It takes a team to provide excellent care Published Oct. 18, 2021 By Capt Justine Seymour 88th Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Wright-Patterson Medical Center will celebrate National Pharmacy Week on Oct. 18-22 to acknowledge the invaluable contributions pharmacists and technicians make to patient care in hospitals, outpatient clinics and other health care settings. Pharmacy practice has evolved dramatically over the past decade. Today’s pharmacists advise doctors and nurses on the best therapeutic options and provide quality checks to prevent harmful drug interactions, adverse reactions and medication-related errors. At WPMC, pharmacists take on an important role in optimizing health outcomes through the completion of comprehensive medication reviews, anticoagulation monitoring (Coumadin) and chronic disease state management. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians are also responsible for compounding sterile IV and chemotherapy medications. Over the past 18 months, pharmacy services have dramatically changed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Atrium Pharmacy, which fills prescriptions from WPMC providers, recently launched a new service for patients called Q-Anywhere. It allows patients to activate prescriptions from on-base providers by texting “Get in line” to 877-909-2578 and entering their Department of Defense ID number. Q-Anywhere give patients the ability to order prescriptions from any location and skip the pharmacy check-in line. Patients utilizing Q-Anywhere will also receive text messages when their prescriptions are ready for pickup or if there is a problem that requires additional information to resolve. Kittyhawk Pharmacy, specializing in refills and off-base prescriptions, will continue its enhanced drive-thru service for the near future. In order to expedite service and avoid wait times, patients are encouraged to request their network providers submit new prescriptions electronically to “DOD Wright-Patterson ePharmacy,” Kittyhawk’s e-prescribing site, and then call 937-656-1656 to preactivate the orders. Following this two-step process will save patients an average of two wait hours per visit. In addition, Kittyhawk Pharmacy thanks the hundreds of volunteers from across Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and around the community who have worked tirelessly to make continuation of the enhanced drive-thru service feasible. “We are so proud of how the Pharmacy Flight has come together as one team to provide nonstop inpatient and outpatient pharmacy services throughout the pandemic,” said Lt. Col. Ben Crandall, chief of Pharmacy Operations at Wright-Patterson Medical Center. “There have been many times where simply keeping the doors open has required high levels of selflessness and innovative thinking from all of our team members. We want to take this opportunity to thank our beneficiaries for their patience and understanding as we navigate the continued challenges posed by COVID-19.” WPMC pharmacy members strive to be experts in the safe and effective use of thousands of medications available to beneficiaries. Although the team is constantly seeking ways to provide the pharmacy benefit in the most efficient manner possible, the mission is to ensure patients can trust they will always receive the correct medication at the correct dose for their specific conditions. You can stop by our table in Atrium Pharmacy during this year’s Pharmacy Week to check out all the ways your pharmacy staff is working to make a difference.