Dispensary
Summary of Services
The Free Clinic of Southwest Washington (FCSW) dispensary provides uninsured patients with free prescription medication. The dispensary fills prescriptions written during the FCSW urgent care clinics as well as providing prescription assistance and resources to patients seen at other community health centers. All services provided by volunteers.
The dispensary does not provide birth control, mental health medications, or narcotics.
Dispensary Shift Times For Urgent Care Clinics
Monday | Wednesday | Friday 9:30-12:00pm
Tuesday | Thursday 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm.
Volunteer shift start times vary depending on the assignment.
Patient Overview
Patients served at the FCSW dispensary must be uninsured and have no access to funds to cover their prescription cost. They are generally low income, uninsured, and underserved. Many have postponed health care due to financial considerations and sometimes arrive with increasingly acute symptoms and multiple complaints. Patients are asked to make a financial donation if they can, or offered a self-addressed envelope for a later donation. During urgent care clinics, patients are accepted on a first come, first serve, basis and some may wait 3-4 hours before they are seen. We do inform patients that they are being treated by volunteers and they are for the most part very grateful. The cultural competency overview in your volunteer handbook provides insight into the culture of poverty, as well as other cultural factors that may apply to patients seeking help from FCSW.
Employed Staff / Team Leaders
Zac Sanders | Dispensary Coordinator | 360.313.1392 | zac@freeclinics.org
Prescription Assistance Program
The Dispensary offers prescription assistance for patients seen at the FCSW as well as other community health centers. Patients may be able to obtain a one-time 1 month fill of their chronic care medications as well resources for ongoing care.
Dispensary during Clinics
Urgent Care Clinics
After a medical exam patients arrive at the dispensary window to fill any prescriptions.
- Pharmacy Clerk (1) accepts prescriptions & records the patient’s information on a sign-in sheet. The prescriptions are placed in a numbered basket and the patient is given a ticket with the number that correlates with this basket. The patient will be called to the window with this number by the pharmacist. If there are refills on the prescription the pharmacy clerk makes a copy and the patient is given the original prescription back.
- Pharmacy Technician (1) receives the basket with the prescriptions, pulls the medications, and maintains a log of medications dispensed to each patient as well as preparing the prescriptions for the Pharmacist to review and dispense. After the prescriptions are filled the bulk bottles for the medication as well as the portioned amount and original prescription go in the basket and are passed on to the pharmacist.
- Pharmacist (1) receives the basket containing the prescriptions and begins a ‘final check’. The pharmacist prepares prescription labels (or assigns this to the tech) then reviews and verifies that the prescription was filled correctly. The pharmacist calls the patient up by their number dispenses the medication and answers any questions the patient may have.
Dental Clinics
Volunteers are not utilized in the dispensary during dental clinics unless the clinic time correlates with an Urgent Care Clinic.
Vision Clinics
Volunteers are not utilized in the dispensary during vision clinics.
Immunization Clinics
Volunteers are not utilized in the dispensary during immunization clinics.
Medication Formulary
Medication formularies are updated bi-monthly to reflect medications currently available to patients. The Salmon colored formulary sheet lists medications purchased by the FCSW, the baby blue formulary sheet lists medications donated for use at the FCSW. Formulary sheets are located in all exam rooms, at the back table, and in the dispensary. Providers and dispensary volunteers may refer to formularies for up to date information on medication availability.
Off-Formulary Medications
Medications not included on our formulary may be available for patients via a voucher program through Safeway pharmacies located in Clark County. The FCSW covers the cost of any medication that is sent to Safeway through the voucher program. Not all medications are available by voucher and availability will be at the discretion of the Dispensary Coordinator or Clinic Director. Medications may be deemed inappropriate for a voucher due to cost, type of medication (narcotic, birth control, etc.), or another reason.
Protocols
The Free Clinic of Southwest Washington strives to create a safe and confidential environment for both volunteers and patients.
- As a precaution against cross-contamination of medications and allergic reactions in patients the pill-counting tray must be cleaned with an alcohol wipe between each prescription filled. The dispensary staff must ask each patient if they have any medication allergies and alert the pharmacist as well as recording all allergies in the upper right hand corner of the original prescription sheet.
- Patient confidentiality is a top priority. When a patient is being signed in or counseled it is perfectly acceptable to politely ask any other patient(s) standing nearby to please move away from the window.
- Ongoing Care? The FCSW does not provide ongoing (primary) care. Any patient with chronic health issues should receive referral information to follow-up with a primary care clinic such as these below. There is a PINK tri-fold brochure with local referral information on the wall to the left of the clerk station. Please issue these to any patients who may need or ask about ongoing care, or who will need prescription refills. Primary Care Clinics:
- Sea Mar (sliding-scale fees)
- New Heights (free)Clinic de Salud ($55/office visit)
