AN AUTOMATED MEDICAL PRESCRIPTION FULFILLMENT SYSTEM HAVING WORK STATIONS FOR IMAGING, FILLING, AND CHECKING THE DISPENSED DRUG PRODUCT

The present invention provides a pharmacy system for automating the medical prescription fulfillment process for a customer. It includes an imaging work station having a host computer for receiving data entry of an original medical prescription for a prescribed drug product and customer information and for producing a prescription transaction data record; and electronic communication device for communicating the prescription transaction data record from the host computer to a series of computers. A filling work station includes dispensing apparatus for counting, dispensing, and packaging of the dispensed drug product into the drug vial for the customer. A checking work station includes a scanner for scanning the bar code label on the drug vial, and a display for displaying the digitized image of the original medical prescription, and for displaying a digitized image of the prescribed drug product to allow a first visual comparison between the digitized image of the prescribed drug product and the dispensed drug product in the drug vial, and a second visual comparison between the digitized image of the original medical prescription and the dispensed drug product in the drug vial before it is given to the customer.