Method of conducting a sales transaction using a random access and random load dispensing unit
The present invention provides a random access and random load dispensing unit including a housing, at least one support located in the housing and defining a first axis, a plurality of platforms movable along the support along the first axis, a plurality of bins supported on the platforms, the bins being movable with the platforms, and a shuttle assembly movable along the first axis and further movable along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis between the plurality of platforms to access and retrieve products stored in the bins.
1. A method of conducting a sales transaction for consumer-specific prescription medications using an automated dispensing device comprising:
(a) providing an automated dispensing device comprising
(i) a housing for securely enclosing a plurality of storage locations for storing prescription medications that have been filled for specific consumers before being placed within the dispensing device,
(ii) a payment receiving terminal,
(iii) a user interface,
(iv) an interface engine for communicating with a pharmacy information system and a point-of-sale system;
(b) associating a prescription medication, which has been filled for a specific consumer, and an information record, wherein said information record comprises a consumer name, a prescription information element, and a medication information element, and is electronically stored in the pharmacy information system;
(c) receiving consumer-specific prescription medication at a storage location, which is not predesignated prior to receipt;
(d) associating non-predesignated storage location with consumer-specific prescription medication after consumer-specific prescription medication has been received at said non-predesignated storage location;
(e) providing the interface engine to allow the automated dispensing device to communicate with the pharmacy information system;
(f) transferring the information record from the pharmacy information system to the automated dispensing device for consumer-specific prescription medication;
(g) receiving a consumer identification information at the user interface;
(h) displaying a list of one or more consumer-specific prescription medications previously stored for the consumer whose identification information was received
(i) receiving a communication that requests delivery of one or more listed, consumer-specific prescription medications;
(j) determining the storage location where a first listed, consumer-specific prescription medication is stored;
(k) receiving any required payment at the payment receiving terminal;
(l) transmitting purchase information from the automated dispensing device via the interface engine to a remote point-of-sale system to document the sales transaction for the first, listed consumer-specific prescription medication;
and
(m) delivering said first, listed, consumer-specific prescription medication.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the medication information element further comprises information selected from a group consisting of: a prescription number, a physician name, a physician contact information, a drug name, a drug code, a tax information, a brand name, a retail price and a generic name.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the prescription information element further comprises information selected from a group consisting of: a copay information, and a co-pay amount.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the information record further comprises information selected from a group consisting of: a consumer birth date, a consumer phone number, a consumer home phone number, a consumer fax number, a consumer mobile phone number, a consumer pager number, a consumer insurance information, a Medicaid information, a non-child resistant packaging information, and a consumer email address.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the information record further comprises information selected from a group consisting of: a alternate person for prescription pickup, and a retail price.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the information record further comprises a refill number.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the consumer-specific prescription medication is placed into a container, prior to storing it in the dispensing device.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the container is a bag.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising placing a first barcode on the container.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising scanning a second barcode that corresponds to the record, and scanning the first barcode, in order to associate the container, the first barcode, and the record.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the dispensing device further comprises an internal barcode reader, and the barcode reader is used in the association of the storage location and the consumer-specific prescription medication by reading the first barcode.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein over the counter items are stored within the dispensing device, and available for purchase by the consumer.
13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising repeating steps (i) (j), (k), (l), and (m) for each consumer-specific prescription medication displayed in step (h).
14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a communication that requests delivery of all listed consumer-specific prescription medications, and requesting a single payment representing the sum of all payments required for all listed consumer-specific prescription medications.
15. The method of claim 2 , wherein the prescription information element comprises a prescription number.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the medication information element comprises a retail price.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the prescription information element further comprises a co-pay amount.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the prescription information element further comprises a drug name.
19. The method of claim 13 , further comprising associating the information record and a sensable identifier.
20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising associating the sensable identifier and the customer-specific prescription medication.
21. The method of claim 9 , wherein the sensable identifier is a barcode.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the automated dispensing device has at least 100 storage locations.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the automated dispensing device has at least 500 storage locations.
24. The method of claim 21 , further comprising comparing the consumer identification information with a list of consumers previously registered to receive consumer-specific prescription medications stored in the automated dispensing device.
25. The method of claim 21 , further comprising the receipt of a consumer signature, which is electronically recorded.
26. The method of claim 21 , wherein the consumer retrieves a consumer-specific prescription medication which has been filled for a family member.
27. The method of claim 21 , wherein the automated dispensing device queries the pharmacy information system for an updated information record approximately immediately before dispensing the list of one or more consumer-specific prescription medications.
28. The method of claim 21 , wherein the consumer-specific prescription medication is a refill.
29. A method of conducting a sales transaction for prescription medications using an automated prescription storage and dispensing device comprising:
(a) providing an automated storage and dispensing device comprising:
(i) a housing for securely enclosing a plurality of storage locations for storing prescription medications that have been filled for specific consumers before being placed within the automatic storage and dispensing device;
(ii) a payment receiving terminal; and
(iii) a user interface;
(b) receiving at a storage location a prescription medication that has been filled for a specific consumer, and which has been associated with an information record comprising a consumer name, a prescription information element, and a medication information element;
(c) associating said storage location with consumer-specific prescription medication;
(d) receiving a consumer-identification information at the user interface;
(e) displaying a list of one or more consumer-specific prescription medications previously stored for the consumer whose identification information was received;
(f) receiving a communication requesting retrieval of one or more listed, consumer-specific prescription medications;
(g) determining the storage location of a first listed, consumer-specific prescription medication;
(h) receiving any required payment at the payment receiving terminal;
(i) wherein the automatic dispensing device verifies that the consumer-specific prescription medication is the listed consumer-specific prescription medication requested for retrieval and delivers the verified consumer-specific prescription medication.
30. The method of claim 29 , wherein the consumer-specific prescription medication is received at a non-predesignated storage location, and said associating occurs after said consumer-specific prescription medication has been received at said non-predesignated storage location.
31. The method of claim 30 , further comprising repeating steps (f) (g), (h), and (i), for each consumer-specific prescription medication displayed in step (h).
32. The method of claim 30 , further comprising receiving a communication that requests delivery of all listed consumer-specific prescription medications, and requesting a single payment representing the sum of all payments required for all listed consumer-specific prescription medications.
33. The method of claim 30 , wherein the prescription information element comprises a prescription number.
34. The method of claim 33 , wherein the medication information element comprises a retail price.
35. The method of claim 34 , wherein the prescription information element further comprises a co-pay amount.
36. The method of claim 35 , wherein the prescription information element further comprises a drug name.
37. The method of claim 33 , further comprising associating the information record and an electronic identifier.
38. The method of claim 37 , further comprising associating a sensable identifier and the customer-specific prescription medication.
39. The method of claim 38 , wherein the sensable identifier is a barcode.
40. The method of claim 39 , wherein the automated dispensing device has at least 100 storage locations.
41. The method of claim 40 , wherein the automated dispensing device has at least 500 storage locations.
42. The method of claim 39 , further comprising comparing the consumer identification information with a list of consumers previously registered to receive consumer-specific prescription medications stored in the automated dispensing device.
43. The method of claim 39 , further comprising the receipt of a consumer signature, which is electronically recorded.
44. The method of claim 39 , wherein the consumer retrieves a consumer-specific prescription medication which has been filled for a family member.
45. The method of claim 39 , wherein the automated dispensing device queries the pharmacy information system for an updated information record approximately immediately before dispensing the list of one or more consumer-specific prescription medications.
46. The method of claim 39 , wherein the consumer-specific prescription medication is a refill.