Pharmacy activates new automated dispensing system for patients' convenience

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Valerie Perry
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  The Eielson pharmacy has a new, state-of-the-art, automated dispensing system designed to be more convenient and accessible to patients: the Automated Prescription Machine.

The APM is a stand-alone unit capable of dispensing refills filled at the clinic pharmacy. The machine is located in the arctic entry of the clinic and can be used by patients 24/7, regardless of whether or not the pharmacy is open. The process is simple; just call the pharmacy refill line 377- DRUG (3784), the pharmacy staff will fill the prescription and load it into the APM.

Certain limitations apply: bulky items like insulin syringes will not fit in the machine and therefore will not be loaded. Also, controlled substances and refrigerated items will not be loaded into the machine and would have to be picked up directly from the pharmacy.

Step 1: Patient receives a pharmacy-generated personal identification number or creates their own. Note: a single PIN can be used for each family member; however each family member will be loaded into the system separately.

Step 2: Patient calls in refill to 377-DRUG (3784). The prescription is filled, bagged and bar-coded by pharmacy staff. Note: Patients should call in refills two to five days before out of medication. Refills called in by 4 p.m. are ready for pick-up the next duty day after 8 a.m. Refills called in after 4 p.m. are ready for pick-up two duty days after 8 a.m.

Step 3: Pharmacy staff loads finished prescriptions into the APM.

Step 4: Patient enters family member prefix and sponsor's social security number, PIN, confirms items for pick-up, and retrieves prescription from the machine.

Eielson pharmacy hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; closed on all weekends, holidays, wing down days and at 1 p.m. every fourth Wednesday for training. For more information, call 377-1461.