Abstract: A method and system for implementing an on-line pharmacy website that allows customers of a particular pharmacy company to order new prescriptions, refill prescriptions and transfer existing prescription. The method and system also afford a user access to personal information such as their prescription history. Integration of an internet server hosting the website with a pharmacy company's intranet server and customer database allows a customer full on-line access to their information stored by the pharmacy company, as well as access to drug information. A further feature includes allowing the user to format and print their prescription history and records. Another feature of the system and method includes a “click-free” registration of customers with the website by entry of customer data by company personnel at any company location connected to the intranet server, such as at a pharmacy store. Personnel solicit information from the customer including, for example, an e-mail address.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided in which information about a patient is received. The information about the patient may include diagnosis information based upon a diagnosis of the patient performed by a healthcare provider. Upon receiving the information about the patient, a query function is performed to retrieve from a database a list of data sources that correspond to the information received. One or more documents are generated that contain the list of data sources retrieved from the database.

Abstract: A new and improved method of dispensing, tracking and managing pharmaceutical product samples by communicatively linking prescribers and pharmacies to a central computing station. The present invention entails utilizing product trial media that is exchanged for actual pharmaceutical product. The media is encoded with information that identifies a particular pharmaceutical trial product, such as by magnetic encoding similar to that used with credit cards. The media is distributed to participating medical doctors or prescribers who then activate the media via the central computing station. The prescriber then transfers the activated media to patients who then present the media to participating pharmacies. Before filling the pharmaceutical trial product identified by the media, the pharmacy validates the media via a link with the central computing station. Then, the pharmacy dispenses the prescribed pharmaceutical trial product.

Abstract: A method for insuring initiation fees includes receiving information pertaining to an entity and a member, receiving information pertaining to the initiation fee, and processing the received information to determine whether to approve an insurance benefit for the initiation fee of the member. A system for implementing an insurance program for club initiation fees includes at least one user device and a server connected to the user device. The server is configured to receive, via the at least one user device, information pertaining to an initiation fee insurance program. The server is also configured to process the received information and transmit information to the user device regarding whether the initiation fee insurance application has been accepted or rejected.

Abstract: A system and method for matching patients with clinical trials and particular trial sites, prequalifying patients for clinical trials and trial sites, and providing information to patients to allow them to inform themselves about available clinical trials and trial sites. The method comprises receiving patient profile information for a patient at a server connected to a computer network, the patient profile information submitted by a user at a terminal connected to the network, comparing the patient profile information with acceptance criteria for clinical trials stored in a database, the comparison performed by the server, determining whether the patient prequalifies for any of the clinical trials, and notifying the user and the trial site whether the patient has prequalified for any clinical trials.

Abstract: The merchandise planning and development system includes a WWW server 33 for informing many and unspecified customers 31 to 3n of merchandise planning and development information about planning and/or development of new merchandise through the Internet 20, and a news server 35 for collecting the opinion information of the customers 31 to 3n looking up the merchandise planning information through the Internet 20. The WWW server 33 informs the customers 31 to 3n of the merchandise information suited to the needs of the customers on the basis of the opinion information by way of the Internet 20.

Abstract: A method of evaluating a permanent life insurance policy including the steps of accessing a policy illustration, establishing an effective life span of the policy illustration, identifying a first amount attributed to death benefit claims, identifying a second amount attributed to premium loads, identifying a third amount attributed to policy expenses, calculating a sum of the first, second and third amounts for a plurality of policy years, averaging the sum for each year throughout the effective life span, calculating a cash value of the policy illustration for the plurality of policy years, identifying a projected investment earnings forecast in the policy illustration, normalizing the projected investment earnings forecast, adding the project investment earnings to the cash value, and recalculating the current cash value of the policy illustration for the plurality of policy years.

Abstract: An advanced primary nurse care system and process is disclosed which is client-driven for processing a number of clients in a timely manner with enhanced healthcare outcomes. The system and process are sized to provide an optimum patient flow and healthcare. The system includes a computer network having a central system computer. A computer program resides on the system computer for creating a real-time client record as the client proceeds through the system and process. There is a client station connected in the computer network where the client record is initially created and accessed on subsequent visits using a unique client ID code. A client station display monitor displays medical questions regarding the client's health state whereupon the client inputs responses to the questions into the client record. A nurse station is connected in the computer network for receiving the client in the healthcare flow for collecting vital signs and other laboratory information.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for processing pharmaceutical orders to determine whether a buyer of pharmaceuticals qualifies for an “own use” discount. “Own use” discounts on pharmaceuticals are available for a limited class of buyers under 35 U.S.C. §13c. Under one method, an auditor receives an order for a quantity of pharmaceuticals, receives a report associated with the order containing sufficient information therein to perform an audit on the order, and compares the information found in the order with the information found in the associated report to make a status determination as to whether a buyer qualifies for an “own use” discount. Preferably a second report containing additional audit information is received as well. The auditor can also audit the order by comparing the order to this additional information.

Abstract: A communication format and protocol is described for routing and storage “asset” within a computer network. The assets conform to a format in which a first data structure that stores asset meta information to control routing of the asset through a medical imaging network. A second data structure that stores medical imaging information received from a medical imaging modality. A third data structure that stores pixel data received from the medical imaging modality. A fourth data structure that stores patch data that includes modifications to the medical imaging information. A fifth data structure that stores error detection and correction information.

Abstract: Methods and systems for rapidly and conveniently creating prescriptions through the use of portable digital assistants (PDAs) and bar code scanning technology are provided. Prescriptions are created using a form-based approach in which prescribing options are presented to the prescriber for selection. The system allows entry of medication and patient ID by scanning bar codes. A bar code is generated for each prescription and is used to access the prescription information in a database. The bar code and prescription information can be printed on a ticket, which can be presented at a pharmacy when the prescription is picked up. The use of bar codes allows several levels of checking to ensure that the correct medication is dispensed and that the prescription is valid. Prescription information is transmitted between prescribers and pharmacies via a central site at which prescription information is stored.

Abstract: A method of insuring against launch failure is provided to reduce the business risk to the satellite owner and insurance underwriters against satellite launch failure. The launch insurance includes provision for guaranteeing a rapid response recovery mission, preferably at no cost, in the event that a satellite suffers a boost failure during launch resulting in a fully-functional satellite being launched to an unintended inoperable orbit. Preferably, the launch insurance also provides for additional insurance against failure of the recovery mission to provide compensation to the satellite owner in the event that the recovery mission is also unsuccessful.

Abstract: An electronic prescription creation system for use by professional prescribers at the point of care has a prescription division subsystem permitting creation of a single prescription to be automatically divided into two components for fulfillment of one portion quickly and locally at higher cost and of another portion by remote mail order taking more time but providing a cost saving for a major part of the prescription. The prescription creation system has an ability to access remote source databases for system presentation to the prescriber of relevant, authorized and current drug, drug formulary and patient history information, with dynamic creation of a transient virtual patient record, the information being presented to the prescriber before completion of the prescription, permitting enhancement of the quality of prescribing decisions.

Abstract: A travel planning system that implements seat availability determinations is described. The planning system includes a scheduling process for determining a set of instances of transportation that satisfy a user query and a faring process that determines fares valid for at least some of the instances in the set of instances of transportation. The travel planning system also includes an availability process that uses results from a single source of seat availability for a mode of transportation to determine a set of available instances of transportation and determines whether the results from the single source are reliable.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and system for providing insurance. Employing the invention involves the use of one or more forms capable of interacting with a computer system or network, each form comprising sheet material such as paper which has coded data printed on it and which allows it to interact with the computer system by use of a sensing device operated by a user. The invention can be employed by an insurance provider to allow it to deal with a customer in offering a broad range of services including providing the facility to obtain information about insurance products, insurance quotes, and to make insurance claims and payments, and to enter into new policies with customers.

Abstract: A process of allowing a patient to have limited input access to their electronic medical record including the steps of forming a basic patient medical record in a computer through entry of information using a keyboard, providing the patient with a machine readable medical questionnaire concerning their history, environment, symptoms, and other pertinent information for answering by the patient, interfacing the machine readable medical questionnaire with a scanner to send the data stream to a microprocessor and converting the patient's answers to a protocol simulating the protocol from a party having authority to export data to the patient's medical record, and transferring the protocol-arranged data into the patient's medical record housed in a database through use of an interface engine.

Abstract: An insurance auction process comprises preliminary steps of establishing a network of participating insurers and establishing an insurance capacity for each participating insurer. Upon receipt of a request for insurance from a cedent, an underwriting analysis of the request for insurance is performed by the sponsor of the auction and underwriting report is produced. The request for insurance and the underwriting report are posted enabling participating insurers to submit bids to cover a portion of the insurance. Each bid includes a maximum percentage of insurance offered and a rate. After receiving the bids, the sponsor selects those bids which fulfill the request for insurance at an optimized rate and offers those bids, as an insurance proposal, to the cedent. The sponsor may guarantee payment of claims by the insurers, and if it does it assesses a credit risk charge to the rate charged to the cedent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for predicting the likelihood of materialization of pending reservations for the purchase of perishable commodities. Details pertaining to perishable commodities for which reservations for purchase have been made in the past, are gathered and analyzed as are details pertaining to perishable commodities for which reservations for purchase are currently pending. Based upon the analysis, the likelihood that a particular pending reservation will actually be purchased or “materialize” is determined and this information is utilized for yield management.

Abstract: A system and method for enrolling patients in a medical study, includes: a database component operative to maintain a medical practice database component and their corresponding plurality of specialities and a clinical studies database component and their corresponding plurality of medical studies. The system further includes a communications component to alert the medical practices of the medical studies and observe changes to the database components. The system also includes a processor programmed to update the database components, periodically match compatible medical specialties with the medical studies, and generate reports of the matched medical practices in the medical practice database. The system also includes a fee database component which the processor uses to calculate a fee for conducting the study.

Abstract: A method for insuring an entity's exposure to liability created when a member resigns from the entity includes receiving information pertaining to an entity and a member, receiving information pertaining to the initiation fee, and processing the received information to track premium, coverage and claims relating to the initiation fee of the member. A system for implementing an insurance program for an entity's initiation fees includes at least one user device and a server connected to the user device. The server is configured to receive, via the at least one user device, information pertaining to an initiation fee insurance program. The server is also configured to process the received information and transmit information to the user device regarding whether the initiation fee insurance application has been accepted or rejected.