MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The MacDill Medical Group leadership team is committed to delivering your pharmacy benefit in an efficient and convenient manner. In studying our current operational challenges and patient feedback, it is apparent improvement is urgently needed. The leadership team fully understands how important safe and reliable pharmacy services are to our beneficiaries.
We are challenged with delivering prescription services to 215,000 beneficiaries across four separate pharmacy locations. Our high prescription volume (about 3,000 daily) is compounded by constrained resources, aging dispensing technology and systems that are not well integrated.
MacDill pharmacy patrons have a lot to say about pharmacy services, and we are listening:
- You do not like waiting when you have an acute or urgent prescription need.
- You do not like crowded waiting rooms.
- You want to quickly drop-off prescriptions and get them at a time convenient to you.
- You want full prescription services (new and refill prescriptions) available at the Sabal Park Clinic location to avoid driving to south Tampa.
- You want us to fix refill prescription delays (caused by an aging pharmacy robot with recurrent breakdowns).
- You want the ability to pick up new and refill prescriptions at the same site.
- You want someone to answer the phone when you have a question about your prescription.
The Plan:
- Currently, our busiest pharmacy location (next to Burger King) is divided into two different pharmacy operations: PharmaCare and the Refill pharmacy. PharmaCare offers walk-up new prescription services in one half of the building. The Refill pharmacy provides drive-through services for beneficiaries who need to prescription refills on the opposite side. On September 30th, we will relocate Pharmacare operations away from this building.
- We are transitioning from four pharmacy service locations to three so we may increase the staff available at each location to serve beneficiaries more efficiently. The three locations will continue to be: MacDill Clinic (inside the main MacDill Clinic), Sabal Park (Brandon) and the Refill Pharmacy (next to Burger King)
- The pharmacy will institute a Pharmacy Call Center with dedicated technicians.
- We are adopting best practices from high-volume, private sector pharmacies to improve the efficiency of pharmacy services.
- The focus is shifting from a traditional check-in, extended waiting room model to a quick drop-off and pick-up prescriptions at a convenient time model.
When does this kick off?
- On September 30, 2019, we will permanently close the PharmaCare Pharmacy location.
- During the week of 30 September – 4 October 2019, we will relocate the equipment from the PharmaCare site to the Main Clinic Pharmacy (in the primary Medical Group building) and the Sabal Park Pharmacy.
The Benefits:
- Monday, September 30, 2019, the Sabal Park Pharmacy will begin full service pharmacy operations.
- The pharmacy will begin accepting new civilian (off-base) prescriptions (paper or electronic prescriptions) for all eligible beneficiaries.
- Beneficiaries no longer need to fight traffic driving to MacDill AFB in south Tampa so less time and tolls!
- We will prioritize the dispensing of acute or urgent prescriptions while you wait.
- Chronic or non-urgent prescriptions will be next-day fills to free up resources to meet acute or urgent prescriptions needs.
- The prescription process for empaneled patients (those whose primary care provider is at the MacDill or Sabal Park Clinic) will remain the same.
- Note: The Main and Sabal Park Clinic Pharmacy will process paper or electronic prescriptions for empaneled patients referred to specialists off base.
- Monday, September 30, 2019, the Main Clinic Pharmacy will process new civilian (off-base) prescriptions at a separate check-in location (the former Women’s Health Clinic Check-In Desk).
- The pharmacy will begin accepting new civilian (off-base) prescriptions (paper or electronic prescriptions) for all eligible beneficiaries.
- Beneficiaries may drop off prescriptions and pick them up later at the drive-thru along with any refill prescriptions they have requested (or they may wait for urgent medications).
- This saves a trip inside the clinic!
- We will prioritize the dispensing of acute or urgent prescriptions while you wait.
- Chronic or non-urgent prescriptions will be next-day fills to free up resources to meet acute or urgent prescriptions needs.
- Note: Empaneled patient prescription services will be unaffected.
- Monday, September 30, 2019, the pharmacy will institute a Pharmacy Call Center with dedicated technicians, a pharmacist and volunteers to activate electronic prescriptions, answer patient questions and address concerns.
- November 2019, the pharmacy will install a newer Innovations RDS Prescription filling robot with improved efficiency, reliability and safety advantages over our existing system.
Key Points for Beneficiaries:
- Plan ahead! Off-base prescription services will be strictly limited to acute or urgent prescriptions needs from 30 September – 4 October 2019 while we relocate our pharmacy equipment.
- Please ensure you come in early or you have adequate medications until we reopen for full services on Monday, 7 October 2019.
- If you have an acute or urgent prescription need from 30 September – 4 October 2019, you may present to either the Main Clinic Pharmacy, the Sabal Park Clinic Pharmacy or a TRICARE retail network pharmacy for services. Please note -- acute or urgent prescription dispensing will be strictly enforced during the transition week.
- Empaneled patient prescription services will be unaffected except for the closure of the PharmaCare Clinic.
- Be patient as we work to build a better process for you.
- Continue to provide constructive feedback so we may improve pharmacy services.