After years of complaining about people
using multiple pharmacies to prevent tracking of duplicate
prescriptions and preventing one pharmacy from having all the
information on a patient or family, I come across an article
recommending two pharmacies. I admit I have some learning to do.
Most of the time people using many pharmacies think they are hiding
their narcotic or opiate usage.
Apparently, with the prevalence of
mail-order pharmacies and Medicare pushing them and many insurance
companies forcing patients to them, there is concern for emergencies.
The author of the Diabetes-in-Control
article (article no longer available) does cover an interesting point. He has always recommended
that his patients use their local pharmacy for at least one
prescription. This is in case an emergency arises and they need a
medication or supplies right away, they can get great service locally
because they have established a relationship.
This makes good sense as mail order
pharmacies are not the most prompt in sending supplies or medications
and a four to 10 day wait may not be practical or the most healthy.
“Lessons Learned:
- Recommend that your patients have at least one local pharmacy. If one is a small pharmacy, that’s fine, but also establish a relationship with a national chain. The national chain can be very helpful when traveling.
- Always discuss the importance of having long- and short-acting insulin available for patients who are on pumps.”
The lessons learned can be important
when traveling and an emergency arises. Since I am a person with
type 2 diabetes on insulin, I always travel with a sufficient
quantity of insulin and use a cooler if necessary to keep extra vials
cool enough. Normally for other prescriptions, I can get extra to
cover me while traveling and if needed a partial prescription and
have the rest filled when I return home.
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