(12) United States Patent
`Boyer et al.
`
`USOO6202923B1
`US 6,202,923 B1
`Mar. 20, 2001
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`(54) AUTOMATED PHARMACY
`
`(75) Inventors: Joseph H. Boyer; James P. Boyer,
`both of Johnson City; William s.
`Bennett, Binghamton, all of NY (US)
`
`1/1997 Williams et al. .
`5,597,995
`8/1997 Lasher et al. .
`5,660,305
`12/1997 Pelti -
`5,700,998
`5,713,485 * 2/1998 Llff et el- -
`5’9O7’493
`5/1999 Boyer et a1‘ '
`
`(73) Assignee: Innovation Associates, Inc., Johnson
`City, NY (US)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`WO 98/09598 * 3/1998 (WO) .
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/379,891
`
`Aug‘ 23’ 1999
`(22) Flled:
`(51) Int. Cl.7 .................................................... .. G06F 17/00
`(52) US. Cl. ........................................... .. 235/375; 235/383
`(58) Field of Search ................................... .. 235/375, 383,
`235/385; 364/479~01_479_02, 479~06_479_07,
`479_11_479_14, 478_07_478_08, 47801;
`221/75, 7, 2, 13, 200, 258; 53/53_55
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner—Thien M. Le
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—SalZman & Levy
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`
`A method and an automated pharmacy system to alleviate
`the risk posed by a queue of printed labels for prescription
`vials that eeeurs at the prihter- The meth0G1 and system
`eliminate the heed for physically transferring paperwork
`from one site (the imaging station) 10 another site (the ?lling
`station). Elimination of the physical transferring step
`smooths the How of the dispensing operation, and hence,
`improves the throughput of the automated pharmacy, and
`further, helps to prevent the association of the Wrong paper
`Work With a given prescription.
`
`5,502,944
`
`4/1996 Kraft et al. .
`
`57 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
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`Pharmacist
`
`CFAD VI 1005-0001
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 20, 2001
`
`Sheet 1 0f 8
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`US 6,202,923 B1
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 20, 2001
`
`Sheet 2 0f 8
`
`US 6,202,923 B1
`
`Payment
`15A
`lnatructiona
`
`f16
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`CFAD VI 1005-0003
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 20, 2001
`
`Sheet 3 0f 8
`
`US 6,202,923 B1
`
`From Data Entry 5
`
`Single Filled Ex
`@“12
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`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 20, 2001
`
`Sheet 4 0f 8
`
`US 6,202,923 B1
`
`Checking
`Workstation
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`P Auxiliary Labels, anal
`Patient Tutorials
`l 29
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`CFAD VI 1005-0005
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 20, 2001
`
`Sheet 5 0f 8
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`US 6,202,923 B1
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`CFAD VI 1005-0007
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`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 20, 2001
`
`Sheet 7 0f 8
`
`US 6,202,923 B1
`
`Pharmacy
`Management
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`CFAD VI 1005-0008
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 20, 2001
`
`Sheet 8 0f 8
`
`US 6,202,923 B1
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`CFAD VI 1005-0009
`
`

`
`US 6,202,923 B1
`
`1
`AUTOMATED PHARMACY
`
`RELATED PATENT APPLICATION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to automated pharmacies
`and, more particularly, to an automated pharmacy that is
`more accurate and has a prescription ?lling throughput
`greater than those of other systems.
`2. Background of the Invention
`In a typical prescription ?lling system illustrated in US.
`Pat. No. 5,597,995, for AUTOMATED MEDICAL PRE
`SCRIPTION FULFILLMENT SYSTEM HAVING WORK
`STATIONS FOR IMAGING, FILLING, AND CHECKING
`THE DISPENSED DRUG PRODUCT, issued to WILL
`IAMS et al., a Written prescription is presented to a phar
`macy and read by a pharmacist or clerk. The pharmacist or
`clerk at the pharmacy also inquires about the malady of the
`patient directly, and elicits any additional information from
`him or her. This information, along With the prescription, is
`then entered into a computer called a “host” computer via a
`computer keyboard, and is stored in a database. The com
`puter creates a prescription number associated With the
`entered data and stores it With the data in the database. The
`host computer then sends this data record to a ?rst computer,
`also Within the imaging station. The ?rst computer then
`sends all of this information separately to a ?rst printer,
`Which prints a vial label having a barcode, and to a second
`printer Which then prints a label containing a prescription
`number, Which is af?Xed to the paper prescription received
`from the patient. Thereafter, the paper prescription is placed
`in a scanner, producing a computeriZed image that is stored
`in a database. The image is associated in the database With
`the prescription number. Thereafter, the ?rst computer sends
`the data to a second computer associated With a ?lling
`station, Where it is placed in that second computer’s data
`base.
`In practice, the ?rst printer typically also prints What is
`commonly referred to in the industry as a “prescription
`label,” often a single sheet of adhesive-backed paper. It
`typically consists of a prescription vial label, patient “mono
`graph” (explanations and instructions for the patient), a
`receipt, a duplicate receipt, and various auXiliary labels such
`as special Warnings, bag labels, and the like. The resultant
`queue of labeled vials With these associated prescription
`labels causes confusion, lost time, and is a source of errors
`Which may occur during the ?lling process.
`The label is affixed to an empty vial at the ?rst printer
`resulting in a labeled vial. At this time the labeled vial (and,
`in practice, associated prescription paperWork) are sent to
`the ?lling station. At the ?lling station, the second computer,
`Which has received the prescription data record from the ?rst
`computer, controls a drug dispenser. A barcode scanner is
`used to read the barcode on the label of the vial, sending the
`prescription number encoded thereon to the second com
`puter. The second computer then searches its database for
`the prescription number read from the barcode on the vial
`label. When it is found, the second computer uses the data
`to dispense the correct type and number of tablets from the
`automated dispensing system or a manual ?lling process,
`into the vial. With the WILLIAMS et al. system, the vial
`label is produced in the printer, Which results in a queue of
`labeled vials and paperWork, along the system path, betWeen
`the imaging Workstation prescription label printer and the
`prescription ?lling station Where both automated and manual
`?lling can take place. Unfortunately, this creates potential
`for confusion and error.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`2
`The present invention, on the other hand, represents a
`method and a system to alleviate the risk of errors in ?lling
`posed by the queue of multiple labeled vials and their
`associated paperWork that exists at the ?lling station. The
`present invention does so by alloWing a Work?oW in Which
`only one un?lled labeled vial and its associated prescription
`label paperWork eXist at the ?lling station at any one time.
`In the event that the pharmacy handles very high volume,
`and more than one ?lling station is employed, still only one
`un?lled labeled vial and its associated prescription label
`paperWork Will eXist at each separate ?lling station.
`Additionally, the present invention eliminates the need to
`physically transfer the labeled vial and prescription paper
`Work from one site (the data entry Workstation) to another
`site (the ?lling station). Elimination of the physical trans
`ferring step smooths the How of the dispensing operation,
`and hence, improves the automated pharmacy’s throughput.
`The WILLIAMS et al. system also has an additional
`problem, When attempting to give high priority (the order in
`Which vials are ?lled) to a particular prescription at the
`?lling station. Filling prescriptions out of the originally
`intended order increases the likelihood of providing the
`Wrong paperWork With any particular vial, because it
`requires the operator to search through the queue of labeled
`vials and prescription label paperWork.
`The present invention, by removing the physical transfer
`of paperWork and the queue of labeled vials and paperWork
`at the ?lling station, greatly reduces the probability of
`mistakes When a particular prescription is taken out of its
`normal position in the queue.
`In the present invention, as in the prior art, a prescription
`number is generated Within the computer at the data entry
`Workstation and associated With the entered data record. The
`image of the paper prescription is scanned in. At this point
`the various patient information and patient history already in
`the database can be updated, as can all of the neW informa
`tion about the present prescription associated With it. Then
`the data and the prescription number are sent to the second
`computer, located at the ?lling station, Which controls a
`second printer that prints a label containing the barcode of
`the prescription number. The label is af?Xed to a vial, again
`resulting in a labeled vial. The barcode is read by a scanner
`connected to the second computer. The second computer or
`the ?rst computer then searches the database for the pre
`scription number read from the barcode on the vial. When
`this prescription number is found, the accompanying data
`block is sent to the second computer, Which uses the data to
`dispense the correct type and number of tablets from the
`dispenser into the vial.
`Both the WILLIAMS et al. and the inventive systems
`include a checking station, having its oWn computer or
`terminal, at Which a pharmacist checks the ?lled vial against
`the data and the image of the prescription displayed on a
`screen. The tablets in the vial are also compared With a
`stored picture of the type of tablet Which has been dispensed
`for this prescription. This validates that the correct drug has
`been dispensed.
`Using the system of this invention as compared to the
`WILLIAMS et al. system, hoWever, it is unnecessary to have
`a potentially confusing queue of labels betWeen the ?rst
`computer and the ?lling station. This improves reliability of
`the operation and substantially reduces errors. In addition,
`since there is no How of labels or vials from the data entry
`Workstation (the imaging Workstation in the WILLIAMS et
`al. system) to the ?lling station Which must be manually
`tracked, the ef?ciency and throughput of the pharmacy is
`improved.
`
`CFAD VI 1005-0010
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`US 6,202,923 B1
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`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`3
`In the event that a particular prescription requires a
`?ll-next priority, as for example When a patient arrives at the
`pharmacy and chooses to Wait for the medication, the system
`of this invention makes it easier to accomplish this task
`Without errors, as only the one un?lled labeled vial eXists at
`the ?lling station (or at any one ?lling station) at any one
`time. This results in streamlining the How of prescription
`data, so that the data is held in the computers until needed.
`In other Words, the data is not ?oating about the pharmacy,
`as is likely in the WILLIAMS et al. system.
`Furthermore, in the WILLIAMS et al. system, it is pos
`sible for the operator to scan the Wrong vial label at the
`?lling station, and thus, the Wrong data could be associated
`With the intended prescription, because a number of labels
`Were in existence at the same time. The present invention
`prevents this, hoWever, by scanning the barcode on the label
`of the vial into Which the medicine is to be dispensed, since
`it is the only un?lled labeled vial at the ?lling station.
`In US. Pat. No. 5,713,485, issued to LIFF et al. on Feb.
`3, 1998, entitled DRUG DISPENSING SYSTEM, an auto
`mated drug dispensing system is shoWn. The system com
`prises a plurality of prepackaged pharmaceuticals. The vari
`eties of pharmaceuticals are each associated With a code. A
`controller receives requests and generates dispensing signals
`that cause a dispenser to dispense the packaged pharmaceu
`ticals. After dispensing the pharmaceutical, its code is
`checked against that originally requested.
`In US. Pat. No. 5,700,998, issued to PALTI on Dec. 23,
`1997, for DRUG CODING AND DELIVERY SYSTEM, a
`drug dispensing system having coded tablets or pills is
`illustrated. The code is placed directly on the tablet and then
`compared to the code associated With the requested
`pharmaceutical, Which is meant to ensure that only the
`eXactly ordered pharmaceutical is dispensed.
`In US. Pat. No. 5,660,305, issued to LASHER et al. on
`Aug. 26, 1997, entitled AUTOMATIC PRESCRIPTION
`DISPENSING SYSTEM, a dispensing system having a
`multiplicity of pill dispensers is shoWn. The dispensers are
`arranged in roWs and columns. Empty pill bottles are con
`veyed past the dispensers. Pills are released into the indi
`vidual bottles as they pass under the proper dispenser, thus
`alloWing for simultaneous dispensing. The correct number
`of pills is counted prior to dispensing, Wherein the pills are
`released en masse.
`In US. Pat. No. 5,502,944, issued to KRAFT et al. on Apr.
`2, 1996, for MEDICATION DISPENSER SYSTEM, a dis
`penser is shoWn that contains a number of containers for
`holding a select quantity of medications. Apackaging appa
`ratus under robotic control dispenses the prescription from
`the containers to a package, thus preventing cross
`contamination.
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`In accordance With the present invention, there is pro
`vided a system for operating a pharmacy. The system
`provides a greater throughput than previous systems by
`virtue of eliminating a paper trail and a queuing of prescrip
`tion labels, in Which vials and labels are transported in piles.
`As one of the ?rst steps, a prescription number is assigned
`to the Written or communicated prescription request. This
`prescription number is then combined With data transmitted
`from a ?rst location or operating station, usually comprising
`a computer. The prescription number is associated With the
`prescription and this data.
`Then, the data and the prescription number are sent to a
`second location or operating station, usually comprising a
`
`55
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`60
`
`65
`
`4
`second computer. The second computer controls a second
`printer that prints a label containing the barcode and the
`prescription number. The label is af?Xed to a vial, resulting
`in a labeled vial. The barcode is read by a scanner connected
`to the second computer. The second computer or the ?rst
`computer then searches a database for the prescription
`number read from the barcode on the vial. When this is
`found, the accompanying data block is used by the second
`computer to dispense the correct type and number of tablets
`from the dispenser into the vial.
`The system comprises a checking station, having its oWn
`(third) computer or terminal, at Which a pharmacist checks
`the ?lled vial against the data and the image of the prescrip
`tion displayed on a screen. The tablets in the vial are also
`compared With a stored picture of the type of tablet Which
`has been dispensed for this prescription. This validates that
`the correct drug has been dispensed.
`It is an object of this invention to provide an improved
`pharmaceutical dispensing system.
`It is another object of the invention to provide an auto
`mated medication dispensing system having improved
`throughput.
`It is a further object of this invention to provide a
`pharmaceutical dispensing system that is not subject to
`errors in the dispensing of medications.
`It is still another object of this invention to provide an
`automated pharmaceutical dispensing system that can be
`used in pharmacies of any siZe.
`It is a further object of this invention to provide a
`pharmaceutical dispensing system in Which the Work?oW
`may be con?gured as needed in any pharmacy.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`Acomplete understanding of the present invention may be
`obtained by reference to the accompanying draWings, When
`considered in conjunction With the subsequent detailed
`description, in Which:
`FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic vieW of the medication
`dispensing system in accordance With the present invention;
`FIG. 2 depicts a schematic vieW of the data entry Work
`station in accordance With the present invention;
`FIG. 3 shoWs a schematic vieW of the ?lling Workstation
`in accordance With the present invention;
`FIG. 4 is a schematic vieW of the checking Workstation in
`accordance With the present invention;
`FIGS. 5a—5d illustrate the communication amongst Work
`stations;
`FIG. 6 is a block diagram depicting the arrangement of the
`computer netWork in accordance With the present invention;
`FIG. 7 represents a patient and pharmacist at a counselling
`Workstation; and
`FIG. 8 represents a customer and clerk/cashier at a
`point-of-sale Workstation.
`For purposes of brevity and clarity, like elements and
`components in the ?gures Will bear the same designations
`and numbering throughout.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`
`Generally speaking, this invention features a system for
`improving the Work?oW of medication dispensing, and for
`assuring freedom from errors during the ?lling of prescrip
`tions at an automated pharmacy. The novel system further
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`US 6,202,923 B1
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`5
`pertains to a pharmacy computer network that allows an
`operator at one Workstation to access data from any other
`Workstation. A data bus connects a ?lling Workstation With
`a microprocessor Which controls a particular dispenser. This
`data bus prevents messages moving betWeen the ?lling
`Workstation and the microprocessors from interfering With
`information How among all other Workstations.
`Referring noW to FIG. 1, What is shoWn is a medication
`dispensing system 1 comprising a data entry Workstation 5,
`a ?lling Workstation 6, a checking Workstation 25, a coun
`seling Workstation 40 and a point-of-sale (POS) Workstation
`41. While it is preferred to include all ?ve above-identi?ed
`Workstations, the medication dispensing system 1 is adapted
`to have feWer or more Workstations. Moreover, the functions
`of several Workstations may be combined. HoWever, data
`entry, ?lling and checking are the three basic sub-systems
`Which must be included in any con?guration of medication
`dispensing system 1. To obtain a better understanding of
`system 1 as a Whole its individual Workstations 5, 6, 25, 40
`and 41 are explained hereinbeloW.
`The data entry Workstation 5 contains data entry softWare
`and is typically part of the pharmacy management system
`softWare, Which most pharmacies use at present. The tech
`nique by Which the pharmacy management softWare is made
`available to the data entry Workstation may be through the
`use of a screen WindoW Within Which an interface to the
`pharmacy management softWare is presented, or
`alternatively, through the use of an electrical sWitching
`device (not shoWn) that sWitches the computer display,
`keyboard and mouse to the pharmacy management system
`computer to or from the Workstation.
`The ?lling Workstation 6 contains softWare to control
`automated dispensers 22 (FIG. 3) and to direct a ?ll tech
`nician 7 in the ?lling of prescriptions both from the auto
`mated dispensers 22 (FIG. 3) and from shelves 17 and 20
`(FIG. 3). Shelves 20 are speci?cally used to replenish the
`dispensers 22.
`The checking Workstation 25 presents a pharmacist With
`the prescription data, a scanned image of the paper
`prescription, if present, and an image of the tablet or capsule
`to be dispensed. This enables the pharmacist to check and
`approve the prescription. A pharmacist is able to check the
`?lled prescription for accuracy and verify that the label is
`also accurate and complete and that the drug utiliZation
`revieW has been completed.
`The counseling Workstation 40 provides the pharmacist
`With information on the patient 3, any other medications the
`patient 3 is currently taking, and information relating to the
`medication being dispensed. Moreover, the counseling
`Workstation 40 assists the pharmacist in advising the patient
`3 on the use of the medication and on other health issues.
`The point-of-sale (POS) Workstation 41, in most instances
`merely a cash register, is Where a patient’s payment is
`accepted by a clerk or cashier. Point-of-sale Workstation 41
`may include a barcode reader 41a (FIG. 8) to identify the
`prescriptions for Which payment is being made, and a
`signature pad 41b (FIG. 8) to record an image of the
`patient’s signature, When required. Point-of-sale Workstation
`41 may also be used to trace the status and location of a
`prescription in the Work?oW through the pharmacy.
`In the pharmacy, there is a pharmacist 4, a data entry
`technician 24, a ?ll technician 7, a cashier/clerk 68 and a
`replenishment technician 19 (FIG. 3). If necessary, pharma
`cist 4 can assume the duties of any of the others. Fill
`technician 7, cashier/clerk 68, and replenishment technician
`19 (FIG. 3) may assume some or all of the responsibilities
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`of each other. It is preferred to have separate individuals for
`these tasks, but it is also possible that only one individual
`may perform all tasks. Conversely, if several computers are
`disposed at one Workstation 5, 6, 25, 40 or 41, more than one
`individual may perform the same task. In operation, a
`physician 61 creates a prescription 2 for a patient 3. Pre
`scription 2 is given to patient 3 for personal delivery to data
`entry technician 24. The data entry technician may also be
`provided With prescription 2 directly by physician 61 or
`quali?ed person in the physician’s office staff (not shoWn)
`via telephone 18, faX, or other method. In the case of re?lls,
`the patient 3 may simply place an order Without appearing
`in person.
`Patient 3 presents prescription 2 either Within the phar
`macy or at a drive-in WindoW 69. In the case of re?lls, the
`patient may communicate With a computer in the pharmacy
`by telephone, providing the information about the desired
`re?ll through the use of the touch-tone keyboard in response
`to synthesiZed voice requests by the computer, often called
`Interactive Voice Response (“IVR”).
`Referring noW to FIG. 2, shoWn is the data entry Work
`station 5. Upon receiving re?ll information via telephone 18
`or physical prescription 2, data entry technician 24 enters the
`data into data entry Workstation 5. The information received
`from prescription 2 and from the patient 3 contains, at a
`minimum, the patient’s name, the patient’s address, the
`physician’s name, the type of drug, the dosage siZe of the
`drug, the quantity of drug, the date prescribed, physician’s
`instructions to the patient, the number of re?lls alloWed, and
`Whether the substitution of a generic version of the drug is
`permitted by the physician.
`In a typical pharmacy management system 81 (FIG. 6) in
`accordance With this invention, data entry technician 24 is
`asked to consult patient 3 to determine method of payment,
`through a prescription insurance service With patient
`copayment, for eXample. Data entry technician 24 then
`enters this information into data entry Workstation 5.
`Similarly, adjudication is also handled by the pharmacy
`management softWare 81 at this point. Adjudication is
`determining Whether the insurance company or HMO Will
`alloW the patient to use this drug or Whether another drug
`must be substituted. Yet another function of the pharmacy
`management softWare 81 is drug utiliZation revieW. This
`requires a pharmacist to eXamine computeriZed records of
`the patient’s illnesses and other medications to detect pos
`sible incompatibilities.
`Data entry Workstation 5 creates a neW data record or
`consults and updates an eXisting data record. Data entry
`Workstation 5 transmits all information via a database to
`?lling Workstation 6 and checking Workstation 25. The
`information includes a recogniZed code indicating the type
`of drug and the dosage siZe, the number of tablets to be
`dispensed, a prescription number assigned by data entry
`Workstation 5, the patient’s name and address, the physi
`cian’s name, physician’s instructions to the patient, date of
`the prescription, number of re?lls alloWed, Whether a
`generic version of the drug has been used, and possibly other
`information.
`Barcode printer 30 at data entry Workstation 5 prints a
`barcode label 26 representing the assigned prescription
`number for prescription 2. Barcode label 26 also contains a
`printed prescription number Which is the same one encoded
`in the barcode itself. Barcode label 26 may optionally
`contain other information from the prescription data record.
`Barcode label 26 is then af?Xed to either the front side or the
`back side of prescription 2. It should be understood,
`
`CFAD VI 1005-0012
`
`

`
`US 6,202,923 B1
`
`7
`however, that a barcode can be printed directly on the
`prescription 2. A scanner 27, Which may be located any
`Where in the pharmacy, scans prescription 2 and produces a
`digitized image. Alternatively, instead of scanner 27, a
`digital camera (not shoWn) may be used. In either case, this
`step may be preceded by a Wanding of the barcode af?xed
`to prescription 2. The image is stored for later use in
`checking the prescription 2 and as part of the pharmacy
`archives. At any time, a list of the prescriptions to be ?lled
`may be vieWed on the screen of the data entry Workstation
`or any of the other Workstations; the particular order in
`Which they are to be ?lled may be noted; and the ?lling order
`of any particular prescription may be changed.
`Referring noW to FIG. 3, the Workings of the ?lling
`Workstation 6 are illustrated. The ?lling process is per
`formed by a ?ll technician 7, When possible, or by a
`pharmacist 4 if necessary. Filling may be performed manu
`ally or automatically (i.e., machine-assisted).
`In manual ?lling, printer 31 is located at ?lling Worksta
`tion 6 and utiliZes the transmitted information from data
`entry Workstation 5 to print a label 9, Which is affixed to the
`empty medication vial 8, container or package, not shoWn.
`This results in a labeled vial 10. NoW, the labeled vial 10 is
`ready to be ?lled With the proper medication, not shoWn.
`Manual ?lling includes counting pills, tablets or capsules
`by hand, retrieval of packages (i.e., units of use or stock
`keeping units) from shelves 17 or motoriZed carousel shelv
`ing 71, the reconstitution 72 of certain medications, and
`compounding 73. Reconstitution is adding sterile Water to
`poWders, While compounding 73 is mixing medications
`immediately prior to dispensing to the patient. Solid medi
`cation is placed in labeled vial 10. Other medication (e.g.,
`liquid, gels) may remain in a package to Which label 9 is
`attached. The ?lled vial 12 or packages (not shoWn) are then
`forWarded to the checking Workstation 25 (FIG. 4), either
`singly or combined in pans or bins 74, Where several
`medications are intended for the same order. Color coding of
`each bin 74 can be used to indicate priority of completion.
`The various operations performed at the ?lling Worksta
`tion 6 are directed by the computer system, Which provides
`information as to Where the medication is found on the
`shelves 17 or 71. Shelves 17 and 71 can contain or store
`certain items that cannot be conveniently dispensed auto
`matically (e.g., creams in a tube). One advantage of this
`information management system is that frequently
`requested medications can be placed on the shelves nearest
`the ?lling Workstation. Thus, the overall time spent in
`retrieving medications is reduced.
`Automatic ?lling utiliZes an array 11 of automatic tablet
`or capsule dispensers 22. Using transmitted information
`from data entry Workstation 5, printer 31 prints a vial label
`9 to be af?xed to empty vial 8. Included on this label is a
`barcode representing the assigned prescription number.
`Based on the information received from the data entry
`Workstation 5, including the drug type (pills, tablet or
`capsule), number, and dosage siZe required by prescription
`2, ?lling Workstation 6 selects a dispenser 22 in automatic
`dispenser array 11. A code is sent to dispenser 22 ordering
`the speci?c number of tablets required by prescription 2 be
`counted and held in a buffer compartment.
`At approximately the same time, the ?ll technician 7
`receives an order on the screen of ?lling Workstation 6 Which
`indicates to technician 7 that this particular prescription 2
`Will be dispensed by automatic dispenser array 11. Filling
`Workstation 6 displays instructions to select a certain siZe
`vial, Which technician 7 uses to select empty vial 8. Tech
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`nician 7 af?xes label 9 to vial 8, thereby creating a labeled
`vial 10. Printer 31 does not print label 9 until the speci?ed
`prescription 2, associated thereWith, is displayed on ?lling
`Workstation 6. This prevents any possibility of label 9 being
`incorrectly af?xed to the Wrong vial 8.
`Next, technician 7 uses a Wand 21, connected to ?lling
`Workstation 6, to scan the barcode on label 9. Upon receipt
`of the barcoded information, Which represents the prescrip
`tion number of prescription 2, ?lling Workstation 6 then
`instructs dispenser 22 to display a ready light. Fill technician
`7 places vial 10 underneath the buffer compartment of
`dispenser 22. When the dispenser 22 detects that vial 10 is
`in position, it releases the tablets from its buffer compart
`ment into labeled vial 10, thus producing ?lled prescription
`12.
`Again, the ?lled vials 12 are forWarded to the checking
`Workstation 25, either singly or combined in pans or bins 74,
`Which may be barcode identi?ed. Color coding may be
`applied to the vials to indicate to the pharmacist at the
`checking station 25 that a particular prescription or set of
`prescriptions in the bin is to be checked ahead of other
`prescriptions. Once the pans or bins 74 contain a completed
`group of prescriptions in one order, they may be stored in a
`holding area 77 (FIG. 1) prior to being checked and distrib
`uted by pharmacist 4.
`Referring noW to FIG. 4, shoWn is a checking Workstation
`25 at Which pharmacist 4 checks the ?lled prescription order.
`Pharmacist 4 may, at this Workstation, vieW a list of pre
`scriptions in process, and note Which prescriptions are ready
`to be checked. Pharmacist 4 may also note Which prescri