Automated will call system
First Claim
1. An automated will-call system for the distribution of finished pharmaceutical prescriptions for a particular patient or group of patients, comprising:
- a) a cabinet with a plurality of secure storage locations;
b) an input source for providing prescription information about a prescription for a particular patient, the prescription having been authorized by a medical professional, the prescription information including the identity of the particular patient and a prescription number;
c) a retriever input source for providing identifying information about at least one of a retriever'"'"'s identity and the finished prescription, the retriever being authorized to retrieve the particular patient'"'"'s finished prescription; and
d) a controller associated with the cabinet, the pharmacy input source, and the retriever input source, the controller configured to receive the prescription information about the prescription from the input source, track a storage location in the cabinet in which the finished prescription is stored, and permit access to the storage location and the finished prescription stored therein to the retriever in response to the retriever inputting the identifying information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A will call system for automating the management of storage and retrieval of items, preferably medical prescriptions. The automated system provides informational control of all items in the system. The automated will call monitors the length of time an item remains in the system, and into which location an item is placed. An article sensor provides absolute confirmation that an item has been placed or removed from a designated location in the storage unites. The automated will call system uses a controller to permit users to monitor and optimize the storage and retrieval procedures.
69 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An automated will-call system for the distribution of finished pharmaceutical prescriptions for a particular patient or group of patients, comprising:
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a) a cabinet with a plurality of secure storage locations;
b) an input source for providing prescription information about a prescription for a particular patient, the prescription having been authorized by a medical professional, the prescription information including the identity of the particular patient and a prescription number;
c) a retriever input source for providing identifying information about at least one of a retriever'"'"'s identity and the finished prescription, the retriever being authorized to retrieve the particular patient'"'"'s finished prescription; and
d) a controller associated with the cabinet, the pharmacy input source, and the retriever input source, the controller configured to receive the prescription information about the prescription from the input source, track a storage location in the cabinet in which the finished prescription is stored, and permit access to the storage location and the finished prescription stored therein to the retriever in response to the retriever inputting the identifying information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of providing finished pharmaceutical prescriptions to a retriever retrieving such prescriptions, comprising the steps of:
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a) entering prescription information regarding a pharmaceutical prescription authorized by a medical professional, the prescription information including an identity of a particular patient and a prescription number;
b) filling the prescription to produce a finished prescription for the particular patient;
c) storing the finished prescription in a secure storage location within a cabinet having a plurality of secure storage locations;
d) automatically tracking the secure storage location in which the finished prescription is stored;
e) receiving information input by a retriever identifying at least one of the retriever and the finished prescription, the retriever having authorization to retrieve the finished prescription; and
f) providing the retriever access to the secure storage location containing the stored finished prescription for the particular patient. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification