Use One Pharmacy
The pharmacist is a major player on the health-care team. By using one pharmacy, you maintain the integrity of the continuity of care. The pharmacy has complete records of all of the prescription medications being taken and a list of all allergies. The pharmacist is expected to review these records each time a new medication is prescribed or one is refilled.
In the event that you must use a different pharmacy, it would be helpful to provide it with a list of allergies and other medications your parent or in-law is taking. The pharmacist is expected to provide counsel when a new medication is dispensed. This would be a good time to hand him the list of other medications to ensure there aren't contraindications.
The pharmacist reviews the prescription for accuracy and compares this prescription to the other medications in the patient's profile. Although you may see the technician check to see that a medication is in stock when you submit a new prescription, a lot more is involved than just typing and slapping on the label. By utilizing one pharmacy, you increase the probability that duplications and contraindications are caught and questioned before a medication is dispensed.
Mail-order pharmacies can provide cost savings, and many of the new Medicare Part D plans encourage or require the use of mail-order pharmacies and ninety-day supplies of medications. These pharmacies have the same responsibilities to oversee your medication profile. When using a mail-order pharmacy, it is a good idea to use a partner retail pharmacy whenever possible for any new prescriptions that can't wait for mail-order delivery.
Mail-order prescriptions can be managed by phone or over the Internet, and many accounts can be set up to provide e-mail refill reminders. With mail-order prescriptions, refills need to be ordered in advance to allow for postal delivery. Remember to consider postal holidays, weekends, and peak mailing periods, such as during the month of December, that can cause delays.
Many of these pharmacies can arrange to provide emergency supplies of medications from a local retail pharmacy in the event a package is lost or the medication gets damaged, or even for times when you need a supply earlier because of travel plans. Don't hesitate to call the mail-order pharmacy should any of these situations arise. Again, managing mail-order prescriptions could be a task that is delegated to another family member.
The pharmacist can also be a good resource if you have questions about medications and their actions or reactions. If you need assistance with an over-the-counter medication, the pharmacist should be able to assist you as well. If he has a list of all of the medications your parent or in-law takes, he can provide a more informed suggestion or answer.
If your elders are having difficulty swallowing a medication, the pharmacist can offer alternatives. Sometimes a medication can be crushed and given in a small spoonful of applesauce, peanut butter, or Jell-O; other times, a medication should not be crushed or broken. Ask the pharmacist before you do this. Sometimes there is a liquid alternative, or a compounding pharmacy may be able to formulate a suppository form. Liquid medications can be flavored to make them less offensive. Make your pharmacist your new best friend if your parents or in-laws have medication issues.
