Abstract: A method, system and apparatus is provided for dispensing drugs quickly, conveniently, securely, and accurately and at relatively less cost than traditional pharmacy-based dispensing systems. A script for a drug prescribed to a user is generated comprising a human readable description of the drug and the user or a machine readable description of the drug and the user. The script is provided to a robotic prescription dispensary operable to recognize either the human readable description or the machine readable description, and validate and dispense the drug accordingly. The robotic prescription dispensary includes a user interface, a tele conferencing or video conferencing means enabling communication between the user and a human validation agent, and a scanning means for capturing an image of the script. A method for managing inventory and distribution of drugs is also provided.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for use in improving patient compliance with prescribed medication. The apparatus is configurable as a node on a communication network and has a storage unit for storing medication elements for a prescribed course of treatment. A delivery unit delivers the medication elements in a scheduled order corresponding to the course of treatment. A notification unit notifies a patient at the medication delivery apparatus that a next scheduled one of the medication elements should be consumed. A compliance unit issues to the network an indication that the next scheduled one of the medication elements has been consumed by the patient. If no notification is received by the compliance agent, remedial action is taken.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for validation of medication for consumption by a patient. A patient unit, which is one node on a communication network, is operated to present medication elements stored at the patient unit in an order corresponding to the order of a prescribed course of treatment for the patient. Indicia on the medication elements are inspected to derive characterizing data such as nature of drug and scheduled time of consumption. The derived data is compared to stored data corresponding to a next scheduled medication element. If there is a match, the patient is informed that validated medication is ready to be consumed. The patient then arranges for the medication to be delivered from the patient unit and for a notification to be sent to a compliance agent at a remote network node.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus is provided for dispensing drugs quickly, conveniently, securely, and accurately and at relatively less cost than traditional pharmacy-based dispensing systems. A script for a drug prescribed to a user is generated comprising a human readable description of the drug and the user or a machine readable description of the drug and the user. The script is provided to a robotic prescription dispensary operable to recognize either the human readable description or the machine readable description, and validate and dispense the drug accordingly. The robotic prescription dispensary includes a user interface, a teleconferencing or videoconferencing means enabling communication between the user and a human validation agent, and a scanning means for capturing an image of the script. A method for managing inventory and distribution of drugs is also provided.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus is provided for dispensing drugs quickly, conveniently, securely, and accurately and at relatively less cost than traditional pharmacy-based dispensing systems. A script for a drug prescribed to a user is generated comprising a human readable description of the drug and the user or a machine readable description of the drug and the user. The script is provided to a robotic prescription dispensary operable to recognize either the human readable description or the machine readable description, and validate and dispense the drug accordingly. The robotic prescription dispensary includes a user interface, a tele conferencing or video conferencing means enabling communication between the user and a human validation agent, and a scanning means for capturing an image of the script. A method for managing inventory and distribution of drugs is also provided.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus is provided for dispensing drugs quickly, conveniently, securely, and accurately and at relatively less cost than traditional pharmacy-based dispensing systems. A script for a drug prescribed to a user is generated comprising a human readable description of the drug and the user or a machine readable description of the drug and the user. The script is provided to a robotic prescription dispensary operable to recognize either the human readable description or the machine readable description, and validate and dispense the drug accordingly. The robotic prescription dispensary includes a user interface, a teleconferencing or videoconferencing means enabling communication between the user and a human validation agent, and a scanning means for capturing an image of the script. A method for managing inventory and distribution of drugs is also provided.