MIAMI — Navarro Discount Pharmacy has implemented a compliance packaging program that organizes a patient’s prescription drugs into individual packets with labels and full instructions.
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The EZ Meds packaging organizes a patient’s prescriptions into individual packets with labels and full instructions. |
Navarro said Friday that it’s the first South Florida drug chain to offer the packaging solution, called the EZ Meds Medicine Packaging System.
Deployed by Navarro Health Services, a Navarro subsidiary, the program is powered by the Parata EZ Med Machine, purchased by the pharmacy chain for $500,000.
EZ Meds enables Navarro pharmacists to review patients’ prescription histories and make recommendations to help improve their health, the drug chain noted. Upon receiving a prescription, Navarro pharmacy staff determine which medications can be packaged with the EZ Med Machine, which then packages the medicine according to dosage.
A reusable dispenser box is provided, including a roll of EZ Meds packets. Prescriptions enrolled in the EZ Meds program can be picked up at any Navarro store or delivered to a home or office.
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Navarro’s Parata EZ Med Machine, located at its central fill facility.
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"Lack of medication adherence has serious health implications and is the No. 1 reason why people become hospitalized. People taking medications face many challenges, such as consistent timing, interactions with food or other medicines taken and not understanding the need to take their medicine as prescribed," Albert Garcia, executive vice president of pharmacy for Navarro and president of Navarro Health Services, said in a statement.
"Opportunities such as EZ Meds make it easier for people to adhere to their prescription regimens and keep track of their medications, thus improving their quality of life and health outcomes," Garcia noted.
The Parata EZ Med Machine is housed in Navarro’s 2,500-square-foot fulfillment center situated at its Medley, Fla., headquarters. At the facility, prescriptions are centralized for all of the chain’s pharmacy locations to optimize efficiencies as well as free up pharmacists in its 33 stores to spend more time consulting with customers.
