Quick Access to UHS MyChart

Free and secure access to your UHS healthcare team and services.

Tailoring 24/7 pharmacy services to patients’ needs

October 28, 2024
Health & Wellness
Community

October is American Pharmacists Month and UHS is celebrating the amazing work our pharmacists and their teams do every day. This year’s theme, Caring for Our Communities, really hits home. While some pharmacies nationwide have cut hours, UHS expanded business hours and convenient locations to accommodate patients’ needs, whenever and wherever they may arise. Southern Tier residents can get their prescriptions filled at a UHS pharmacy that’s quick, convenient and open 24 hours a day.

UHS Pharmacy Johnson City, which opened earlier this year at 345 Main Street in Johnson City, offers retail pharmacy services to the public around-the-clock. The location is Greater Binghamton’s only 24-hour pharmacy. It is relatively close to all local hospitals, making it convenient for patients who are leaving one of the emergency rooms or being discharged after hours and in need of a prescription.

One of the key features of this location is the drive-up window for prescriptions, allowing patients to get their prescriptions any hour of the day or night without getting out of their vehicle.

“When you see the strong presence we have in the area, you see UHS’ dedication and commitment to services needed by the people of our community,” said William Waldron, RPH, MHA, Director of Pharmacy Community Practice at UHS.  “Our newest location in Johnson City offers patients exceptional access and convenient parking, in close proximity to the UHS Wilson Medical Center campus, offering friendly retail pharmacy services 24/7.”

This is just one example of how UHS offers pharmacy services to meet the specific needs of healthcare patients across the Southern Tier. 

Through the UHS Specialty Pharmacy, for instance, patients with unique, complicated medical conditions have a resource for getting the specialized medications they need. The specialty service focuses on medications for such serious and chronic diseases as cancer, asthma, hepatitis and others, which often require long-term, costly treatment and are not available in traditional retail settings. Help with payment and arranging for financial assistance is also available to qualifying patients. This pharmacy is located in a separate area on the west side of the UHS Pharmacy Johnson City, with its own entrance.

UHS currently operates four other retail pharmacies across the Southern Tier open to the public. These locations also offer a wide range of prescription medications, along with convenience and friendly, knowledgeable service:

Most importantly, you don’t have to be a UHS patient to take advantage of our full-service retail pharmacies. All UHS Pharmacies are open to the public.  Prescriptions are accepted from any provider, and the locations stock the most popular over-the-counter items, so patrons can pick up cough drops, aspirin or similar products when stopping in for their prescription medications. Next day orders on special items are also available.

UHS Pharmacy service is second to none. Our team of pharmacy professionals aim to turn around a prescription in 30 minutes or less for patients leaving a physician appointment, those discharged after a hospital stay or those with other acute needs.

Patients can be alerted about their prescriptions being ready by opting in to automated phone calls, text messages or, if enrolled, via notification from UHS’ MyChart. Medications can be delivered to the bedside of a hospitalized patient before they are discharged through a Meds to Beds program offered only at UHS.

Patient education is an important part of the UHS Pharmacy Department’s mission, and it is conducted confidentially by highly knowledgeable pharmacy professionals. One of our goals is to keep patients out of the emergency room. A top reason for readmissions to the hospital is a lack of knowledge about medications. Pharmacist-supervised drug reconciliation and patient education play a huge role in medication compliance and successful patient outcomes.

There is no better time to recognize and appreciate the invaluable contributions pharmacists and technicians make to patient care than during American Pharmacists Month in October, as well as National Pharmacy Week, which runs from October 20-26. We celebrate our pharmacists and give thanks and appreciation for the role they play every day in our health, our communities and our lives. Please be sure to thank your pharmacist on your next visit for their ongoing commitment to helping patients live healthier lives.