Pharmacy provides quick, accurate service

  • Published
  • By Tech Sgt. Brian Jones
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Access to prescription medications is critical to the well being of all Team Incirlik members. The technicians at the 39th Medical Group Pharmacy ensure that prescriptions are filled quickly, and above all, accurately.

Incirlik's pharmacy technicians use a fully automated system for dispensing prescription medications. Each prescription is verified through four checkpoints before being given to a customer. The average wait time for prescriptions is seven minutes.

"It has improved our process and allowed us to fill prescriptions quicker, however our goal is not speed, it is patient safety," said Capt. Sean McNamara, 39th MDG Diagnostics and Therapeutics Branch chief. "Our error rate compared to the civilian sector is astronomically lower. In the civilian sector the error rate is reported between two and four percent. Ours is .007 percent."

While the automated system certainly helps keep the error rate practically zero, Captain McNamara credits the pharmacy technicians for much of the success.

"They work very closely with our providers verifying prescriptions to ensure patients are getting the right med at the right dose," he said.

Incirlik pharmacy customers can save additional time by using an automated phone line, 676-1242, or clicking on the "prescriptions" button on the Source to refill prescriptions.

"Customers can use these automated systems only if their doctor has authorized a refill of their prescription," said Captain McNamara.

An authorized refill will be annotated on the prescription label. Refills ordered by phone or through the Source by 7:30 a.m. will be ready by noon the same day at the pharmacy "Out Window." Refills ordered after 7:30 a.m. will be ready the next duty day.

However, phone and Source ordering doesn't apply to prescription renewals.

"A prescription renewal is necessary when a patient is out of refills or is not authorized a refill," said Captain McNamara. "It's basically a new prescription."

For a renewal prescription, the patient needs to contact a provider either through a telephone consultation or by making an appointment by calling 676-6173 or 6174. Once a new prescription is ordered by the provider, the patient must go to the pharmacy "In Window" to have it filled.

While filling patient prescriptions is the most visible service provided by Incirlik's pharmacy technicians, they are accountable for much more.

"We are responsible for the entire medical group," said Captain McNamara. "We stock medications for all the clinics, the operating room and ambulance services."

With the Installation's Health Services Inspection quickly approaching, Captain McNamara is confident the pharmacy team is ready to shine.

"The technicians are all highly skilled and energetic," he said. "I have high expectations for our inspection. All of their hard work and meticulous documentation will pay off."