Medication tracking system in a pharmacy

A medication filling system, comprising:

• a filling area;
• at least one automatic dispensing device in the filling area, at least one automatic dispensing device including a plurality of cells containing a plurality of different types of medications, the at least one automatic dispensing device being configured to dispense the medications into prescription containers;
• a bulk and prep area including a cutter device to open source containers and a plurality of bulk up containers to receive medications from opened ones of the source containers, the plurality of bulk up containers being configured to refill at least one of the plurality of cells in the automatic dispensing device;
• the bulk up containers including wireless tags with data associated with at least the type and quantity of the medications contained in the respective bulk up containers;
• and
• at least one wireless sensor positioned at an opening between the bulk and prep area and the filling area and configured to monitor when one of the bulk up containers passes through the opening into or out of the bulk and prep area.

A method of refilling a medication filling system, comprising the steps of:

• preparing at least one automatic dispensing device that includes a plurality of cells containing a plurality of different types of medications, the at least one automatic dispensing device being configured to dispense the medications into prescription containers;
• receiving a notification on a technician device that a selected cell of the plurality of cells requires a refill of a selected medication contained therein;
• receiving, with the technician device, a signal from a wireless tag on a selected bulk up container that contains the selected medication to refill the selected cell;
• and
• displaying on a technician device continuously updated directions to the selected bulk up container.