Inventory control and prescription dispensing system

Abstract

A prescription dispensing system including a dispensing vault for storing for storing and dispensing prescriptions, with the vault further including RFID, bar code, and other means for verifying the content and internal location of pre-filled prescriptions; a customer interface that uses customer biometrics to ID a customer to ensure that prescriptions are only dispensed to the correct person; a patient registration system in communication with the central computer system for collecting insurance, doctor, biometric, and other information to facilitate transactions; transport container that integrates into the dispensing vault and provides secure transportation from a pharmaceutical manufacturer to the dispensing vault.

1 . A method of dispensing prescription medications to a patient comprising the steps of:
 a. obtaining a biometric information identifier from said patient at a first location;   b. providing a remote dispenser containing an inventory of prescription medications at a second location;   c. providing a communications network between said first location and said second location;   d. communicating a prescription for said patient to said remote dispenser;   e. receiving from said patient at said remote dispenser said biometric information identifier;   f. identifying said patient from said biometric information identifier;   g. matching said identified patient to said communicated prescription;   h. dispensing said prescription medication to said patient.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said biometric information identifier consists of a fingerprint. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said biometric information identifier consists of a retinal scan. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of communicating a prescription for said patient to said remote dispenser is done electronically. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of communicating a prescription for said patient to said remote dispenser further includes providing a scanner at said remote dispenser, said scanner configured to receive a paper based prescription.