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An automated drug dispensing system includes a cabinet adapted to store a variety of prepackaged pharmaceuticals in a plurality of bins for filling patient prescriptions. Each bin stores a particular variety of packaged multiple-dose pharmaceutical. Each variety of pharmaceutical is associated with

An automated drug dispensing system includes a cabinet adapted to store a variety of prepackaged pharmaceuticals in a plurality of bins for filling patient prescriptions. Each bin stores a particular variety of packaged multiple-dose pharmaceutical. Each variety of pharmaceutical is associated with a particular code. A controller receives request signals and in response generates dispense signals. Each bin includes a dispenser coupled to the controller for dispensing the packaged pharmaceuticals therefrom in response to a dispense signal sent from the controller. After a package is dispensed, a code reader determines the code of the dispensed package and verifies whether the code on the dispensed package matches the code of the requested package.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of dispensing medication to a patient at a selected drug dispensing unit, comprising the steps of: receiving, at a first location, a request to supply a patient with at least one package containing a drug prescribed by a physician;validating the request received during said receiving ste

1. A method of dispensing medication to a patient at a selected drug dispensing unit, comprising the steps of: receiving, at a first location, a request to supply a patient with at least one package containing a drug prescribed by a physician;validating the request received during said receiving step to ensure the patient is authorized to receive a prescribed medication;providing a patient authorized to receive a prescribed medication with a unique identifier; andin response to entry of the unique identifier at a second location remotely disposed relative to the first location, causing a drug dispensing unit to dispense the medication specified in the request received during the receiving step for distribution to the patient. 2. The method of claim 1, further including the step of accepting payment from the patient by debiting a credit card account. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of accepting payment is performed at said first location. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of accepting payment is performed at said second location. 5. The method of claim 1, further including a step of identifying the amount of delay permissible before a patient must receive a drug identified in a request received during the receiving step. 6. The method of claim 5, where said receiving step includes receiving a request for a drug via one of a data transmission network, a facsimile transmission, or by mail, further including a step of supplying a drug identified in the received request by one of regular mail and express courier in the event a permissible delay exceeding an applicable threshold identified during said step of identifying. 7. The method of claim 1, comprising a step of storing, at each of a plurality of prescription medication dispensing units remotely located from one another, an inventory of frequently prescribed medications including at least some drugs which a patient is advised to take as soon as practicable after issuance of a prescription by a physician. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the drugs stored during the storing step are in a form selected from the group consisting of solids, liquids, ointments, and creams. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of causing a drug dispensing unit to dispense comprises transmitting, from the drug dispensing unit, a signal representative of an entered key code to a remote controller operative to associate a corresponding patient identification key code with a particular validated prescription. 10. The method of claim 1, further including a step of storing, for each request to dispense a drug, an encrypted enabling signal and a corresponding transaction key code unique to each particular request for decrypting instructions for filling a request at the dispensing unit, wherein in response to receipt of the signal transmitted during said transmitting step, the remote controller performs a step of transmitting the encrypted enabling signal and transaction key code to the prescription medication dispensing unit when a corresponding math is identified, said dispensing unit being responsive to receipt of the enabling signal and transaction key code to decode instructions for filling a request and to dispense a corresponding drug in accordance with said decoded instructions. 11. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of establishing a communication link between a pharmacist at a centralized location and a patient disposed proximate a remote drug dispensing unit, said drug dispensing unit containing a plurality of drugs available by physician prescription; wherein said step of remotely operating is performed from the centralized location, the drug dispensing unit being responsive to remotely transmitted commands so as to dispense to the patient a drug specified in the request received during the receiving step.