Automatic prescription drug dispenser

• US 6,892,941 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2002
• Issued: 05/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Instymeds Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mendota Healthcare, Inc.
• Inventors: Rosenblum, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi H.
• Application Number:
  US10/229,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20030050731A1
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 700/231, 700/232, 700/236, 700/237, 700/241, 700/244, 705/2, 705/3, 221/2, 221/7, 221/13, 235/375, 235/385, 235/383
• US Class Current: 235/383
• 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 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; and

an automatic medication dispensing machine adapted to dispense labelled medications labeled with patient-specific information in response to a customer request, the automatic medication dispensing machine co-located with the pharmacy floor space and accessible to dispense labeled medications directly to pharmacy customers at least a portion of the operating hours of the store wherein the labeled medications are dispensed directly to the customers in the store outside the pharmacy floor space, and accessible to dispense labeled medications directly to a pharmacy service provider located within the secured floor space.

2. A pharmacy configuration according to claim 1 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.

3. 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 plurality of medications stored in the storage space;

a plurality of pharmacy service providers working in the enclosed floor space at least some hours of a day; and

an automatic medication dispensing machine accessible to the plurality of pharmacy service providers such that the service providers can place a filled prescription container into the automatic medication dispensing machine, the automatic medication dispensing machine adapted to dispense the filled prescription container in response to a customer request directly to a customer located in an area of the store outside the enclosed pharmacy floor space, the automatic medication dispensing machine co-located with the secured pharmacy floor space such that one of the pharmacy service providers can retrieve a filled prescription from the dispensing machine within the secured pharmacy floor space.

4. The pharmacy configuration of claim 3, further configured so that pharmacy service providers retrieve filled prescription containers from the dispenser for customers during a period of time the pharmacy is staffed, and so that after-hours the customers retrieve filled prescription containers from the machine.

5. The pharmacy configuration of claim 3, wherein the customer request includes a one-time, unique, prescription-specific code entered into the automatic dispensing machine.

6. The pharmacy configuration of claim 3, wherein the machine is adapted to dispense labeled containers of filled prescription containers, wherein the label includes patient-specific information.

7. The pharmacy configuration of claim 3, wherein the dispenser is adapted to verify that the filled prescription container is the proper container for the customer. before the dispenser dispenses the container to the customer.

8. A pharmacy configuration comprising:

a plurality of pharmacy service providers; and

an automatic medication dispensing machine accessible to the plurality of pharmacy service providers such that the service providers can place a container of prescribed medication into the automatic medication dispensing machine, the automatic medication dispensing machine adapted to dispense the container only to either one of the pharmacy service providers located within a secured area of the pharmacy or directly to a customer, located in an area outside the secured area of the pharmacy, 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 time, wherein the dispensing machine is adapted to verify that the container is the proper container for the customer prior to dispensing the container.

9. The pharmacy configuration of claim 8 wherein the automatic dispensing machine is positioned next to a structure that is adapted so that one of the pharmacy service providers can retrieve containers from the dispenser for customers during a period of time the pharmacy is staffed, and so that when the pharmacy is not staffed the customers can retrieve containers directly from the machine without assistance from on-site pharmacy personnel.

10. The pharmacy configuration of claim 8, wherein the customer request includes a one-time, unique, prescription-specific code entered into the automatic dispensing machine.

11. The pharmacy configuration of claim 8, further including a counseling area with a means of electronic communication so that pharmacy customers may receive counseling from a pharmacist in a remote location using the means of electronic communication.

12. The pharmacy configuration of claim 8, further including a self-service station having a printing device and an imaging and/or reading device to allow a customer to submit a prescription or insurance card to a remote pharmacist.

13. The pharmacy configuration of claim 8, wherein the pharmacy service provider can take a container from the dispensing machine and give it to a customer or customer'"'"'s representative.

14. The pharmacy configuration of claim 8, wherein the container is labeled prior to the time the patient comes to the pharmacy to pick up the medication.

15. The pharmacy configuration of claim 8, wherein one of the pharmacy service providers provides the customer with a unique code that the customer enters into the dispensing machine to obtain the container.