Medical product dispensing systems and methods
Methods and systems for transferring restricted distribution medical products to an over-the-counter general sales environment are provided. Methods and systems of dispensing non-prescription, behind-the-counter medical products from a vending machine in a general sales location are also provided. In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided for dispensing a medical product from a vending machine in a general sales location based, at least in part, on biometric data collected from the purchaser and, in some instances, based on self-selection and/or de-selection criteria, is provided. Further, methods and systems of switching prescription medical products to non-prescription, over-the-counter medical products are provided.
1. A system for dispensing a restricted distribution medical product comprising:
a controller comprising a processor and a memory;
a vending machine having a person-machine interface device in communication with the controller, wherein the person-machine interface accepts input of information from a potential purchaser including the identity of a restricted distribution medical product requested by the potential purchaser and information relating to the potential purchaser's medical condition;
a supply of the requested restricted distribution medical product stored in the vending machine, wherein the restricted distribution medical product is selected from the group consisting of a medicine typically requiring physician involvement, and a medicine that has an illicit alternative use from the use typical for the medicine or combination thereof;
an electronic self-selection algorithm stored on the controller, wherein the controller via the electronic self-selection algorithm requires the potential purchaser to enter information into the person-machine interface concerning the potential purchaser's medical condition including information relevant to the requested restricted distribution medical product to complete the electronic self-selection algorithm, wherein, for a first request for the distribution restricted medical product having approved labeling information identified by a governmental agency and associated with the distribution restricted medical product, the approved label information including risks associated with use of the restricted distribution medical product, the electronic self-selection algorithm (a) evaluates (1) the information identified by a governmental agency and included on the approved labeling of the requested restricted distribution medical product and (2) the information provided by the potential purchaser into the person-machine interface relating to the potential purchaser's medical condition including information relevant to the requested restricted distribution medical product, and (b) based on the evaluation, determines whether there is a benefit of starting treatment with the restricted distribution medical product and whether the benefit outweighs the risk associated with not starting treatment,
wherein the controller (c) controls the vending machine to dispense a first sales unit of the requested restricted distribution medical product, and
wherein (a), (b) and (c) are performed without involvement of any licensed practitioner or a prescription, when the benefit outweighs the risk associated with not starting treatment.
2. The system according to claim 1 further comprising:
an electronic de-selection algorithm stored on the controller,
wherein the controller via the electronic de-selection algorithm requires the potential purchaser to enter updated information relating to the potential purchaser's medical condition including updated information relevant to the requested restricted distribution medical product into the person-machine interface to complete the electronic de-selection algorithm,
wherein, for a subsequent request for the distribution restricted medical product, the electronic de-selection algorithm (a1) evaluates (1) the updated information provided by the potential purchaser into the person-machine interface relating to the potential purchaser's medical condition updated to the time of the subsequent request including the updated information relevant to the requested restricted distribution medical product and (2) past use of the restricted distribution medical product, and (b1) based on the evaluation, determines whether there is a benefit to continue treatment with the requested restricted distribution medical product and whether the benefit outweighs the risk associated with not continuing treatment,
wherein the controller (c1) controls the vending machine to dispense a subsequent sales unit of the requested restricted distribution medical product, and
wherein (a1), (b1) and (c1) are performed without involvement of any licensed practitioner or a prescription, when the benefit outweighs the risk associated with not continuing treatment.
3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller via the electronic self-selection algorithm further requires the potential purchaser to enter biometric data of the potential purchaser relevant to the requested restricted distribution medical product to complete the electronic self-selection algorithm further and determines whether to dispense the first sale of the requested restricted distribution medical product based on, at least in part, the biometric data.
4. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the controller via the electronic de-selection algorithm further requires the potential purchaser to enter updated biometric data of the potential purchaser including the updated information relevant to the requested restricted distribution medical product to complete the electronic de-selection algorithm and determines whether to dispense the subsequent sales unit of the requested restricted distribution medical product based on, at least in part, the updated biometric data.
5. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the person-machine interface accepts input of information from a potential purchaser via telephone including (a) the identity of a restricted distribution medical product requested by the potential purchaser and information relating to the potential purchaser's location, identity and medical condition, (b) input of information from the potential purchaser including information relevant to the requested restricted distribution medical product required by the controller via the electronic self-selection algorithm to complete the electronic self-selection algorithm and/or (c) input of information from the potential purchaser including updated information relevant to the requested restricted distribution medical product required by the controller via the electronic self-selection algorithm to complete the electronic de-selection algorithm.
6. A system for dispensing a restricted distribution medical product comprising:
a controller comprising a processor and a memory;
a vending machine in a general sales location, the vending machine having a person-machine interface device in communication with the controller, wherein the person-machine interface accepts input of information from a potential purchaser including the identity of a restricted distribution medical product requested by the potential purchaser and information relating to the potential purchaser's medical condition including information relevant to the requested restricted distribution medical product, wherein the restricted distribution medical product comprises a medicine typically requiring physician involvement or a medicine that has an illicit alternative use from the use typical for the medicine;
an electronic self-selection algorithm stored on the controller, wherein the controller via the electronic self-selection algorithm requires the potential purchaser to enter information concerning the potential purchaser's medical condition including the information relevant to the requested restricted distribution medical product into the person-machine interface to complete the electronic self-selection algorithm,
wherein, for a first request for the distribution restricted medical product having approved labeling information identified by a governmental agency and associated with the distribution restricted medical product, the approved labeling information including risks associated with use of the restricted distribution medical product, the electronic self-selection algorithm (a) evaluates (1) the information identified by a governmental agency and included on the approved labeling of the requested restricted distribution medical product and (2) the information provided by the potential purchaser into the person-machine interface relating to the potential purchaser's medical condition including the information relevant to the requested restricted distribution medical product, and (b) based on the evaluation, determines whether there is a benefit of starting treatment with the restricted distribution medical product and whether the benefit outweighs the risk associated with not starting treatment, and
wherein the controller (c) controls the vending machine to dispense a transaction record for a first sales unit of the requested restricted distribution medical product, wherein (a), (b) and (c) are performed without involvement of ay licensed practitioner or a prescription, when the benefit outweighs the risk associated with not starting treatment.
7. The system according to claim 6 , further comprising:
an electronic de-selection algorithm stored on the controller,
wherein the controller via the electronic de-selection algorithm requires the potential purchaser to enter updated information concerning the potential purchaser's medical condition including updated information relevant to the requested restricted distribution medical product into the person-machine interface to complete the electronic de-selection algorithm,
wherein, for a second or subsequent request for the distribution restricted medical product, the electronic de-selection algorithm (a1) evaluates (1) the updated information provided by the potential purchaser into the person-machine interface relating to the potential purchaser's medical condition including the updated information relevant to the requested restricted distribution medical product updated to the time of the second or subsequent request and (2) past use of the restricted distribution medical product, and (b1) based on the evaluation, determines whether there is a benefit to continue treatment with the requested restricted distribution medical product and whether the benefit outweighs the risk associated with not continuing treatment,
wherein the controller (c1) controls the vending machine to dispense a transaction record for the subsequent sales unit of the requested restricted distribution medical, and
wherein (a1), (b1) and (c1) are performed without involvement of any licensed practitioner or a prescription, when the benefit outweighs the risk associated with not continuing treatment.
8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein either or both of the selection algorithm and the de-selection algorithm can be accessed from a remote location via an internet connection and the transaction record can be printed out at the remote location.
9. A medical product distribution apparatus comprising:
a vending machine containing a supply of a restricted distribution medical product stored therein, wherein the restricted distribution medical product comprises a medicine typically requiring physician involvement or a medicine that has an illicit alternative use from the use typical for the medicine;
a person-machine interface in communication with the vending machine; and
a controller comprising a processor and a memory containing (a) an algorithm, (b) stored approved labeling information identified by a governmental agency and relating to the restricted distribution medical product, wherein the stored approved labeling information identified by a governmental agency includes risks associated with use of the restricted distribution medical product, and (c) instructions that are readable by the controller and cause the controller to:
(1) require a potential purchaser of a restricted distribution medical product to enter information relating to the potential purchaser's medical condition including information relevant to the requested restricted distribution medical product into the person-machine interface;
(2) cause the algorithm to:
compare (i) the entered information relating to the potential purchaser's medical condition including the information relevant to the requested restricted distribution medical product and (ii) the stored approved labeling information;
determine whether there is a benefit of treatment of the potential purchaser with the restricted distribution medical product; and
determine whether the benefit outweighs risks to the potential purchaser associated with treatment using the restricted distribution medical product; and
(3) cause the vending machine to dispense the restricted distribution medical product to the potential purchaser,
wherein the comparing and determining of step (2) are performed without involvement of any licensed practitioner or a prescription, when the benefit outweighs the risks associated with treatment using the restricted distribution medical product.
10. A non-transitory storage medium comprising:
an algorithm;
information identified by a governmental agency relating to a restricted distribution medical product included on an approved labeling of the restricted distribution medical product, wherein the restricted distribution medical product comprises a medicine typically requiring physician involvement or a medicine that has an illicit alternative use from the use typical for the medicine; and
instructions that are readable by a controller comprising a processor and a memory of a vending machine having a person-machine interface and containing a supply of the restricted distribution medical product, and cause the controller to perform the following steps:
(1) require a potential purchaser of the restricted distribution medical product to enter information relating to the potential purchaser's medical condition including information relevant to the requested restricted distribution medical product into the person-machine interface;
(2) cause the algorithm to:
compare the (i) entered information relating to the potential purchaser's medical condition including the information relevant to the requested restricted distribution medical product and (ii) the stored information, wherein the stored information also includes risks associated with use of the restricted distribution medical product;
determine whether there is a benefit of treatment of the potential purchaser with the restricted distribution medical product; and
determine whether the benefit outweighs risks to the potential purchaser associated with treatment using the restricted distribution medical product; and
(3) dispense the restricted distribution medical product to the potential purchaser from the vending machine,
wherein the comparing and determining of step (2) are performed without involvement of any licensed practitioner or a prescription, when the benefit outweighs the risks associated with treatment using the restricted distribution medical product.