Durham, N.C.-based Parata Systems will be acquiring the Automated Product Machine (APM) from Amistar Corporation and Distributed Delivery Networks Corporation. The APM allows prescription pickup through a self-service kiosk.

To pick up prescriptions at the kiosk, customers are prompted to enter identifying information. They then select the method of payment, payment is authorized, the prescription is released, and a receipt is printed. They may opt to speak with an on-call pharmacist, available 24 hours via a phone at the kiosk. Pharmacists can also retrieve prescriptions from the back of the kiosk, thus providing a high-capacity, automated, and clutter-free will-call alternative.

This acquisition comes less than a year after Parata’s acquisition of the Automated Prescription Systems business unit from McKesson. Parata’s focus to date has been behind the counter, offering automating dispensing solutions. But with this recent acquisition, Jess Eberdt says, “We literally move out in front with consumers to improve the convenience of their pharmacy experience, an important driver to loyalty.”