Upstate University Hospital opens new outpatient pharmacy, offering “meds to beds” service

The pharmacy also has a “meds to beds” program that offers the delivery of prescription medications to patients at bedside before they’re discharged, a program that the hospital calls a “key highlight” of the pharmacy’s services.

“This is an exciting opportunity that enables Upstate to provide an added layer of care to our patients,” Luke Probst, Upstate’s executive director of pharmacy, said in the news release.

About “meds to beds”

Patients will have the opportunity to enroll in the “meds to beds” program upon admission to the hospital.

In addition to providing medication to patients before discharge, the “meds to beds” program enables patients to receive medication counseling by a pharmacist who is familiar with their hospital stay. The pharmacy employees will also work with physicians and other staff on pre-authorizations for medications, “if necessary,” the hospital said.

It also contends a benefit of the “meds to beds” program is that it “eliminates the need” to stop at a pharmacy on the way home from the hospital to pick up medications.

“Ensuring that patients have their prescription medicines before they are discharged helps improve medication adherence and can reduce hospital readmissions,” said Probst.

The “meds to beds” program works with Upstate’s electronic medical record. The pharmacy receives the prescription order as soon as it is entered into the electronic medical record by the physician or nurse practitioner. If there are drug interactions, they are “immediately flagged” by the pharmacy, “adding an extra layer of patient safety.”

Another benefit to patients is the Upstate pharmacy’s ability to offer financial support to meet co-pays or other financial “barriers” patients may face in paying for their prescriptions, the hospital contends. The pharmacy has an advocacy foundation and other programs to assist patients with financial “challenges.”

In addition, the pharmacy has a special drug disposal box located right outside the pharmacy entrance. People can drop off unwanted or expired prescriptions, “even medications prescribed for animals,” the hospital said.

The pharmacy is located just inside the main hospital entrance. It is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com