Automatic prescription drug dispenser

• US 20030050731A1
• Filed: 08/27/2002
• Published: 03/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Instymeds Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mendota Healthcare, Inc.
• Inventors: Rosenblum, Ken
• Granted Patent: US 6,892,941 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/232
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

An automatic prescription drug dispenser including a remote dispenser, a prescription entry system, and a communications network. The remote dispenser transmits and receives information from the communications network and dispenses prescription drugs to the patient. The prescription entry system transmits and receives information from the communications network and provides an input system for the prescriber to electronically enter individual prescriptions for each patient. The communications network coordinates communications between the doctor, insurance carrier, and the remote dispenser. The remote dispenser stores, retrieves, and labels prescription drug and over-the-counter products directly to patients through a remote automated dispenser, a prescription entry system, and a communications network. The remote dispenser transmits and receives information from the communications network and dispenses drugs to the patient. The prescription entry system transmits and receives information from the communications network and provides an input system for the doctor to electronically enter individual prescriptions for each patient. The communications network coordinates communications between the prescriber, insurance carrier, and the remote dispenser. Also described are various embodiments of apparatus and method of the invention useful in pharmacy settings as for example found in drug stores or “big box” retailers or other such settings. Other methods include providing a remote dispenser in virtually any location.

Claims

1. A method for dispensing medications or medical supplies, comprising:

a medical service provider prescribing a medication for a patient;

presenting the prescription to a pharmacy service provider in oral or written form;

the pharmacy service provider entering data about the prescription into a data input device that relays the data to a medication dispensing machine;

the dispensing machine automatically labeling a container holding the medication wherein the container is automatically labelled with patient-specific information by the dispensing machine;

the dispensing machine located remotely from the location of the prescribing medical service provider.

2. A method according to claim 1 further wherein the medication is automatically labelled by the dispensing machine at the time that the patient picks up the medication.

3. A method according to claim 1 further wherein the medication is automatically labelled by the dispensing machine prior to the time the patient arrives at the location of the dispensing machine to pick up the medication.

4. A method according to claim 1 further wherein the pharmacy service provider takes a medication container from the dispensing machine and gives it to a patient or patient'"'"'s representative.

5. A method according to claim 1 further including providing the patient with a code and the patient entering the code into the dispensing machine to obtain the labelled container.

6. A method according to claim 1 further including networking the control system for the dispensing machine with a pharmacy management software system.

7. A method according to claim 1 further including presenting the prescription in written form by presenting it on paper to the pharmacy service provider.

8. A method according to claim 1 further including presenting the prescription in written form by an electronic delivery mechanism.

9. A method according to claim 1 further wherein the medical service provider is located in a medical service delivery facility, and the dispensing machine is in a location that is not co-located with the medical service delivery facility.

10. A method according to claim 9 further wherein the medical service facility is one of the group of:

doctor'"'"'s office, medical HCF or hospital.

11. A method according to claim 1 further including insurance information being provided to a pharmacy service provider over an electronic or telephonic link.

12. A method for dispensing prescribed medications, comprising:

a prescribing medical service provider prescribing a medication for a patient;

entering data about the prescription into a data input device that relays the data to a medication dispensing machine;

the dispensing machine automatically packaging the medication for the patient by labelling a container of the medication with patient-specific information, wherein the dispensing machine is located remotely from the location of the prescribing medical service provider.

13. A method according to claim 12 further wherein the medication is automatically labelled by the dispensing machine at the time that the patient comes to pick up the medication.

14. A method according to claim 12 further wherein the medication is automatically labelled by the dispensing machine prior to the time the patient comes to pick up the medication.

15. A method according to claim 12 further including providing the patient with a code and the patient entering the code into the dispensing machine to obtain the labelled medication.

16. A method according to claim 12 further including networking the control system for the dispensing machine with a pharmacy management software system.

17. A method according to claim 12 further including presenting the prescription to the pharmacy service provider orally over the telephone.

18. A method according to claim 12 further including presenting the prescription in written form by presenting it on paper to the pharmacy service provider.

19. A method according to claim 12 further including presenting the prescription in written form by an electronic delivery mechanism.

20. A method according to claim 12 further wherein the medical service provider is located in a medical service delivery facility, and the dispensing machine is in a pharmacy that is not co-located with the medical service delivery facility.

21. A method according to claim 20 further wherein the medical service facility is one of the group of:

doctor'"'"'s office, medical HCF or hospital.

22. A method according to claim 12 further including insurance information being provided to a pharmacy service provider over an electronic or telephonic link.

23. A method for dispensing prescribed medications, comprising:

a medical service provider prescribing a medication for a patient;

entering the prescription into a control system that communicates with a medication dispensing machine;

the dispensing machine automatically labeling a medication container holding the prescription medication with patient-specific information by the dispensing machine;

the dispensing machine located remotely from the location of the prescribing medical service provider.

24. A method according to claim 23 further wherein the medication is automatically labelled by the dispensing machine at the time that the patient comes to the drug store to pick up the medication.

25. A method according to claim 23 further wherein the medication is automatically labelled by the dispensing machine prior to the time the patient comes to the drug store to pick up the medication.

26. A method according to claim 23 further including providing the patient with a code and the patient entering the code into the dispensing machine to obtain the labelled medication.

27. A method according to claim 23 further including networking the control system for the dispensing machine with a pharmacy management software system.

28. A method according to claim 23 further including presenting the prescription to the pharmacy service provider orally over the telephone.

29. A method according to claim 23 further including presenting the prescription in written form by presenting it on paper to the pharmacy service provider.

30. A method according to claim 23 further including presenting the prescription in written form by an electronic delivery mechanism.

31. A method according to claim 23 further wherein the medical service provider is located in a medical service delivery facility, and the dispensing machine is in a pharmacy that is not co-located with the medical service delivery facility.

32. A method according to claim 23 further wherein the medical service facility is one of the group of:

doctor'"'"'s office, medical HCF or hospital.

33. A method according to claim 23 further including insurance information being provided to a pharmacy service provider over an electronic or telephonic link.

34. A method comprising:

ordering a medication using an automated order entry system from a first location;

obtaining an order code;

entering the order code in an automatic dispensing machine in a location geographically remote from the first location;

the dispensing machine packaging the medication and presenting it for pick-up.

35. A method comprising:

imaging a written prescription and relaying the written prescription inside the same facility as the imaging occurs or to a location remote from the location where the image is obtained;

a pharmacy service provider at the remote location reading the prescription and entering the order into a control system for a dispensing machine; and

the dispensing machine labeling the medication and presenting it for pick-up.

36. A method according to claim 35 further including insurance information being relayed to a pharmacy service provider in a remote location.

37. A method comprising:

obtaining a prescription in electronic form from a medical service provider;

presenting the electronic prescription to pharmacy service provider using an electronic delivery system;

a dispensing machine labeling the medication and presenting it for pick-up.

38. A method comprising:

stocking a pharmacy with a variety of medications;

locating an automatic dispensing machine at the pharmacy;

staffing the pharmacy with personnel during some but not all hours of a day;

filling at least some prescriptions for pharmacy customers at least in part by hand during the hours the pharmacy is open;

filling at least some prescriptions for pharmacy customers using the dispensing machine during hours in which there are no pharmacy staff available to dispense by hand.

39. A method according to claim 38 further wherein the pharmacy service provider retrieve labelled medications from the dispenser for customers during the time they are in, and after hours the customers retrieve prescribed medications from the machine.

40. A method comprising:

providing a dispensing machine located at a dispensing location;

presenting a written prescription for a drug at the dispensing location;

relaying information from the prescription to a pharmacist located remotely from the dispensing location who does not have immediate physical access to the dispensing location;

the pharmacist remotely operating the dispensing machine to cause it to automatically label a package of the drug with information specific to the patient;

the patient obtaining possession of the labeled medication at the dispensing location.

41. A system for dispensing prescribed medications, comprising:

a dispensing machine located at a pharmacy that receives patient-specific prescription data for a patient and produces a labelled medication for the patient that is labelled with patient-specific information applied by the dispensing machine;

the dispensing machine located remotely from the location of a prescribing medical service provider who supplies at least a portion of the patient-specific prescription data.

42. A system according to claim 41 further including a data input device a pharmacy service provider uses to enter the prescription data.

43. A system according to claim 41 further wherein the dispensing machine includes a first computer control mechanism responsive to a control input to label a labelled medication either before or after a patient arrives to pick up the medication at the location of the dispenser.

44. A system according to claim 41 further including a second computer control mechanism that provides the patient with a code that the patient enters into an input device for the dispensing machine to obtain the labelled container.

45. A system according to claim 41 further wherein one or more computer control mechanisms for the dispensing machine are networked with a pharmacy management software system.

46. A method according to claim 41 further including presenting the prescription in written form by an electronic delivery mechanism.

47. A method according to claim 41 further wherein the medical service provider is located in a medical service delivery facility, and the dispensing machine is in a pharmacy that is not co-located with the medical service delivery facility.

48. A method according to claim 41 further wherein the medical service facility is one of the group of:

doctor'"'"'s office, medical HCF or hospital.

49. A system comprising:

a medication order entry device receiving a medication order at a first location;

an output device at which a patient obtains a medication pick-up code;

a pick-up code entering device receiving the pick-up code for an automatic dispensing machine wherein the dispensing machine is located at the same location or at a location geographically remote from the first location; and

a medication dispensing mechanism in the dispensing machine outputting a labeled medication from the dispensing machine wherein the labelling includes patient-specific information.

50. A system according to claim 49 further including a terminal connected to the Internet at the first location.

51. A system according to claim 50 further wherein the patient enters the medication order as a refill request at the terminal and further wherein the patient obtains the pick-up code from the output device located at the first location.

52. A system according to claim 50 further wherein the terminal is selected from the group of:

personal computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), or mobile telephone.

53. A system comprising

a medication dispensing system including:

a) an imaging device adapted to image a prescription presented by a patient or the patient'"'"'s representative;

b) a data input terminal receiving information concerning the patient for whom the prescription is written;

c) a medication labeling mechanism responsive to a control system and producing labelled medications labeled with information specific to the patient;

d) a control system receiving instructions from an operator located remotely from the dispensing system.

54. A pharmacy configuration comprising:

a store having an enclosed pharmacy floor space that is secured against unauthorized entry wherein the pharmacy floor space includes a storage area for medicines;

a medicine stock stored in the storage space wherein the medicine stock includes a variety of medications;

an automatic medication dispensing machine adapted to dispense labelled medications labeled with patient-specific information in response to a customer request, the machine co-located with the pharmacy floor space and accessible to pharmacy customers at least a portion of the operating hours of the store; and

a plurality of pharmacy service providers working in the enclosed floor space during some but not all hours of a day.

55. A pharmacy configuration according to claim 54 further configured so that pharmacy service providers retrieve labelled medications from the dispenser for customers during the period of time the pharmacy is staffed, and so that after hours the customers retrieve prescribed medications from the machine.

56. A medication dispensing system comprising:

a dispensing machine having a plurality of medications;

a user interface and a medication delivery point located remotely from the dispensing machine; and

a feed mechanism connecting the dispensing machine and the medication delivery point;

wherein when a user enters authorization information into the user interface, the dispensing machine automatically labels a medication with user-specific information, and transports the medication from the dispensing machine to the medication delivery point via the feed mechanism.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein the feed mechanism includes a pneumatic tube.

58. A dispensing system comprising:

a dispensing machine holding a product;

a check reader associated with the dispensing machine and connected to a check authorization service;

wherein a user receives the product from the dispensing machine by first conducting a financial transaction using the check reader.

59. The dispensing system of claim 58, wherein the dispensing machine is a medication dispensing machine.

60. A dispensing machine comprising:

a housing having a product storage system including a plurality of rows of products;

a plurality of cantilevered lead screws extending from a rear of the housing to a front of each of the plurality of rows;

a pushing member associated with each lead screw and located at a back of each of the rows of products; and

a driving member to turn each lead screw to advance the pushing member towards a front of the housing such that a front product in the row of products is pushed from the row.

61. The machine of claim 60, wherein each of the plurality of rows of products is mounted within a cartridge magazine which is mountable over one of the cantilevered lead screws.

62. A dispensing machine comprising:

an enclosure holding a plurality of products;

a user interface to order one or more of the products;

a dispensing mechanism to hold each of the one or more selected products in a first location which is inaccessible to the user while the order is being filled, the dispensing mechanism controlled to release all of the one or more selected products to a second location accessible to the user only after the order has been filled.

63. The dispensing machine of claim 62, wherein the dispensing mechanism includes a product delivery chute having a product holding portion and a product delivery portion separated by a movable member.

64. A dispensing machine comprising:

a housing holding a plurality of unlabelled products;

a labeler located within the housing;

a transport mechanism to carry one of the unlabelled products to the labeler; and

a product rotator to hold the product during labeling;

wherein the labeler includes a label transfer wheel located above the product rotator and movably connected to the housing such that the wheel moves up and down following the contours of the product being labeled while the product is being rotated by the product rotator.