Pharmacy Automates Prescription Pick-up

A pharmacy in Bethel Park is letting customers pick up their prescriptions similar to the way they pick up cash. Med-Fast pharmacy says it's the first in the region and possibly the country to install an APM, or automated product machine. It allows customers to pick up their prescriptions 24 hours a day, regardless of whether the pharmacy is open. Customers enter their birthdays and a PIN on touch screen, and indicate whether they would like to ask questions of a pharmacist. A local pharmacist is on call 24 hours a day to answer questions. Then the machine dispenses their medications, which are filled manually inside the store before being placed into the machine. The APM cost about $150,000 and has been operating for about two weeks.