MEDICATION TRACKING SYSTEM IN A PHARMACY

1 . A medication filling system, comprising:

at least one automatic dispensing device that includes a plurality of cells containing a plurality of different types of medications, the at least one automatic dispensing device being configured to dispense the medications into prescription containers;

a bulk and prep area including a plurality of bulk up containers with medications to refill the plurality of cells in the automatic dispensing device;

the bulk up containers including wireless tags with data that includes at least the type and quantity of the medications contained in the respective bulk up containers; and

at least one wireless sensor positioned at an opening between the bulk and prep area and the at least one automatic dispensing device area and configured to monitor when one of the bulk up containers passes through the opening into or out of the bulk and prep area.

2 . The medication filling system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the at least one wireless sensor is positioned at each opening into the bulk and prep area through which the bulk up containers can travel.

3 . The medication filling system as set forth in claim 1 , further including a portable technician device with a wireless sensor, the technician device being configured to sense the wireless tag of a selected one of the bulk up containers and to guide a technician towards the selected one of the bulk up containers.

4 . The medication filling system as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the plurality of different types of medications are a plurality of different types of pills.

5 . The medication filling system as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the portable technician device is configured to track one of the bulk up containers to a selected one of the at least one automatic dispensing device.

6 . The medication filling system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one wireless sensor is configured to detect removal of one of the plurality of bulk up containers between the bulk and prep area and the at least one automatic dispensing device area.

7 . The medication filling system of claim 1 , wherein the bulk and prep area includes a cutter device to open a source container and transfer the pills to one of the bulk up containers.

8 . The medication filling system of claim 1 , wherein the bulk up containers include a shell and a bag inserted into the shell lining an interior of the shell to receive the medications, and the wireless tag is affixed to the shell.

9 . A medication filling system, comprising:

a filling area;

at least one automatic dispensing device in the filling area, at least one automatic dispensing device including a plurality of cells containing a plurality of different types of medications, the at least one automatic dispensing device being configured to dispense the medications into prescription containers;

a bulk and prep area including a cutter device to open source containers and a plurality of bulk up containers to receive medications from opened ones of the source containers, the plurality of bulk up containers being configured to refill at least one of the plurality of cells in the automatic dispensing device;

the bulk up containers including wireless tags with data associated with at least the type and quantity of the medications contained in the respective bulk up containers; and

at least one wireless sensor positioned at an opening between the bulk and prep area and the filling area and configured to monitor when one of the bulk up containers passes through the opening into or out of the bulk and prep area.

10 . The medication filling system of claim 9 , wherein the filling area including at least one exit and at least one filling area wireless sensor at the at least one exit to track passage of a bulk up container through the exit, the exit being separate from the opening between the bulk and prep area and the filling.

11 . The medication filling system of claim 9 , wherein the bulk and prep area includes a cutter device to open a source container and transfer the pills to one of the bulk up containers.

12 . The medication filling system of claim 9 , wherein the bulk up containers include a shell and a bag inserted into the shell lining an interior of the shell to receive the medications, and the wireless tag is affixed to the shell.

13 . A method of refilling a medication filling system, comprising the steps of:

preparing at least one automatic dispensing device that includes a plurality of cells containing a plurality of different types of medications, the at least one automatic dispensing device being configured to dispense the medications into prescription containers;

receiving a notification on a technician device that a selected cell of the plurality of cells requires a refill of a selected medication contained therein;

receiving, with the technician device, a signal from a wireless tag on a selected bulk up container that contains the selected medication to refill the selected cell; and

displaying on a technician device continuously updated directions to the selected bulk up container.

14 . The method as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the continuously updated directions include an arrow pointing towards the selected bulk up container and a distance from the technician device to the selected bulk up container.

15 . The method as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the selected bulk up container is one of a plurality of bulk up containers that are located in a bulk and prep area that is adjacent the at least one automatic dispensing device.

16 . The method as set forth in claim 15 , further including at least one wireless sensor between the bulk and prep area and the at least one automatic dispensing device.

17 . The method as set forth in claim 16 , further including the step of, with the at least one wireless sensor, detecting an improper removal of at least one of the plurality of bulk up containers from the bulk and prep area.

18 . The method as set forth in claim 17 , further including the step of alerting the technician device in response to the detection of the improper removal of at least one of the plurality of bulk up containers from the bulk and prep area.

19 . The method as set forth in claim 16 , further including the step of transferring the selected medication from the selected bulk up container to a temporary container.

20 . The method as set forth in claim 19 , further including the step of removing the temporary container with the selected medication contained therein from the bulk and prep area while the selected bulk up container remains in the bulk and prep area; and

wherein the step of refilling the selected cell with the selected medication contained in the temporary container.