Automated will call system
A will call system for automating the management of storage and retrieval of items, preferably medical prescriptions. The automated system provides informational control of all items in the system. The automated will call monitors the length of time an item remains in the system, and into which location an item is placed. An article sensor provides absolute confirmation that an item has been placed or removed from a designated location in the storage unites. The automated will call system uses a controller to permit users to monitor and optimize the storage and retrieval procedures.
1. An automated will-call system for the distribution of finished pharmaceutical prescriptions for a particular patient or group of patients, comprising:
a) a cabinet, with a plurality of secure storage locations, located at a pharmacy;
b) prescrintion input source for providing prescription information about a prescription for a particular patient, the prescription having been authorized by a medical professional, the prescription information including at least one of an identity of the particular patient and a prescription number;
c) a retriever input source for providing identifying information about at least one of a retriever's identity and the finished prescription, wherein the retriever is a pharmacy customer authorized to retrieve the particular patient's finished prescription; and
d) a controller associated with the cabinet, the prescription input source, and the retriever input source, the controller configured to receive the prescription information from the prescription input source, track a storage location in the cabinet in which the finished prescription is stored, and permit access to the storage location and the finished prescription stored therein to the retriever in response to the retriever inputting the identifying information.
2. The system defined in claim 1 , wherein the identifying information is the prescription number.
3. The system defined in claim 1 , wherein the identifying information is the identity of the retriever.
4. The system defined in claim 1 , wherein identifying information further includes the identity of the particular patient associated with the prescription.
5. The system defined in claim 1 , wherein the retriever input source includes a unit that receives biometric information identifying the retriever.
6. The system defined in claim 1 , wherein the controller and the cabinet are configured such that the retriever is provided access only to the secure storage location associated with the finished prescription.
7. The system defined in claim 1 , wherein the retriever input source comprises a touch screen.
8. The system defined in claim 1 , further comprising a point of sale terminal.
9. A method of providing finished pharmaceutical prescriptions to a retriever retrieving such prescriptions at a pharmacy, comprising the steps of:
a) entering prescription information regarding a pharmaceutical prescription authorized by a medical professional, the prescription information including an identity of a particular patient and a prescription number;
b) filling the prescription to produce a finished prescription for the particular patient;
c) storing the finished prescription in a secure storage location within a cabinet having a plurality of secure storage locations;
d) automatically tracking the secure storage location in which the finished prescription is stored;
e) receiving information input by a retriever, the retriever being a pharmacy customer, the received information identifying at least one of the retriever and the finished prescription, the retriever having authorization to retrieve the finished prescription; and
f) providing the retriever access to the secure storage location containing the stored finished prescription for the particular patient.
10. The method defined in claim 9 , wherein the information input by the retriever is the identity of the retriever.
11. The method defined in claim 9 , wherein the information input by the retriever is the identity of the patient.
12. The method defined in claim 9 , wherein the information input by the retriever is the prescription number.
13. The method defined in claim 9 , wherein the information input by the retriever includes biometric information.
14. The method defined in claim 9 , further comprising receiving payment information from the retriever.
15. The method defined in claim 9 , wherein access provided to the retriever is limited to the secure storage location in which the finished prescription is stored.