DeWitt Health Care Network provides options for picking up prescriptions

Need to pick up a prescription but don't have time to drive across town or search for a place to park? DeWitt Health Care Network offers several options.

According to Lt. Col. Lela King, chief of the network's Department of Pharmacy, beneficiaries can get their prescriptions in three different ways.

"Their doctor can enter the prescription in the electronic medical record which will send it to the local pharmacy in the military treatment facility; they can ask their doctor to write a paper prescription then mail it to the Tricare Mail Order Pharmacy; or, they can ask their doctor to write a prescription and then take it to a local retail pharmacy," King said.

She went on to discuss the merits of each option.

Choose an MTF

"All the pharmacies in the network - DeWitt, Woodbridge Family Health Care Clinic, Fairfax Family Health Care Clinic and Rader Army Health Clinic - can all access the prescription; so, it does not matter which pharmacy the beneficiary wishes to go to - any of them can fill it, King said of the first option.
In October, DHCN and the Walter Reed Health Care System merged their lists of medications for which they can fill prescriptions, King said.

"This merger greatly increased the number of medications available for dispensing and provides the same formulary from Fort Detrick, Md. to Belvoir and all Army facilities in between," she said. "[Since], the smaller pharmacies will not have the shelf space that Walter Reed does, they may have to order the medication and the patient will get it the next day."

King said for many medications, drop off and return service is available at the DeWitt pharmacy. For prescriptions entered by the doctor, the patient simply needs to stop by the front desk at the
pharmacy and let them know they will be returning later for the prescription, she said.

"If they return an hour or more later, they can get the same ticket as someone who called in their refill, thereby greatly shortening the amount of time spent waiting in the lobby during peak waiting times," she said.

Order by mail

Mail order will work for most people and is a good option for those on chronic medications who do not need to talk to their pharmacist, King said.

"It has a lower co-pay than the retail network, but not all beneficiaries are eligible to use this option and not all drugs are available," King said. She recommended those considering this option should call TMOP first to determine if it will work for them.

King noted one drawback to the mail order option.

"Prescriptions entered in the electronic medical record system cannot be transferred to the mail order pharmacy, but Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, is conducting a test that may make it possible in the future," King said.

Get it retail

Finally, if a patient's doctor entered the prescription in the computer, it is possible that the beneficiary could go to a retail network pharmacy and ask the pharmacy to call the MTF pharmacy to transfer the prescription, King said. This can be done for most prescriptions, but not all, she said.

Insurance co-pays will apply and, according to King, this point of service has the highest co-pay and the highest cost to DoD.

Finding refills

Patients who want refills of their medication may call the toll-free refill order number, 800-248-6337, or order it from DeWitt's home page at dewitt.wramc. amedd.army.mil. Orders made before 7 a.m. will be ready the next working day. Orders made after 7 a.m. will be ready for pick up in two working days.

"We also recommend using the [Main Exchange] Refill Pharmacy for [orders] being picked up [during the week]," King said. "The exchange is open from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and offers less waiting than the main pharmacy.

"We also recommend avoiding the lunch hour, as this is peak time at the Refill Pharmacy," she said.

Prescriptions which were initially filled at any service's MTF in the National Capital Area can be refilled at any DHCN pharmacy, King said. If the medication is not immediately available, the pharmacy will order it and call the beneficiary when it is ready, she said.

Looking ahead

King said a group of all the pharmacy directors of many of the major MTFs in the National Capital Area have been working for several months to standardize the policies, procedures and formularies of all service branch pharmacies to make it easier on the beneficiaries who use them.

"We have really just begun, with the end goal to be completed by the time of [Base Realignment and Closure] integration and the official opening of the two Joint Medical Facilities (Walter Reed National Military Medical Center at Bethesda and the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital)," King said.

"We are very aware of the traffic and parking issues these two major medical facilities may encounter and are exploring unique ideas to meet the needs of the patient," she said.
King said beneficiaries can submit their comments and suggestions for pharmacy services via the "Contact Us" portion of the DeWitt home page at www.dewitt. wramc.amedd.army.mil.

Editor's note: This is part of an on-going look at parking on Fort Belvoir and ways to mitigate the problem. The current article provides you with information you can use to possibly avoid traffic and parking hassles when it's time to pick up your prescription.
In the April 23 issue, the Eagle examined the dilemma installation and hospital leaders faced in providing adequate parking for employees and patients at DeWitt Army Community Hospital, while ensuring the safety of nearby residents.
The April 30 and May 14 issues focused on satellite parking and shuttle bus service, and highlighted other steps post officials were taking to improve the situation.

(Belvoir Eagle staff writers contributed to this story)