New program to deliver prescriptions to Saint Joseph Regional hospital rooms

MISHAWAKA, Ind. - Saint Joseph Regional Hospital patients will soon be able to get their medications in their hospital rooms.

The Meds to Go program through Martin’s Pharmacy was announced Wednesday.

A team of pharmaceutical technicians will now deliver discharge medication to patients and explain how to take it.

“They have the peace of mind of knowing that they have the medication,” Dr. Stephen Anderson, chief medical officer at St. Joseph Health System said of the patients.

The program has been tested in the hospital for a few months now, to address the problem of patients not taking prescriptions.

“Currently about 20 percent of patients do not get their prescriptions filled when they go home. As a result, they may fail to take a medication that can enhance their recovery,” Anderson said.

That's a problem Martin’s Pharmacy Vice President  David Adams wanted to address.

Martin’s took over the medical center’s pharmacy in March.

“It allows us to get that prescription in the hands of the patient before they ever leave the hospital. By increasing compliance, that helps the healing process,” Adams said.

Adam and Anderson say by helping keep patients on their discharge medicine and giving them the one on one attention they need, it will reduce medical emergencies

“Missing medications can lead to hospital re-admissions,” Anderson said.