Portable, reusable dispensing assembly having multiple operating modes

A portable, reusable dispensing assembly having multiple operating modes, the assembly comprising:

• a housing including a compartment loaded with an elongated medication strip having a plurality of dosage form packages spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the strip;
• a bi-directional, electromechanical actuator having first and second directions coupled to the strip to advance a first end of the strip from the compartment to a dose-ready area in the housing in a dispensing mode of the assembly in the first direction and to load the strip from a source or supply of the strip by driving the strip into the compartment in an automated loading mode of the assembly in the second direction;
• and
• an actuator controller configured to receive power and direction command signals to controllably supply DC power of a desired polarity to the actuator to control the operating mode of the assembly.