A medication dispensing system is described. In some embodiments, the systemincludes a medication station anda controller responsive to patient admittance status information. Themedication station includes at least one securable compartmentconfigured to hold medication. The controller is configured to assign apatient to the at least one securable compartment such thatmedications for the patient are able to be placed into the at least onesecurable compartment. The controller is also configured toselectively permit access to the medications for the patient in the at leastone securable compartment when the patient admittancestatus information indicates the patient is currently admitted, and restrictaccess to retrieval of the medications for the patient in theat least one securable compartment when the patient admittance statusinformation indicates the patient is not currently admitted.
