Automated medical prescription fulfillment system having work stations for imaging, filling, and checking the dispensed drug product

A pharmacy system for automating the medical prescription fulfillment process for a customer, comprising:

• a) an imaging work station including 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;
• a first computer electronically connected to said host computer and including an image scanner for creating a digitized image of said original medical prescription;
• a first printer for printing a prescription label for applying to a drug vial for receiving a dispensed drug product;
• a second printer for printing a bar code label for applying to said drug vial;
• and means for communicating said prescription transaction data record from said host computer to said first computer;
• b) a filling work station having a second computer electronically connected to said first computer at said imaging work station and further including dispensing means for counting, dispensing, and packaging of said dispensed drug product into said drug vial for the customer, and said second computer for controlling said dispensing means;
• and
• c) a checking work station having a third computer electronically connected to said second computer at said filling work station and including a scanner for scanning said bar code label on said drug vial, and a display for displaying said digitized image of said original medical prescription, and for displaying a digitized image of said prescribed drug product to allow a first visual comparison between said digitized image of said prescribed drug product and said dispensed drug product in said drug vial, and a second visual comparison between said digitized image of said original medical prescription and said dispensed drug product in said drug vial before it is given to the customer.