Reading Hospital Pharmacy goes 24-7 to meet community need

With a large number of retail pharmacies closing down in recent years, access to prescription medication has become a serious concern in the region. 

To help counter the trend, Reading Hospital has stepped up by adding 24-7 pharmacy access at the Reading Hospital 5th Avenue Pharmacy at 420 S. 5th Ave., West Reading. 

“Ten years ago, 24-7 pharmacies were all around, but now in some parts of our region people have to drive 30 miles or more to get medications after hours,” said Michael Stern, president and CEO of Tower Health, the parent of Reading Hospital 

He said by having the pharmacy open 24 hours a day, seven days a week it gives residents throughout the region more flexibility and convenience when accessing their medications and pharmacy services. 

Stern said it’s not just about late nights. If someone gets sick or injured and needs a prescription filled on a holiday like Christmas or New Years, they might have to wait a day to get the prescription filled. 

If that medication is needed to treat a serious condition or extreme pain, the wait can endanger a person’s health. 

Of course, he said, the late hours are a big addition to pharmacy access. 

“The busiest time in our emergency room is between 3 p.m. and midnight,” Stern said. “But before this people would have no access to meds after 9 p.m.” 

He said hospital officials were looking at what the needs were in the community and thought offering 24-7 pharmacy services with curbside pickup would be a great help to those facing a health care emergency. 

It turns out that their theory was right. In fact, in the first three weeks the pharmacy was open 24-7; it filled more than 1,100 prescriptions outside of traditional hours. 

Because illness and injuries don’t exist in a vacuum, the pharmacy also carries other medical items such as band-aids. 

“It really helps that with curbside we can bring it out to you. We also have curries that work with us for people who need access to maintenance drugs,” Stern said. 

And unlike most prescription refill services, Reading Hospital can offer rush services to get medications to people when they need it. 

“We’re doing our best to make things as convenient as possible,” he said. 

The transition to the new format wasn’t difficult, Stern said. He noted that the pharmacy was already in operation 12 hours a day. 

They simply needed to get staff to work the overnight shift and create a designated parking area for curbside pickup. 

The health network is also looking to expand its after-hours offerings with eyes on opening more 24-7 pharmacies in the region it serves, including one coming soon to Exeter Township. 

“We’re looking to open up in other underserved areas,” Stern said.