PrescApp: A SOFTWARE INNOVATION SECURED WITH BIOMETRICS

A Feasibility Study Proposal

Presented to the Faculty of the Department of Pharmacy

Saint Louis University

Bonifacio Street

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Subject

Living in the IT Era

Presented by:

Catabay, Heireth Yves

Camodag, Krishell Fe

Domingo, Richelle

Dumanog, Dolores

Esiong, Geria May

Estrada, Ianne

Pablo, Alona

School Year 2019-2020

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to express our utmost gratitude to the following, for their

never-ending guidance and support towards the successful completion of our research

paper:

To Mr. Marlon Y. Palbusa, our research instructor who never fails to give

benevolent recommendations for the improvement of our research paper,

To all members of this group, who have given their best opinions and

suggestions about our paper so that we could further refine our topic and content.

To the 3 Kings Pharmacy who helped, entertained and provided data for our

research proposal.

To our beloved parents, who gave us the gift of life and the opportunity to be

able to study in this institution, and

To the Lord our God, for granting us wisdom, to be able to learn from His

creations.

Our research paper would not be successfully completed without all of you

guiding and motivating us. Your assistance and support have contributed a lot on the

successful completion of our work.

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x

Background of the Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Company Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Business Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Business Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Business Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Statement of the Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Objectives of the Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Scope and Delimitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Definition of Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Problems Encountered . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Problem Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Functional Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Non-Functional Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Feasibility Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Operational . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Economic . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Return of Investment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Payback Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
 Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Chapter I

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Background of the Study

E-prescription is now widely used and with secured biometrics makes it more

convenient. “Biometrics is the measurement and statistical analysis of people’s unique

physical and behavioral characteristics. The technology is mainly used for identification

and access control, or for identifying individuals who are under surveillance (Rouse

M.,n.d.).” Computer Hope stated that, “When referring to computers and security,

biometrics is the identification of a person by the measurement of their biological

features. This type of system is much more difficult to fake since it is unique to the

person.” Methods of a biometric scan include retina, hand, iris, voice, and more but this

study will consider only the fingerprint identification.

The use of biometrics in the medical field is essential and must be considered

most especially during the issuance of such prescription. Many customers claim to have

left their prescriptions when they actually don’t have one to begin with. This is just an

alibi for them to be able to buy prescription drugs they need. According to Ms. Janine

Bawa an, a licensed pharmacist and also a product of SLU, “we often encounter cases

wherein customers lie about forgetting to bring their prescriptions just so they can get

prescription medications most especially antibiotic.” It is required by the Federal Food,

Drug and Cosmetic Act to have a prescription before dispensing controlled substances.
This is for the purpose of preventing customers from taking an incorrect dosages and

drugs that may complicate the disease even more.

Company Profile

Mission of the Organization

To render good quality service to provide affordable, safe and quality medicines

to our clients.

Vision of the Organization

To be among the reliable drugstore providing a good quality of drug products in

order to protect public health.

Organizational Chart
Business Rules

Always greet clients with a smile. Always receive the prescription in a dignified

manner. Read the prescription properly by name, strength dose and quantity. Ask the

pharmacist in case of doubt. Check the prescription if it is legal and legibly written.

Confirm with the doctor over the phone, if the prescription is illegible and in case of

doubt. Do not dispense a prescription drug without a proper prescription order and

never dispense when doubting. Always make sure that the product is under the good

condition and the expiration date is far after checking the availability of the stock and

making sure that it it is the one stated in the product. Always make sure that the

product is under the good condition and the expiration date is far after checking the

availability of the stock and making sure that it it is the one stated in the product. Apply

drug cost-effectiveness. Double check the medicines to be dispensed. Interpret

instructions clearly in taking the medications, and any other related and/or relevant

instructions. Remember that you have a big boss. Be courteous. Be honest.

Business Process

In running a business, it will always start when a customer enters. The

customer-employee-communication happens where the employee is in charge to take

the order of the customer. If the product is not in the business, then the customer will

exit and have to go to another neighboring business. However, if the product is

available in the stockroom staff in charge, the product of which the customer needed

will prepare and be released to her/him for consumption. Then the customer will settle

its payment in the cashier. Then, the customer will receive a receipt from the cashier
and sometimes from the manager. After issuing the receipt, the purchased item will be

recorded through computer data or record notebook. This will be the basis of the

manager on computing sales inventory on a daily basis.

Business Process Diagram

Statement of the Problem

1. What are the problems encountered in the King’s Pharmacy with its

customers?

2. What is/are the advantages or innovations of the E-Presc App compared

to other existing e-prescription software applications?

3. What are the differences between the E-Presc App and other existing

e-prescription applications in terms of:

a. Features

b. Convenience

c. Comprehensiveness

4. What will be the contribution of the E-Presc App in the solution of

problems encountered by King’s Pharmacy with their customers?

Objectives of the Study

This project aims to:

● Provide a focused review of patient safety issues related to e-prescribing

and biometrics.

● Propose an e-prescription with secured biometrics.

● Increase patient adherence and patient cost savings.

● Secure the prediction of patients.

● Enable the patient or prescriber to electronically transmit prescription via

network.
Significance of the Study

Our generation today lives in the development of the 4th industrial revolution

where different technologies and trends such as the Electronic Vehicles, Robotics,

Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, etc. are contributing to the change of how

humans live and work.

The significance of the study is to give or provide privacy and security using

application software that will secure e-prescriptions with a biometric security. This

security will make sure that the system of the innovated application software is always

secured to prevent other people or hackers to gain access to the history or records of

transaction of the patient. This will be secured in a way that the patient is the only one

who can access the e-prescription since the patient’s fingerprint is the only one

registered to the e-prescription. In this way, the communication of a pharmacist and a

specific doctor can also be developed since they will and can communicate electronically

about the patient’s needs faster, where the pharmacist will already be expecting a

patient to claim a prescription drug to their drug store. Our research proposal

enhances patient’s safety since some patients tend to abuse their prescriptions through

imitating the doctor’s signature and handwriting. Through the innovated biometric

security for e-prescriptions of doctors, patients cannot tamper their prescriptions.

Definition of Terms

Adherence​- the extent to which a patient continues the agreed-upon mode of

treatment under limited supervision when faced with conflicting.

 E-prescribing systems​- electronic prescribing; technology framework that

allows physicians and other medical practitioners to write or send prescriptions to a

participating pharmacy electronically instead of using handwritten or faxed notes or

calling in prescription

PrescApp​- Prescription Application framework is a real or conceptual structure

intended to serve as a support or guide for the building of something that expands the

structure into something useful.

Innovation​- The process of translating an idea or invention into a good or

service that creates value or for which customers will pay.

 Chapter II

Problems Encountered

Unreadable prescription

Sometimes, the pharmacist are having difficulty in reading the prescriptions

due to the handwriting of the doctors. Also, with this kind of situations encountered,

usually, the patients are required to go back to the physician to correct the prescription.

Lost prescription

​After appointment or check-up of patients with the physician, certain patients

don't buy immediately their medication due to financial problems. So, they buy

afterwards. With regards with this kind of situation, some patients tend to lose their

prescription.

Leak of identity

​Prescription, since they contain the holder's identity, if misplaced most

especially in public areas, there is a greater possibility that anyone who found the lost

prescription is able to access their information and can steal their information through

it.

Proposed Solution

This section contains the new processes formulated, data to be gathered, people

involved, and how are these details related to the proposed system. A detailed

description on what the proposed system would be, how the system would address the

problems identified in the previous section and all other necessary components needed
by the system. The e-Presc App will be a tool for improving patient-centered care. The

proposed solutions fall into the following categories:

a. Patient Safety

- With the use of the e-Presc App, there will be more understanding of the

content of the prescriptions handed to the pharmacist/s. Thus, pharmacists will be able

to give the right drug, right amount of dose, right medication and right information to

the patient for his/her safety.

b. Improved prescribing

- The system will provide clear, accurate, and reliable prescription, with the use of

biometrics

c. Efficiency/Work-flow

- Pharmacists in the business can be more productive as well as efficient providers

of drugs to customers/patients through the use of the e-Presc App.

d. Cost savings

- When pharmacists understand the prescription well and be able to give the right

drug, right dose, right medication, and become more productive and efficient in their

work, they will gain positive feedback from customers. Hence, increase the income of

the pharmacy business.

Functional Requirements

The main function of the proposed system which is the biometric security is to

provide and ensure the safety of patients who will be buying a drug. This security will

be very beneficial to the pharmacist in a way that they can avoid and lessen the

encountered problems such as the using of prescriptions more than once. This kind of

incidents happen when pharmacists or the employees of the company forgets to get the

prescription from the patient or when they give back the prescription to the patient.

This will allow the company to dispense drugs in a very safe process.

Non-Functional Requirements

The system which will be conducted by researchers must show high productivity and

efficiency. The system must recognize immediately the fingerprint of a patient in order

to have a systematic and for the convenience to both customer and pharmacist. One of

the problems is most customers is said to have left their prescriptions when they

actually don’t have one. This is now their alibi for them to be able to buy the

prescription drugs they need. The system needs authentication (fingerprint) from the

patient in order to avoid from just dispensing drugs specifically the prescription drugs

like antibiotics.

Scope and Delimitation

The focus of this study is on the innovation of software called the PrescApp with

secured biometrics. This study requires the students to design an Information System

but implementation of an actual working system is not included in the said project.
Moreover, this research will be specifically conducted at Saint Louis University, 1st

Semester of the SY 2019-2020.

Feasibility Analysis

​The authors reviewed the literature on e-prescription, proposed and

implemented a model for secure and intelligent e-Prescribing system based on gaps

noted. They concluded that electronic prescribing promises to improve medical

prescription writing with decision support features such as drug allergy, drug-drug

interaction warnings and timely information available to physicians. Likewise, it was

noted that majority of piloted e-prescription projects and fully deployed systems

demonstrated the wide usage of smart cards for authentication and security by

the prescribing physician. Hence with improved intelligence features and security

measures, electronic prescribing will greatly contribute to the health industry and their

outcomes (Omotosho, A. & Emuoyibufarhe O.J., 2012).

​Schedule
 ​Technical feasibility

● Do you think using computer for electronic prescription would make your

work more effective and accurate?

● Do you think the internet network in the hospital is good?

● Do you think you are good at operating computer system?

● Do you think you are fast in responding to training on new device?

● Do you think the e-prescription system would be easy to use?

● Do you think you are really motivated to pick up the new electronic

prescription system?

● Do you think you have ability to use the electronic prescription system?

​Operational

The architecture for the designed electronic prescription system was based

on existing architectures and it was an improvement of the Finnish e-prescription

architecture proposed. Additional components have been integrated into the

system, which is intelligence and biometric security. The reason for this is to

improve the prescription writing, reduce prescription errors, improve prescription

security and reduce prescription forgery. The software architecture of the designed

e-prescription shows the structure and organization by which the system

components and subsystems interact to form the actual system (Omotosho, A. &

EmuoyibifarheO.J., 2012). Somehow, with this new innovation day to day problems

encountered in the medical setting will be lessened and hopefully, it will serve as the

medium to the total eradication of medication and dispensing errors in the future.
Economic

A cost benefit analysis (also known as a benefit cost analysis) is a process by

which organizations can analyze decisions, systems or projects, or determine a value for

intangibles. The model is built by identifying the benefits of an action as well as the

associated costs, and subtracting the costs from benefits. When completed, a cost

benefit analysis will yield concrete results that can be used to develop reasonable

conclusions around the feasibility and/or advisability of a decision or situation.

Organizations rely on cost benefit analysis to support decision making because

it provides an agnostic, evidence-based view of the issue being evaluated—without the

influences of opinion, politics, or bias. By providing an unclouded view of the

consequences of a decision, cost benefit analysis is an invaluable tool in developing

business strategy, evaluating a new hire, or making resource allocation or purchase

decisions (Smartsheet, 2019).

Kings Pharmacy, being one of a Pharmacy business institution in La Trinidad

should assess whether to change their current system.

Cost and benefits of the new system

Cost of developing Php 14,000.00 Benefits Php 40,000.00

the system

Computer set Php 23,000.00

Cost of learning the Php 3, 000.00

system

Space Rent Php 10,000

Repairs and Php 2,000

maintenance cost
Product Php 105,000

Electricity cost Php 5,914.44

Total Cost Total Benefits Php 40,000.00

Cost of the New System

Cost of developing the system Php 14,000.00

Computer set and biometrics Php 21,998.00

Cost of learning the system Php 3,000.00

SPace Rent Php 10,000

Products Php 105, 000

Repairs and maintenance cost Php 2,000.00

Electricity cost Php 5,912.44

Total Cost

The following are the costs for the E-PrescApp secured with Biometric's

establishment.

1. Cost of learning the system

2. Cost of Developing the new system

The developmental cost of the implementation of the software together with the

biometrics will depend on the system. After further research from other business with

the same system resulted to 41,998.00.

3. Computer set

The computer set that fits the system includes the following specifications::
 Processor: Intel Celeron G1620 2.7GHZ LGA1155

Motherboard: Intel Board LGA1155, DDR3, VGA,LAN

RAM: 2GB DDR3 PC12800/1600

HDD+SSD: WD 1TB Blue/Green

Case: Bysuo casing black

Monitor: LG 15.6” Led Monitor

ODD: DVDRW 24X

AVR: 500VA AVR BLK

Keyboard/Mouse: Trailblazer USB MOUSE/ PS2Keyboard" (SMIS, n.d.)

4. Biometrics

Part of the implementation of the system that provides an accurate and

quality service while in collaboration to the software.

5. Repairs and maintenance cost

For a productive service, every equipment must be maintained to its

proper state. This prevents such malfunction in the system that may cause medical

errors.

6. Electricity Cost

The cost of electricity per hour (kwh) is 7.41 kwh charged by the

Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO).

Without the System:

Cost of Prescription Paper

Expected number of customers per day 50

 Multiply: by Average number of days per semester 90

Total number of customers per semester. 4,500

Divide by: Sheets per pad. 50

Number of prescription pads issued per semester 90

Multiply by: Price per prescription pad 40

Total expenses incurred without the system per semester 3,600

With the system:

Total expenses incurred with the system per semester 0

Return on investment

Repair and Maintenance Php2,000.00

Computer Set Php11,999.00

Biometrics Php9,999.00

Membership Fee
Pharmacists Php5,000.00
Physician Php10,000.00

Total Investment Php38,998.00

NETTED PROFIT=65,000.00

NET PROFIT=65,000.00-38,998.00

=26,002.00

ROI=(26,002.00÷38,998.00)x100

=66%
Payback period

Subtraction Method

INITIAL COST=38,000.00

REVENUE=26,002.00

38,998.00

- 26,002.00

= 12,996.00

-26,002.00 ( already paid)

= 13,006.00 (excess)

2 months/years is the time required of the investment to generate sufficient cash flows

to recover its initial cost.

Benefits

Total system Php3,600.00

incurred without
the system per
semester

Tangible Less: Total Php0.00

expenses incurred
with the system
per semester

Benefits Php3,600.00

Processing delays for patient

Increased cost

Medical errors

Use of an incident reporting tool

 Incidents that did not reach the patient

Unsafe conditions regarding electronic

prescription
Intangible Conflicting information

Transcription and dispensing errors

Associated errors can lead to tremendous

inefficiency for patient
Pharmaceutical industry and data integration
firms

Reduced efficiency for Pharmacist

 Chapter III

PROPOSED SOLUTION

Decomposition Diagram
Context Diagram
Level Diagrams of the System
Prototype

Figure 1. Sign in and Log in Page

Figure 2. Member Identity Page
Figure 3. Login Page for Pharmacists & Physicians
Figure 5. Patient's Log In Page
Figure 6. Sign up page
Figure 7. Sign up page continuation.
Figure 8. Sign Up page continuation
Figure 9. Prescription Page
Figure 10. Drug List Page
Figure 11. Patient’s Health Record
Figure 12. Pharmacy’s access through the patient’s
Figure 13. Patients Prescription(Pharmacist POV)
Figure 14. Patient's Prescription w/ code