Philadelphia, Pa. — (April 18, 2023) — Nazareth Hospital is pleased to announce the opening of a new 1,500 square-foot outpatient pharmacy. Located inside the hospital with a direct entrance and dedicated parking spaces, the pharmacy is open to patients, community members and employees from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
In addition to filling medication prescriptions, the Nazareth Outpatient Pharmacy offers a wide variety of over-the-counter medicines and health care products, such as vitamins, dietary supplements, smoking cessation aids, wound care treatments, diabetic supplies, and caregiver essentials. Pharmacy staff members are also able to special order prescriptions, over-the-counter products, medical devices, and other health-care aids that are not routinely stocked.
“We are thrilled to offer our patients, community members and colleagues a convenient new location for all their pharmacy needs,” said Henry Trumbo, PharmD, director of Ambulatory Pharmacy at Nazareth Hospital.
The Nazareth Outpatient Pharmacy accepts phone, paper and electronic prescriptions from physicians’ offices, hospitalists, and urgent care providers. Patients can request prescription renewals and refills via a 24-hour interactive phone system or through the MyChart mobile application. Notifications on a prescription’s status can be provided via phone or the mobile app.
“Nazareth Hospital’s very first outpatient pharmacy will also be a key component of our new ‘Meds to Beds’ program, which allows our inpatients to fill prescriptions at discharge,” said Vanessa Garia, pharmacist in charge at the Nazareth Outpatient Pharmacy. “The ‘Meds to Beds’ program ensures that our patients have the necessary medication, as well as the relevant education about their medication, before heading home to continue their post-discharge care.”
Socioeconomic instability can have a significant impact on the ability or willingness of a patient to take their prescribed medication following discharge from the hospital, creating additional barriers to managing chronic disease states. The Nazareth Outpatient Pharmacy plays a vital role in this process by confirming the affordability of medications prior to discharge. The pharmacy works collaboratively with other members of the hospital team to help reduce the cost of care and identify patients who could potentially benefit from programs that reduce drug pricing. Additionally, the Nazareth Outpatient Pharmacy is accessible to the public and offers personalized medication counseling to help improve health literacy.
“The opening of the Nazareth Outpatient Pharmacy is one of the many ways we are breaking down barriers to equitable access to care in a medically disadvantaged population,” added Garia.
For more information about the Nazareth Outpatient Pharmacy, visit trinityhealthma.org/nazareth-pharmacy.