By Joy Pierce Mathews for Summit Medical Group

The National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE)* has designated October as a time to highlight information about the safe use of medicine. With the motto, Educate Before You Medicate, the NCPIE alerts people about risks involved in taking all medication (prescribed, over the counter, and supplements), respect for the effectiveness and value of medication, and the responsibility everyone has to take their medication as directed.

Although medication is prescribed or recommended to treat many conditions and illnesses, people often do not take it as directed. Misusing medication can make it less effective, cause other health problems, and contribute to problems with dependency. For these reasons, it is important to know as much as you can about your prescription, over-the-counter medication, or supplement. If you have questions about a medication, ask your physician to tell you when and how you should take it. He or she can explain its benefits and risks.

Pharmacists also are an excellent source of information about prescribed and over-the-counter medications and supplements. With some pharmacies open 24 hours, you can feel safe knowing that a pharmacist is always available to answer questions about your medication at any time of day or night.

For helpful information and tools about medications, you may visit the NCPIE at www.talkaboutrx.org.

Summit Medical Group’s Commitment to Safe Prescribing
To help ensure safe prescribing practices, Summit Medical Group has implemented an electronic prescription program, TouchWorks® Rx+. The ePrescribing system features valuable general and patient-specific information and allows physicians to immediately send prescriptions to patients’ preferred pharmacies. Prescriptions also can be printed and given to patients during their office visits.

ePrescribing:

• Improves safety by protecting patients from allergic reactions and harmful drug interactions
• Eliminates wait time at the pharmacy
• Stores prescription information for quick refills
• Captures patients’ pharmacies in a single location so that every refill request can easily and quickly be verified

Our Onsite Walgreens Pharmacy
Walgreens Pharmacy at Summit Medical Group has a friendly, knowledgeable staff that can provide personal counseling about your medications. We also offer specialty medications and home infusion support.

You may fill or refill your prescriptions at the Berkeley Heights campus Walgreens or at any of the 6,500 Walgreens Pharmacies nationwide.

Upcoming Walgreens Special Event
Our Walgreens licensed pharmacists, Walter Cifuentes, RPh, and Astride Romelus, PharmD, will be hosting, What’s in Your Medicine Cabinet? A Personalized Drug Review. The event, which will be comprised of 15-minute, one-on-one consultations with information about drug interactions, optimal dosing, and side effects, will be held in the Café at the Berkeley Heights campus of Summit Medical Group on Wednesday, October 28, from 10 AM until 2 PM.

Pharmacy hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 6 PM and Saturday, 8 AM to 1 PM. The pharmacy is closed Sundays and holidays.

*The National Council on Patient Information and Education enhances communication about medication to help ensure its safe, appropriate use.