Asteres

Founded in 2003 by Linda Pinney, Asteres, Inc. operates as a pharmacy automation technology company, providing secure self-service kiosks for delivering prescriptions and healthcare products. Pinney's background includes extensive experience in healthcare automation, notably as the 13th employee at Pyxis Corporation, where she served as Vice President of Business Development for a decade. At Pyxis, she was instrumental in developing and patenting new product offerings and led a division to $20 million in revenue in two years, experiences that directly informed the creation of Asteres. The San Diego-based company was among the first to commercialize a system for storing and delivering finished prescriptions directly to consumers in a retail setting.

The company's core business revolves around its premier product, ScriptCenter, a line of automated kiosks and locker systems. These systems function similarly to an ATM, allowing patients to pick up and pay for pre-filled prescriptions 24/7, even outside of normal pharmacy hours. This service model targets a diverse client base, including retail pharmacies, healthcare systems, corporate worksites, and government entities like the Department of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA). For its clients, ScriptCenter aims to reduce pharmacy congestion, extend service hours without additional staff, and capture new business. Revenue is generated through the sale and implementation of these kiosk and locker systems.

ScriptCenter is designed to handle the secure storage, tracking, payment, and pickup of prescriptions, while pharmacists retain control over the critical functions of filling and verification. The system uses sophisticated barcode scanning to ensure accuracy, and prescriptions are loaded into secure containers by pharmacy staff. Key features include fingerprint scanning, signature capture, patient notifications via text or email, and the ability for one person to pick up prescriptions for their entire family in a single transaction. The kiosks can handle items of various sizes, including refrigerated medications with auxiliary units, and integrate with major pharmacy management and payment systems. This allows for multiple payment options such as credit/debit cards, FSA, and payroll deductions. The technology serves as a contactless method for pickup, a benefit highlighted by its use in military hospitals and clinics to reduce wait times and lobby congestion.

Keywords: pharmacy automation, prescription pickup, self-service kiosks, healthcare technology, ScriptCenter, medical lockers, prescription delivery, automated pharmacy, pharmacy logistics, patient services, medication dispensing, healthcare kiosks, retail pharmacy solutions, hospital pharmacy automation, military pharmacy, contact-free pickup, medication adherence, pharmacy workflow, healthcare administration, secure dispensing