Systems and methods for dispensing prescription medication using a medication dispensing machine
First Claim
1. A method for dispensing prescription medication, the method comprising using at least one hardware processor of a medication-dispensing machine to:
- receive an identification of medication and patient information for an electronic prescription;
retrieve a container of the identified medication from a plurality of containers of medication that are stocked within the medication-dispensing machine, wherein each of the plurality of containers of medication comprises a first barcode;
scan the first barcode of the retrieved container;
generate a patient label based on at least the patient information;
apply the patient label to the retrieved container;
capture an image of the labelled container, wherein the captured image shows the retrieved container and the patient label;
provide the captured image and the electronic prescription over at least one network to a remote pharmacist;
receive approval over the at least one network from the remote pharmacist based on at least a visual inspection of the captured image and the electronic prescription by the remote pharmacist;
wherein the visual inspection comprises matching the retrieved container, the patient information on the patient label, and the electronic prescription, and, based on the approval, release the labelled container to a user.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for dispensing prescription medication from a medication-dispensing machine. In an embodiment, an identification of medication and patient information for an electronic prescription is received. A container of the identified medication is retrieved from a plurality of containers stocked within the machine. Each container comprises a first barcode. The first barcode is scanned, and a patient label is generated and applied to the retrieved container. An image of the retrieved container is captured and provided to a pharmacist over a network. After an approval is received over the network from the pharmacist, the retrieved container is released to a user.
72 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for dispensing prescription medication, the method comprising using at least one hardware processor of a medication-dispensing machine to:
- receive an identification of medication and patient information for an electronic prescription;
retrieve a container of the identified medication from a plurality of containers of medication that are stocked within the medication-dispensing machine, wherein each of the plurality of containers of medication comprises a first barcode;
scan the first barcode of the retrieved container;
generate a patient label based on at least the patient information;
apply the patient label to the retrieved container;
capture an image of the labelled container, wherein the captured image shows the retrieved container and the patient label;
provide the captured image and the electronic prescription over at least one network to a remote pharmacist;
receive approval over the at least one network from the remote pharmacist based on at least a visual inspection of the captured image and the electronic prescription by the remote pharmacist;
wherein the visual inspection comprises matching the retrieved container, the patient information on the patient label, and the electronic prescription, and, based on the approval, release the labelled container to a user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- receive an identification of medication and patient information for an electronic prescription;
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11. A medication-dispensing machine comprising:
- at least one hardware processor;
a mechanical device for retrieving a container of medication from a plurality of containers of medication that are stocked within the medication-dispensing machine, wherein each of the plurality of containers of medication comprise a first barcode;
a dispensing enclosure comprising a door which can be switched between a locked state and an unlocked state; and
one or more executable modules that, when executed by the at least one hardware processor, receive an identification of medication and patient information for an electronic prescription, control the mechanical device to retrieve a container of the identified medication from the plurality of containers of medication and place the retrieved container within the dispensing enclosure while the door is in the locked state, control a barcode scanner to scan the first barcode of the retrieved container, generate a patient label based on at least the patient information, apply the patient label to the retrieved container, control a camera to capture an image of the labelled container, wherein the captured image shows the retrieved container and the patient label, provide the captured image and the electronic prescription over at least one network to a remote pharmacist, receive approval over the at least one network from the remote pharmacist based on at least a visual inspection of the captured image and the electronic prescription by the remote pharmacist, wherein the visual inspection comprises matching the retrieved container, the patient information on the patient label, and the electronic prescription, and, based on the approval, release the labelled container to a user by at least switching the door of the dispensing enclosure to the unlocked state. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- at least one hardware processor;
Specification