Every year in the U.S., more than four billion prescriptions are dispensed from large retail and community pharmacies. Surveys show that the average older adult takes four or more medications per day and patients receiving skilled levels of care are taking upwards of seven medications per day. With the rise of prescriptions in the average patient’s care plan, it is no surprise that a lot of patients and caregivers opt to use more than one pharmacy to meet their needs.
Being a caregiver often means that you are tasked with finding ways to provide thoughtful, quality care to your loved one while making sure that your overall routine is sustainable. Using multiple pharmacies can sometimes be a helpful way to meet those needs but can also pose some challenges. Knowing what those challenges are can make it much easier to navigate through this time-consuming — yet essential — part of caregiving.
What are the pros to using more than one pharmacy?
The pharmacy location is convenient.
One of the most common reasons for using multiple pharmacies is ease of access to the pharmacy’s location. Caregivers are not stationary and often need options when it comes to prescription pick-up. Having locations near the caregiver’s home and work, on the way back from a frequent appointment, or even near other errands like grocery shopping can make prescription pick-up feel a lot easier and less tedious. A few popular retail outlets and grocery stores have pharmacies inside of them, making them even more accessible. Additional locations near an alternate caregiver might also factor in when receiving help and support from friends and family with the caregiving routine.
Different locations offer extended pharmacy hours.
Stores have continued to expand their hours to meet customers’ needs, and pharmacies are no different. Larger chains typically open early and stay open late. Big box stores that have pharmacies attached are sometimes even open 24 hours a day. This is not typically the case when it comes to smaller, independent pharmacies that are only open during regular business hours and are closed on Sunday. Extended hours that allow for a prescription to be picked up before or after work, or even on the weekends, can mean more flexibility for the caregiver during their day. Depending on the caregiver’s schedule, it might not always be possible for them to support their local drug store.
There are cost savings and perks to be had.
Over the years, businesses have implemented a lot of ways to earn and save. Some larger retailers offer perks for a shopper’s loyalty to bring business through their door. Big box stores and grocery store chains often have low-cost lists of $4 and $10 generics — at one time even offering a formulary of free medications. Loyalty cards can often let the dollars spent at the pharmacy count toward fuel discounts at the gas station. Some stores offer free delivery with a certain amount of business. Larger online retailers have recently introduced mail-order medications that are drastically reduced in price for the under- and uninsured. Free downloadable apps compare drug prices to find the lowest cost pharmacy and provides relevant coupons. The list of ways to maximize your spending goes on and on and, with prescription prices differing up to $100 between pharmacies, these can all be important ways to manage your loved one’s overall care budget.
What are the cons of using more than one pharmacy?
Refill coordination can be more difficult.
Spreading out prescriptions across multiple pharmacies can become a logistical headache. What was once a convenient stop for the first pick-up of a new prescription can quickly turn into a web of stops across town when medications become due for a refill at different times of the month. The more stops required to have all medications on hand, the more likely it is that one is delayed or forgotten altogether. It is also good to keep in mind that the same person might not be able to pick up the prescription each time, making the location of the original pharmacy further than expected or out of the way completely.
It's harder to develop a relationship with a dedicated pharmacist.
“As a caregiver, it’s important to recognize that you can lean on your loved one’s pharmacist as a trusted resource,” say Aetna's Christopher Ciano and Prem Shah. “Studies show that people interact with their pharmacist up to 10 times more often than their primary care physician.”
Creating a relationship with a pharmacist is an essential part of a successful medication management strategy as a caregiver. Accessible resources are resources that get used, and that is exactly what your pharmacist wants to do for you. Using multiple pharmacies can be a barrier to forming those relationships and result in a less familiar interaction at the counter. While every pharmacist does their best to evaluate each individual prescription that leaves the door, having a reliable connection with a single pharmacist is critical to better health outcomes overall.
There's a higher chance of a medication interactions and clinical missteps.
Arguably the most compelling reason to use one dedicated pharmacy is lowering the risk of a medication safety event for your loved one. According to the CDC, adverse drug events cause approximately 1.3 million emergency department visits each and every year. Older adults are nearly seven times more likely to be hospitalized after an emergency visit.
Pharmacists play a critical role in screening for allergies, checking for drug-to-drug interactions, and providing counseling on proper use. They will also educate you about symptoms to monitor during a course of treatment. A comprehensive patient profile that includes all current medications, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, dietary supplements, and a list of allergies are all vital elements to performing a quality screening when dispensing medication. Using more than one pharmacy significantly increases the chance that your pharmacist doesn’t have all the information they need to provide the best clinical care — putting your loved one at risk.
Can you use multiple pharmacies? How to create a plan that works for you.
Caregiving routines come in many shapes and sizes — and there is no right answer! The best routine is one that is sustainable for everyone involved. Choosing a relationship with one or more pharmacy should ultimately meet your needs and set you up for success.
Consider these tips as you decide whether or not using multiple pharmacies is right for you.
- Define what success looks like to you and your loved one. We have gone over many different goals that might be found at the top of your list of priorities. What is most important to you? Is it proximity to the location, the hours the pharmacy is open, a relationship with the pharmacist, or cost? Figuring out your largest areas of concern will make your choices much easier.
- Retail chains have multiple convenient locations. Need to pick up prescriptions near your home, work, and doctor’s office? An easy way to combat the clinical pitfalls of using more than one pharmacy is to select a pharmacy that is part of a larger network. Being part of a larger branded store means that the pharmacist in each individual location has access to all the same patient profile information through their system’s records. This brand loyalty can also aid in accumulating those useful points and perks.
- Pharmacists want to connect with you, too. Smaller independent stores typically end up being the places to look for a relationship with a pharmacist. This is because they usually aren’t as busy, and a lighter workload means more time for patient and caregiver interaction. Still prefer a larger pharmacy with a lot more traffic through it? A lot of people do. Larger stores not only offer more inventory but offer extended hours. Still want a relationship with your provider? Ask the pharmacist that is helping you when they typically work. They will be happy to see you again!
- Logistics means more than just the location. Pharmacies can offer a lot of ways to make medication management easier for you as a caregiver. Medications can be synced up, so they are all due for a refill at the same time — eliminating the need for multiple trips per month. A lot of pharmacies will deliver directly to your home for little to no cost — eliminating the need for a trip at all. Some retail pharmacies have even followed suit behind mail order pharmacies and will now dispense a 90-day supply instead of just a month at a time.
- Set everyone up for clinical wins. If using multiple pharmacies is still right for you, that’s okay! The best way to set your pharmacist up for success is to always ensure they have the most current records on-hand. Make sure to include all prescription medications, any OTCs, and dietary supplements that your loved one is taking. Allergy information is also a key component for safety. Keep a copy of this list on you, and make sure to share it each time you visit one of your locations to pick-up new prescriptions and refills.
- Pharmacies will do the heavy lifting. Your time is extremely valuable, and consolidating down to one place can take a bit of work during the transition. Let the pharmacy of your choice know that you would like to use them as your primary provider. Once you give them the desired information, they will get to work on consolidating all your prescriptions into their system. A good pharmacy will happily call around to alternate locations and to your physicians to gather all the information they need to dispense your medications in the future.