Save Time and Get the Most out of Your Next Pharmacy Visit

A trip to the pharmacy may seem routine by now, but could you be doing something more to make your pharmacy visit more effective. Below are a list of tips on how to save you time and get the most out of your next visit.

1. Before leaving the doctor’s office make sure that the prescription contains the name, dose, quantity (including number of refills), and directions for use of the drug. It also is a good idea to know why the drug was prescribed. In addition, the doctor or the doctor’s representative must sign the prescription. Also find out from the prescriber whether the drug is covered by your insurance plan. If it is not covered and you do not want to pay cash or spend a long time at the pharmacy while the pharmacist calls your doctor, ask your doctor to prescribe a similar drug that is covered by your insurance plan. Most doctors keep a list of which drugs your insurance company covers.
2. Before you arrive at the pharmacy, make sure that your insurance information is accurate and up to date. Providing a date of birth or social security number that is different from the insurance company’s records could lead to denial of coverage and unnecessary delay in obtaining your medication.
3. Ask the prescriber to fax or call in your prescription with instructions on when you will be picking up the medication. It is also a good idea to call ahead to check whether the prescription is ready. This will save a lot of time for you waiting while the prescription is filled.
4. Avoid peak hours at the pharmacy. The peak hours vary for each pharmacy, but for most, lunchtime and the end of the business day are usually the busiest.
5. Tell the pharmacist about all prescribed and over-the-counter medications or supplements that you are taking. Plan to spend a few minutes with the pharmacist discussing your medications. This is one of the most valuable services that pharmacists provide, but few individuals take advantage of this free service.
6. If possible, fill your prescriptions at the same pharmacy so that they have your complete medication profile and will be able to detect drug interactions and duplicate therapy.
7. If you are refilling your medication, make sure you have refills left. Your medication label usually states how many refills are authorized. If there are no refills left contact your doctor’s office for refill authorization prior to arriving at the pharmacy. Call in your refill request several hours prior to arriving at the pharmacy so that your medication is ready by the time you arrive.
8. For medications that you take continuously, consider using mail order or automatic refill services offered by most pharmacies. Automatic refill services even request refill authorizations from your doctor after your refills expire. If available, request a 90 day supply instead of 30 days.
9. Develop a relationship with your pharmacist.
10. If you have to wait for your medications, spend the time reading about preventive therapies and your medications. Check your blood pressure, weight, glucose, and cholesterol or obtain other information that may improve the management of your condition.

With careful planning, a visit to the pharmacy can be painless and, in fact, rewarding. However, if for some unforeseen reason there is a delay in obtaining your prescription, take it in stride and keep it in perspective. After all, there are other services that we gladly wait for that are not as important as our health. Pharmacies should not be viewed as fast food restaurants. They are a very important part of the healthcare system. Sometimes, the delivery of good healthcare takes time.