Health care item storage and dispensing apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for storing and dispensing health care items comprises a container having multiple compartments. At least some of the compartments contain health care items and are labeled with indicia relating to the health care item contained therein. The container contains at least two different health care items with at least one compartment containing a health care item different from the health care item contained in a different compartment.

1 . An apparatus for storing and dispensing health care items, comprising: 
 a container having multiple compartments, at least some of the compartments containing health care items and being labeled with indicia relating to the health care item contained therein, wherein the container contains at least two different health care items with at least one compartment containing a health care item different from the health care item contained in a different compartment.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the container includes a cover for closing the container.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the apparatus comprises a fastener for fastening the cover to the container.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the apparatus comprises a translation card secured thereto, the translation card including information relating to health care items and health care services readable in at least two languages.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the compartments has a lid for covering the compartment.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the lid comprises opening means for lifting the lid from the compartment.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the lid has the indicia thereon.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the apparatus has an attached handle.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein no two compartments contain the same health care items.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus for storing and dispensing health care items, comprising: 
 a container having multiple compartments, at least some of the compartments containing health care items and being labeled with indicia relating to the health care item contained therein, the container containing at least two different health care items, the container including a cover for closing the container, the apparatus having a translation card secured thereto, the translation card including information relating to health care items and health care services in at least two languages, and the container includes an outer protective removable seal around the container.    
   
   
       11 . A shipping box comprising: 
 multiple containers for storing and dispensing health care items, each container having multiple compartments, at least some of the compartments containing health care items and being labeled with indicia relating to the health care item contained therein, and each container contains at least two different health care items.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the container includes a cover for closing the container.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the apparatus comprises fastening means for fastening the cover to the container.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the apparatus comprises a translation card secured thereto, the translation card including information relating to health care items and health care services readable in at least two languages.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein at least one of the compartments has a lid for covering the compartment.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the lid comprises opening means for lifting the lid from the compartment.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the lid has the indicia thereon.  
   
   
       18 . A method for a person having a symptom or illness to obtain a health care item comprising the steps of: 
 a) selecting the apparatus for storing and dispensing health care items of  claim 1;     b) reading the indicia labeled on the compartment relating to the health care item contained therein; and    c) selecting the desired health care item from the labeled compartment.    
   
   
       19 . A method for making an apparatus for storing and dispensing health care items comprising the steps of: 
 a) selecting a container having at least one compartment;    b) placing health care items in at least some of the compartments, wherein the container contains at least two different health care items with at least one compartment containing a health care item different from the health care item contained in a different compartment; and    c) labeling at least one of the compartments with indicia relating to the health care item contained therein.