DGMC Pharmacy: Rx for the patient

  • Published
  • By James Spellman
  • 60th Medical Group Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  David Grant USAF Center's pharmacy flight, part of the 60th Diagnostics and Therapeutic Squadron, is one of the largest in the Air Force, filling more than 50,000 prescriptions and ordering $2.5 million worth of medication every month.

DGMC's pharmacy fills 70 percent of all prescriptions internally and 30 percent from off-base providers. At most bases, the percentages are reversed, with most prescriptions being filled by outside sources. On average, the pharmacy at DGMC serves 1,000 to 1,500 patients a day and 27,000 to 30,000 a month. The most common medications prescribed are nonsteroidal such as Motrin and high-cholesterol pills.

The main goal of DGMC's pharmacy is to make sure everyone gets the proper medicine they need in a timely manner, which includes processing all prescriptions, filling them and counseling patients. Its staff wants everyone at Travis to keep healthy, so it can continue to serve and keep the mission going by reviewing and ordering prescriptions and making sure all information pertaining to the patient is correct.

There are two locations patients can have their prescriptions filled.

The outpatient pharmacy is located on the second floor of DGMC in the "Patient Mall" between the clinical laboratories, patient service center and across from diagnostic imaging. This outpatient pharmacy location provides first-prescription-fill service from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday for those patients seen by providers in DGMC. The outpatient pharmacy is closed on weekends, federal holidays and wing-designated down days.

The Exchange pharmacy is located at Bldg. 650 in the mini-mall and provides daily prescription service from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The Exchange pharmacy is closed on Sundays, federal holidays and some wing-designated down days. This pharmacy location provides first-prescription-fills for those patients seen by civilian physicians.

Additionally, the Exchange pharmacy now accepts new prescriptions faxed directly from a physician's office, although some restrictions apply. To have a prescription faxed directly to the Exchange pharmacy, have a physician's office contact the Exchange pharmacy at 423-5345 to make the required arrangements.

Refill prescriptions are ordered 24 hours a day by calling 423-7600 and are picked up at the Exchange pharmacy. Prescription refill requests called in by 1 p.m. Monday through Friday are ready for pick up the next duty day, while requests called in after 1 p.m. Friday but by 1 p.m. Sunday are ready for pick up the next duty day, usually Monday.

For more information call (707) 423-7114 or (707) 423-5345