We all know how poor adherence to patient prescription medication can get in certain circumstances. One of the primary causes of non-adherence is that the pharmacy, usually separate from the place of treatment, initiates or fills prescriptions. This is especially crucial in Urgent Care Centers, where patients need certain prescription drugs quickly. An inhouse pharmacy is an excellent solution for both patients and providers to provide faster and more reliable medications to patients.
Table of Contents
Urgent Care Facilities: What Are They For?
I am sure you have seen multiple urgent care medical facilities if you live in a populated area. You can find them in shopping plazas and other convenient locations. Many people don’t know the purpose of these facilities. Most assume they are similar to a hospital and a clinic. Understanding the circumstances that warrant going to the Emergency room over urgent care can save your life.
Urgent care facilities serve as fair in-between clinics and emergency rooms. If you feel that you can’t wait to get an appointment at a clinic, urgent care facilities should be your choice. Some medical conditions that doctors can treat at an urgent care center include:
- Fever
- Flu
- Tendon/ligament tears
- Muscular sprains
- Unidentified skin rashes
- Potential infections
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Accidents
- Cuts
- Other non-life-threatening conditions
All these conditions require medicinal intervention: pain relievers, antibiotics, and other standard prescriptions. When you aren’t feeling well, driving yourself to a pharmacy after visiting an urgent care center is miserable. It is not only miserable but also results in a delay in the administration of medications. It calls for an inhouse pharmacy at an urgent care center.
Who Benefits From an Inhouse Pharmacy?
We all are familiar with the administrative bloat in the healthcare industry. Inhouse pharmacy at an urgent care center helps patients, physicians, and administrative workers.
Similarly, going back and forth on behalf of patients can be pretty time-consuming. Onsite dispensing solutions can cut out the middleman and allow physicians to administer medications without a pause which is a win-win situation for everyone. It will improve patient outcomes and serve as an additional revenue source for urgent care facilities.
The key is to offer convenience and access, which is only possible with an onsite pharmacy at urgent care centers.
Benefits of an Inhouse Pharmacy
Benefits of an inhouse pharmacy include but aren’t limited to the following:
Faster Access to Medication
The consumer’s expectations are the driving force behind any quick access services, regardless of the industry. It isn’t any different in the case of healthcare. Patients these days want to access medications as soon as it is prescribed to them without having to go through any hassle. That is why an inhouse pharmacy is almost a necessity today.
First Impressions Matter
When pharmacies have their inhouse pharmacy, it is more likely that patients will have a relatively positive and hassle-free experience. What does this mean? Well, it increases the chance of repeat experiences and medication refills.
Additional Income
By integrating an inhouse pharmacy, urgent care centers can have an additional stream of income that doesn’t require extensive upkeep. This is an added plus.
Improved Patient Adherence
After patients collect their prescriptions, there is no guarantee that they will follow up on the exact dosage guidelines. The point-of-care pharmacy at urgent care centers results in improved patient adherence. Studies suggest that patients who have access to an online patient portal have better medication adherence as the information is easily accessible via an online portal.
Improved Doctor-Patient Relationships
Inhouse pharmacies at urgent care centers take a more patient-centered approach. Doctor-patient relationships matter because when a physician has an improved understanding of the patient’s experience, they can make better and more informed decisions. This leads to accurate prescriptions, which they can get at the same spot, significantly improving patient outcomes and satisfaction.
Time Effective Solutions
Patients complain about long waiting times at pharmacies. The integrated inhouse pharmacies at urgent care centers solve this problem immediately. We all could do way more with our life if we had extra time on our hands.
Safety
Drug safety is crucial because not all drugs go together well. Sometimes, one drug can make the other one less effective. The wrong combo of medications can lead to severe complications. You can avoid this when your doctor is on the same page and space. You can be assured that files and medications are shared and coordinated, eliminating the risk of harmful reactions. You don’t need to rely on your memory and get the right help from the experts as everything is recorded.
Final Takeaway
A pharmacy at an urgent care center is a win-win situation for patients, the staff, and urgent care centers. It gives patients convenience, serves as an extra source of income for the urgent care center, and takes the administrative load off everyone. Moreover, it is safer for the patients and eliminates the risk of any confusion and harmful reactions. Sometimes, patients can save on the cost of medication as pharmacies at urgent care centers offer comparatively lesser rates.
And if you’re visiting surrounding areas such as Anna Maria Island, Pinnacle, Blake, Holmes Beach, or Cortez, we’re here for your urgent care needs.
We hope you found this post informative. If you have any questions regarding the subject, feel free to write them in the comments below.
Your Health Matters.
There's nothing more important.