For reasons that stretch from not being able to swallow pills, to concerns over the cost, necessary medications are sometimes out of reach for patients. Every step in the process, from the doctor’s visit to filling a prescription, can include barriers to a successful treatment program.
For compounding pharmacies, the primary goal is to make a healthy life more accessible. Each and every aspect of the compounding pharmacy is planned and operated to achieve that goal. Here are the top five reasons a compounding pharmacist makes medications more accessible. what is a compounding pharmacy
1. Effective combinations
2. More tolerable forms
Patients with allergies to non-essential ingredients found in commercial drug formulations can be locked out of important treatments. Patients who have trouble taking pills, or fear injections may also have treatment adherence issues. A compounding pharmacist, working with the doctor, can create customized medications that are in forms not available from a retail pharmacy, whether it is a flavored suspension, cream, or even lollipops.
3. Specialized dosages
Because they are working with production on a massive scale, pharmaceutical companies may only provide medications in certain dosage levels. That dosage can be too much, or too little for a patient’s specific needs. Compounding pharmacies have the ability to tailor the dosage of medications to the physician’s desired treatment plan rather than to the available drug dosage.
4. Cost-effective
Because compounded medicines often transcend common insurance coverage, compounding pharmacies work to assist patients with insurance questions regarding prescribed medications. This includes working directly with doctors, insurance companies, and pharmacy benefit managers to ensure that applicable insurance coverage is applied whenever possible.
Even when insurance is not a complete financial answer, through targeted dosage and compounded medicines that can reduce overall medication costs, a compounding pharmacist makes a medical treatment plan more cost-effective. Even with the use of high-quality ingredients, a compounding medication can be at or below the same retail cost or similar insurance co-pay that patients experience from a commercial pharmacy.
5. Patient aftercare and follow-through
Patient non-adherence is a primary cause of a lack of success in a treatment plan. Often, primary care physicians or their offices cannot provide significant aftercare in regard to medication adherence, whether it is the first prescription or subsequent refills. Compounding pharmacies work with doctors and patients to make sure they have the information, education, and support required to improve their chances of success.
A compounding pharmacist can bring medications together in forms not available from a retail pharmacy. Access to customized treatment programs can provide a better chance of a positive treatment outcome.
Patients who have improved access to a support system are more likely to continue medication through an entire treatment program. Compounding pharmacies work to maintain an open line of communication with patients during and after each prescription fill.
Health Dimensions Clinical Pharmacy has been providing pharmaceutical solutions to dentists and their patients since 1996. Health Dimensions is located in Michigan and serves states in the Great Lakes region. Health Dimensions Clinical Pharmacy was among the nation’s first compounding pharmacies to earn accreditation by the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board (PCAB) of the Accreditation for Healthcare Commission (2006). Our mission is to partner with healthcare providers to provide service excellence, accuracy, and rapid response for improved patient outcomes. To learn more about building a partnership, call Health Dimensions Clinical Pharmacy at (800) 836-2303.
