A system for processing returned pharmaceuticals comprising:
- a remote server;
- and
- a kiosk station comprising
- a user camera configured to obtain an image of a user,
- an input device configured to receive information associated with a pharmaceutical item to be returned by the user, the pharmaceutical item having a return policy associated therewith,
- first and second pharmaceutical containers,
- an access panel selectively operable to provide access to the first and second pharmaceutical containers,
- a scale configured to weigh the pharmaceutical item to obtain a sensed weight of the pharmaceutical item,
- a top view camera configured to capture a top view image of the pharmaceutical item upon placement on a surface of the scale within a field of view of the top view camera,
- a side view camera adjacent the top view camera and configured to acquire a side-view image of the pharmaceutical item upon placement on the surface, and
- a computer configured to
- cooperate with the user camera to acquire the image of the user,
- cooperate with the input device to receive the information associated with the pharmaceutical item from the user,
- generate, based upon the information associated with the pharmaceutical item and the image of the user, verification information of the pharmaceutical item by at least
- weighing, via the scale, the pharmaceutical item to obtain a sensed weight of the pharmaceutical item, and
- capturing, via the top view camera and side view camera, top view and side view images of the pharmaceutical item, and
- transmit, to a remote server, the verification information,
- the remote server configured to generate a return determination based upon the verification information, the return determination being generated based upon comparison of the sensed weight to a stored weight in a verification database on the remote server for the received information, and the captured top view and side view images of the pharmaceutical item;
- the computer configured to
- receive, from the remote server, the return determination,
- categorize, responsive to receiving the return determination, the pharmaceutical item as belonging to one of a first and a second category based upon the received information,
- selectively operate the access panel to provide access to one of the first and the second pharmaceutical container based upon whether the pharmaceutical item is categorized as belonging to the first or second category, respectively, and
- determine compliance of the pharmaceutical item with the return policy based upon the information associated with the pharmaceutical item, and
- provide, via the computer, responsive to receiving the return determination, based upon compliance of the pharmaceutical item with the return policy, whether a credit is to be provided for the pharmaceutical item, and when so, an associated credit amount.