Medication storage and dispensing apparatus having linear drawer assembly including discrete storage modules

A medication storage and dispensing workstation for use in a medication management system administering the inventory and distribution of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies in a healthcare environment comprising:

• at least a frame assembly comprised of at least a linear drawer assembly, wherein said linear drawer assembly is comprised of at least two removable storage modules arranged in a linear array longitudinally along the travel path of the linear drawer assembly;
• wherein each storage module defines a volume;
• wherein each storage module is removable laterally relative to the linear arrangement of the drawer assembly;
• wherein each storage module is removable without affecting the volume defined by another storage module;
• and
• wherein each storage module comprises a drawer that is extensible laterally horizontally relative to the travel path of the linear drawer assembly.

A medication storage and dispensing workstation for use in a medication management system administering the inventory and distribution of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies in a healthcare environment comprising:

• a linear drawer assembly linearly movable between an open position and a closed position along a longitudinal axis, the drawer assembly comprising a plurality of individual, self-contained storage modules each defining a volume for containing medications and/or other medical supplies, the plurality of storage modules being arranged in a one-dimensional array that is parallel to the longitudinal axis;
• wherein each storage module comprises a drawer that is extensible generally horizontally and generally in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis, each drawer including an impact lock;
• wherein each storage module is removable laterally relative to the linear arrangement of the drawer assembly and without affecting the volume defined by any other storage module;
• a control computer;
• a workstation network system in communication with the control computer, the workstation network system comprising a workstation controller, at least one tier controller, at least one in-drawer controller, and a plurality of storage module controllers.