prescription processing system then filling the prescription request using an automated entry agent associated with the prescription processing system.

13. A method of processing a submitted prescription request, comprising the steps:

receiving a request from a remote source to establish a connection with a local prescription processing system;

establishing a connection with the remote source;

receiving a prescription request;

independently assessing by personnel associated with the prescription processing system correctness of the prescription request, said personnel comprising a non-physician and non-pharmacist users electronically signing a patient's orders resulting from said independently assessing;

preparing, by a pharmacist, a completed prescription information based, at least partially, on the prescription request;

sending the completed prescription information to a pharmacy to be filled; and

when the physician's phone number and a prescription identifier result in a predetermined relationship, wherein the predetermined relationship is a match between the physician's phone number and the prescription identifier and a stored physician's phone number and a stored prescription number stored at the prescription processing system then filling the prescription request, at the predetermined pharmacy, based on the completed prescription information.

14. A prescription processing network comprising:

a prescription processing system;

a communication device for establishing a communication channel with said prescription processing system and submitting a prescription request over said communication channel, said communication device being remotely located from said prescription processing system;

said prescription processing system being accessible by one of a physician, pharmacist and non-physician and non-pharmacist personnel, wherein said non-physician and non-pharmacist personnel are capable of independently assessing correctness of the prescription request for preparing a completed prescription information based, at least in part, on the submitted prescription request, and said prescription processing system includes a header entry agent for retrieving general information from a prescription request, wherein said submitted prescription is digitized into said digitized prescription request, and transcribing said general information, wherein said general information comprises non-medication related information comprising at least one of member's name, member's identification number, physician information, and patient information; and

a pharmacy for receiving said completed prescription information, and filling said prescription request based on the completed prescription information.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the communication device is coupled to a voice messaging system for interactive communication between the physician and voice messaging system.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein a physician is prompted for information associated with a prescription request through the voice messaging system.

17. The system of 16 , wherein the voice messaging system provides real time data associated with patient data file.