Simplifying the prescription process
At Shepherd Center
Your Shepherd Center physician and healthcare team will collect the names of the medications you take at home and may have taken during previous hospitalizations. They’ll monitor your response to medicines while you’re with us, then evaluate what prescriptions to give you when you’re discharged to go home.
At the pharmacy
The pharmacist will check your insurance plan and advise you about the cost of each prescription. You may have a copayment or need to get preauthorization. Generic versions of brand-name medicines, when available, can save you money. You can also ask your doctor about a similar, less expensive alternative, known as a therapeutic substitution.
Help with paying for medicines
Some of the sources for help with paying for medicines include assistance programs run by pharmaceutical manufacturers, federal and state governments, and associations.
On the medicine labels
Medicine labels have a lot of details to try to understand. It’s important to take the time to read through these details to make sure you’re taking the medicine correctly. Here are the main categories of fine print you’ll typically encounter:
- Patient name
- Drug name, strength, quantity, and expiration date
- Instructions about how to take the drug
- Advisory labels with important related information, such as potential side effects and methods of taking the drug
- Prescription number
- Date prescription filled
- Number of refills
- Doctor’s name
- Pharmacy’s name, address, and phone number
- Pharmacist’s initials
Streamlining renewals
Explore options to reduce the number of prescription renewals you need to manage. Find out if your medical insurance company allows you to use mail-order services and whether you have the option to order a 90-day supply of approved medications. These services can help you track and refill your medications from the comfort of your home.