US 11,948,218 B2
System and method for securely dispensing medication
Stephen L Hodge, Aubrey, TX (US)
Assigned to Global Tel*Link Corporation, Reston, VA (US)
Filed by Global Tel*Link Corporation, Reston, VA (US)
Filed on Apr. 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/228,195.
Application 17/228,195 is a continuation of application No. 15/139,015, filed on Apr. 26, 2016, granted, now 10,977,753.
Prior Publication US 2021/0304340 A1, Sep. 30, 2021
Int. Cl. G06Q 50/26 (2012.01); G16H 20/13 (2018.01); G16H 40/67 (2018.01)
CPC G06Q 50/26 (2013.01) [G16H 20/13 (2018.01); G16H 40/67 (2018.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A telemedicine system for a correctional facility, comprising:
a telemedicine center comprising a plurality of databases storing identity data and medical data;
a telemedicine server, connected to the telemedicine center and a medication dispensing station via a network, wherein the telemedicine server is configured to:
receive, from a physician center located remote to the correctional facility, a medication order for an inmate at the correctional facility;
verify the medication order by comparing data associated with the medication order with the identity data stored in plurality of databases, wherein the verifying includes comparing a model number of a transmitting device at the physician center with identity data of physicians at the physician center, the identity data of the physicians including a model number of physician devices associated with the physicians;
in response to the verifying, transmit a first dispensing request from a local medical assistant station at the correctional facility to the telemedicine center, wherein the first dispensing request comprises medication data, inmate identity data, and data from a medical assistant verification device;
validate an identity of a local medical assistant using the first dispensing request;
in response to validation of the identity of the local medical assistant, transmit a second dispensing request from the telemedicine center to the physician center, wherein the second dispensing request comprises inmate data and data regarding the medication to be dispensed;
transmit a reply from the physician center to the telemedicine center;
determine a validity of the reply by comparing a signature of an authorizing physician, contact information, and data related to the device that transmitted the reply against identity data stored in an identity server;
in response to successfully validating the reply, transmit instructions from the telemedicine center to the medication dispensing station to dispense the medication; and
receive, from the medication dispensing station, a completion message indicating that one or more medications in the medication order have been prepared and shipped to the correctional facility; and
the medication dispensing station configured to:
scan, using a medication scanner, at least one medication label of the one or more medications received at the correctional facility;
generate a distribution schedule for the one or more medications based on at least one of the identity data and medical data obtained by scanning the at least one medication label;
generate instructions for a medical assistant associated with the medication dispensing station to load the medication in a medication dispensing device according to the distribution schedule;
verify an identity of the inmate using at least one of voice recognition, retinal recognition, facial recognition, and 3D facial architectural recognition; and
dispense the medication to the inmate based on the distribution schedule in response to successfully verifying the identity of the inmate.