5 months ago
Bradenton, Florida - A Manatee County medical group has become the first in the state to install fully automated prescription drug dispensing machines. The ATM-style machines called InstyMeds were installed 2 weeks ago at the Pinnacle Medical Group's Urgent Care Centers in Bradenton.
"We thought it was just going to be a few people using it but then it turns out about 80% of the people are using it, which was surprising" said Dr. Joseph Soler.
The machines take cash or credit and are only accessible during regular Urgent Care Center hours.
Shelley Anglin, the Urgent Care Clinical Coordinator says the machines do carry a $1 surcharge for each prescription filled, but she notes the machines are easy to use. Convenience is also what sold the medical group on giving InstyMeds a try according to Soler.
"For example, if you have a mother with a kid with a fever and 2 other kids in tow... it comes in very, very handy" he said.
In order to use the machines, patients must be given a voucher with a private code from the doctor first. If patients have a question, there is also a phone that connects them to a pharmacist 24-hours a day, 7-days a week.
Soler says they have filled their InstyMed machines with about 45 different prescription drugs.
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