Automated method for filling drug prescriptions

A method for automating filling of a prescription from a physician, comprising the steps of

• obtaining a prescription from the physician;
• inputting pertinent drug information from the prescription into a computer at a pharmacy;
• selecting a matching drug from a shelf container;
• scanning a container bar-code on the shelf container representing contents thereof;
• confirming a match between the container bar code and the pertinent drug information from the prescription and if a match is confirmed, permitting filling of the prescription.

A method for automating prescription filling comprising the steps of

• inputting drug selection into a computer or terminal;
• printing out a prescription slip with embedded information which is machine readable and contains complete prescription information to enable filling of the prescription;
• taking the prescription slip to a pharmacist;
• and
• having the pharmacist fill the prescription by
• using a reader to obtain the embedded information on the prescription slip to obtain the pertinent prescription information,
• selecting a matching drug from a shelf container,
• using the reader to obtain embedded information from a label on the shelf container representing contents thereof, wherein the system confirms a match between the container label and the pertinent prescription information embedded on the prescription slip.