The present invention relates to an automated
packaging machine for pharmaceuticals and a method of operating the same. The method comprises: receiving, at an electronic processor of a
pharmacy management system, a prescription to be filled by the
pharmacy management system; placing one or more
pill cartridges comprising medications listed on the prescription at the automated
packaging machine; using the automated
packaging machine to separate the medications in the one or more
pill cartridges for individually dispensing the medications; verifying each medication using the automated packaging
machine as the medications are in the one or more
pill cartridges or as the medications are dispensed from the one or more pill cartridges; capturing an image of each medication as the medications are dispensed from the one or more pill cartridges; packaging the medications dispensed from the one or more pill cartridges into a
package using a packaging unit of the automated packaging
machine; and verifying that the medications are correctly packaged using the automated packaging
machine.