Jefferson City pharmacy offers innovative way to stay on track with meds

Prescription protection

Lindsey Vest, CPT, closes the Parata Pass Strip Packaging System equipment at Whaley's Pro Care Services. The machine is able to fill prescriptions quickly in individual packets for institutional or individual use.
Lindsey Vest, CPT, closes the Parata Pass Strip Packaging System equipment at Whaley's Pro Care Services. The machine is able to fill prescriptions quickly in individual packets for institutional or individual use.

For the past five years, Whaley's Pharmacy has provided in-house multi-dose prescription packaging for patients in long-term care facilities.

Now, this specialty packaging is available to patients across Mid-Missouri.

Using the Parata Pass Machine, the independent pharmacy is able to take prescription fills to a new level by reducing the possibility of patient overdose and missed dosages.

Each container labeled as a specific medication within the machine holds up to 500 pills, making it easier to package 30-day refills for patients and facilities all in the same day. The pharmacy serves at least 100 patients in retail stores across Jefferson City.

Patients receive sealed plastic packets that hold up to five pills. The packets have a list of the prescribed medications, the patient's name, recommended time of day for prescription, directions, quantity, description of the pills and the strength of the medication.

"One of the biggest things patients struggle with is adherence," said Amanda Rudder, managing pharmacist at Whaley's. "Sometimes they don't remember if they have taken their medicine or not, but with these, they can see that their 6 a.m. dose is still here and they know they have to take it."

If a patient misses a dose from a traditional prescription bottle, he or she can count the pills left in the bottle, which can be difficult if taking multiple medications, Rudder explained. The system also makes it convenient for people who travel because they are able to tear off as much of the roll as they need for the duration of a trip.

Stacey Wells, president of Whaley's Pharmacy Inc., said expanding the service from long-term care facilities to retail demonstrates there are benefits for all patients.

"This service doesn't just benefit an elderly person; there are benefits to people all across the board," Wells said.

Currently, Whaley's is the only pharmacy in Central Missouri that offers this service in-house. Tolson's Drug offers a similar service, but the prescription orders are sent to an outsourced pill-packaging service, said Cheri Beck, certified pharmacy technician manager at Tolson's.

Wells said Whaley's goal was to look for an improved way to serve the nursing facilities under the company's pro-care program.

"We know it's their goal to get their patients the medication when they need it and to have time to do other things," Wells said.

The Parata Pass Machine was a $250,000 investment for the independent pharmacy. Wells and her staff said it was well worth it.

"This method helps anyone who just wants to go to their cabinet and pull today's meds out," said Tom Mengwesser, staff pharmacist at Whaley's on High Street. It eliminates the possibility of grandparents putting too many pills in the pill box or losing your pills, because you can just tear a package off and take it."

When it comes to disposal, patients are encouraged to shred the packages rather than throw them in the trash due to the protected health information printed on them, similar to the prescription label on a traditional pill bottle.

Even with the efficiency the machine offers, Whaley's has implemented a triple-check process to ensure accurate count and distribution of medication in each package.

A technician performs a check, pharmacists check the medical information printed on the packets, then the retailers check them once more.

The pharmacy delivers to Jefferson City, St. Martins and Wardsville. The pharmacy's delivery services to long-term care facilities expands further, including Wardsville, Westphalia, Columbia, Linn and Holt Summit.